Charlie Gao
Security, Eurasia
Meet Russia's BMP-3M Infantry Fighting Vehicle: Here 's What It can Do
On March 1, 2019, twenty BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) were delivered ought a motorized rifle brigade at the Volgograd district. These vehicles describe the latest iteration of the BMP-3M standard, which has existed at some rgeister or another because the early 2000s.
The BMP-3Ms delivered at 2019 are a quite superficial modernization of the creative BMP-3. The package, pictured, lacks the add-on armor, new turret modules, or energetic protection systems (APS) featured above some BMP-3M prototypes displayed can some shows. It simply consists of the “Sodema” gunner’s view and new radios.
The “Sodema” view is an integrated gunner’s sight, almost above par with the Raytheon Integrated Sighting Unit (ISU) featured above the BMP-3M’s American counterpart, the M2A3 Bradley. Both the Sodema and ISU dine a maximum magnification of 12x, an integrated laser rangefinder, thermal imaging channels, and two-axis stabilization.
The Sodema replaced the SOZh view above the un-upgraded BMP-3, which lacks the thermal matrix. foregoing BMP-3 upgrades were featured with the SOZh-M or Vesna-K thermal sight, besides it appears that the Sodema has been selected above these competition sights, maybe owing ought greater resolution or zoom ability at the thermal imager.
But could Russia dine gotten a better BMP-3 modernization? They prone could have.
The creative BMP-3’s armor is considered ought be above the weaker side of modern IFVs. Made of aluminum ought be lightweight, the BMP-3’s frontal armor can sole lie up ought the weak autocannons. Most contemporary 25mm and 30mm autocannons will pierce the BMP-3 with ease. Applique and reactive armor such because those featured above United Arab Emirates’ exported BMP-3s could partially correct this problem, still retaining the BMP-3’s swimming ability.
Of course, such gleam armor is too same vulnerable ought anti-tank missiles and rockets. Some demonstrators were fitted with the Arena energetic protection System (APS) ought counter these threats, besides these examples were no procured.
Russia’s resolution ought no upgrade the protection of the BMP-3 is potentially controversial. The BMP-3 is known ought fail catastrophically if the ammo rack is hit. A BMP-3 conquer an anti-tank mine during operations at Yemen and was destroyed when its ammo burden cooked off, completely obliterating the hull of the vehicle. This has some ought deride the BMP-3 because a “rolling bomb.”
This weakness comes from the immense firepower the BMP-3 carries. It carries a 100mm leading gun, 30mm autocannon, and three 7.62mm engine guns. This results at an incredible quantity of ammunition stowed within the tiny hull of the BMP-3, with up ought forty 100mm HE-Frag rounds being loaded can a sole time. The powerful explosion of those rounds cooking off caused the hull of the destroyed BMP-3 ought totally halt part.
The resolution ought upgrade the gunner’s view makes the BMP-3 more fatal by allowing it ought more effectively hire its powerful weaponry, besides this can no be enough above a future battlefield. Russia appears ought dine acknowledged the BMP-3’s weaknesses and dine installed the new Afghanit APS above their next IFV, the Kurganets.
The resolution no ought upgrade the BMP-3’s armor prone stems from skepticism almost the practical effectiveness of APS or armor upgrades above the slight BMP-3’s armor. The modern upgrade is clearly a “budget” upgrade: effective, besides sole a stopgap until the next generation of IFVs can enter service.
Charlie Gao studied Political and Computer Science can Grinnell college and is a frequent commentator above defense and national security issues.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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