Armored combat vehicles

Infantry fighting vehicle   The BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicle is designed to equip motor rifle infantry units, improve mobility, armament and protection of the personnel operating on the battlefield, including in NBC environment. Two versions of the upgraded vehicle have been developed in the process of BMP-2 modernization: the first variant (sb4-2) is designed for combating enemy manpower and the second (sb4-3) – for use in tank approach routes. In the first case, the firing capabilities are enhanced by installing additional weapons – a 30mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher mounted in the turret rear on an L-shaped support. Aimed fire from the grenade launcher is conducted by means of gunner's primary sight or 1PZ-13 commander’s sight having scales for automatic grenade launcher to a maximum range of 1,730 m. To fire the main armament, the vehicle is equipped with the BPK-3-42 combined binocular gunner's sight providing a range of vision of the side projection of a medium tank at night in active mode of at least 1,300 m. The PL-1 laser illuminator is used as an infrared source of illumination. To counter enemy tanks and other heavily armored vehicles, the BMP-2M (sb4-2) is fitted with the Konkurs-M second-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system. The BMP-2M (sb4-3) is equipped with an advanced multichannel gunner's sight, a new armament stabilizer and ballistic computer with firing conditions sensors. The multichannel gunner's sight with independent field-of-view stabilization, which includes a variable-power optical channel, a night thermal imaging channel, a laser rangefinder and an ATGM guidance channel, simplifies and facilitates the target reconnaissance process, reduces the time and improves the fire mission effectiveness. The detection range for a tank-type target is up to 5,000 m, target identification at night using the thermal channel is possible at up to 3,000 m. A stabilized platform with two ready-to-fire Ataka-T supersonic laser beam-riding ATGMs carrying HEAT or thermobaric warheads is fitted to the top of the turret roof. Guidance of ATGMs is provided by the gunner/operator using the primary sight. The missiles can be fired both at the halt and on the move. A high flight speed of the missile reduces the time during which the gunner has to hold the laying mark on the target, whereas high armor penetration of the warhead provides assured defeat of virtually any modern tank. The upgraded vehicles are equipped with the UTD-23 higher-power supercharged engine and a higher performance running gear (road wheels with increased load-carrying capacity, increased rigidity torsion bars, higher-performance shock absorbers, and tracks with rubber pads). These engineering solutions have increased maneuverability, ride comfort and the average speed of the vehicle.

Tank Support Combat Vehicle   The BMPT tank support combat vehicle belongs to a class of armored fire support vehicles. It is designed to provide fire support to tank and infantry units, primarily detect and destroy concealed, low-observable and dispersed targets on the battlefield – enemy manpower armed with small arms and anti-tank weapons. The BMPT carries armament capable of countering heavily armored targets (tanks and their derivatives), fortifications, and air targets. However, its main mission (and advantage) lies in detecting and destroying low-observable targets before they can inflict defeat. The BMPT can be used both in conjunction with tanks in the same battle formation and independently. In the case of joint action of tanks and BMPTs, the effectiveness is achieved through rational target allocation: fortified structures and heavily-armored vehicles are destroyed by tanks, whereas enemy manpower, anti-tank weapons, light armored vehicles are engaged by BMPTs. The BMPTs can be used independently without tanks to strengthen and support the infantry, escort and guard convoys and facilities, destroy terrorists. The crew and its accommodation inside the vehicle, a viewing and sighting system, and armament provide early target detection and destruction at the halt and on the move, under low visibility conditions, day and night. The BMPT’s crew includes three operators which makes it possible to quickly detect and simultaneously engage three different targets at once. The targets are allocated between the crew members by the commander, who, if necessary, can open fire in duplicate control mode. The main armament’s fire control system, comprising a multi-channel (daylight optical and thermal imaging) sight and a panoramic low-level TV sight, helps the gunner and the commander detect and identify pinpoint targets at long ranges, day and night, in bad weather and engage them with two 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons using high explosive and armor-piercing projectiles. The main armament suite includes also two launchers with four supersonic laser-beam-riding missiles each, designed to destroy heavily-armored ground and air targets The BMPT’s secondary armament incorporates a 7.62mm PKT machine gun and 30mm remotely-controlled and vertically-stabilized automatic grenade launchers. When the vehicle was under development, particular attention was paid to protecting the crew from anti-tank weapons. The frontal armor of the BMPT is comparable to that of an MBT, but, unlike the latter, it has no weakness zone due to the lack of a gun port. Its hull and turret sides are protected by an ERA system placed across the entire sides, armoring of equipment compartments located on racks over tracks, and hull and turret armor plates. In general, the protection level is superior to that of the main battle tank. To protect the vehicle rear against light anti-tank weapons, bar armor is additionally hung. As of today, none of combat vehicles has similar all-round protection against the most common anti-tank weapons. With its lethal armament system, heavy protection and excellent maneuverability, the BMPT is capable of efficiently accomplishing combat missions in urban areas and mountain-woody terrain. The vehicle’s weapons do not protrude beyond the hull outlines when the turret rotates, while the elevation angles make it possible to easily engage targets located both in basements and in the upper floors of buildings. Lethal multi-channel weapons, combined with advanced target search and detection devices and all-round crew protection in one vehicle, enable the BMPT to perform fire support missions in all types of fighting against any enemy and in any terrain. The use of the BMPT will considerably enhance the firing capabilities of combat units and reduce materiel and personnel losses in combat.

Armored personnel carrier   The BTR-80K command armored personnel carrier (APC) is designed to provide a motor rifle battalion commander with control over subordinate units and communication with the regiment commander (HQ). Developed around the BTR-80, the BTR-80K has retained its basic combat and technical characteristics and is virtually identical to the baseline model in appearance, which makes it possible to hide the battalion command post on the battlefield from the enemy. The command vehicle’s crew includes three persons: commander/senior radio operator, gunner/radio operator and driver. The vehicle is armed with the BPU-1 machine-gun turret comprising the 14.5mm KPVT machine gun and 7.62mm PKT (PKTM) machine gun as well as the 902V smoke grenade launching system. There is the day sight for firing machine guns. Ammunition stowage for the standard armament and the layout of organic equipment somewhat differs from that in the baseline BTR-80. Workstations for the battalion commander and two officers of his staff or attached units are equipped in the fighting compartment of the BTR-80K and fitted with tank intercom telephone sets, folding tables, fans and additional lighting. To ensure uninterrupted communications, the command vehicle is equipped with two vehicular VHF radios and a receiver, two remote VHF radios for outdoor operation, intercom and switching equipment for 6 subscribers. To double communication range when the vehicle is at the halt, the BTR-80K is fitted with an 11-meter deployable mast antenna device. There are stowage places for a field telephone set and a reel with 500 meters of telephone cable. Provision is made for installation of modern navigation equipment in the vehicle to locate and indicate the position of the vehicle on the electronic map and provide automated route plotting.