Surpassed its predecessors: features of the BMP-3

Quite a lot has been said about domestic amphibious infantry fighting vehicles. They were repeatedly compared with foreign counterparts, finding both advantages and disadvantages.

However, we can definitely say that even the BMP-1, with all its "weak points", turned out to be a very good car. In the BMP-2, the designers were able to fix some points, in particular, improve its armament.

Meanwhile, the BMP-3, which entered service with the Soviet army in 1987, surpassed its predecessors immediately in a number of characteristics, which will be discussed below.

Firstly, it is worth noting that the designers finally managed to improve the security of the combat vehicle, while not critically increasing its weight - 18,7 tons versus 14,7 for the BMP-2. In turn, the mass of the BMP-3 still remained much lower than the same American M2 Bradley: 21,3 (M2) and as much as 34,250 (M2A3 SSS rev.D), as well as the German Marder: 28,2 (A1) and 33,5, 1(3AXNUMX).

It is worth noting that the armor of the BMP-3, as well as its turret, uses a special aluminum alloy. In addition, protection can be enhanced with patch armor.

In general, the roof and sides of the combat vehicle are able to withstand a hit from a 12,7 mm heavy machine gun from a distance of up to 200 meters, and the forehead can withstand a hit from a 30 mm armor-piercing tracer ammunition from a similar distance.

Secondly, the indisputable advantage of the BMP-3 is its armament. A 100 mm 2A70 gun paired with a 30 mm 2A72 cannon and a PKT 7,62x54 machine gun is a very tangible “argument”. In addition, the vehicle is equipped with 2 more course machine guns, 5 out of 7 landing fighters can fire from loopholes in the sides.

Finally, the third fundamental difference between the BMP-3 and its predecessors is that its power plant is located at the rear, which increases the visibility of the driver and makes the engine less vulnerable.

However, many paratroopers call the latter advantage a disadvantage, since when leaving the car you have to literally step over its engine.

Comments

[Smoked]

It is interesting how military equipment will eventually change due to the abundance of various loitering ammunition of various sizes.

[Smoked]

Then the main feature of the Soviet-Russian technology will disappear, it rushes across the battlefield like lightning while it is being fired from the spot by the enemy from good optics, but not so nimble. Shurik, this is not our method (c)

[goose]

Have you been to the range? No one goes there smartly, even if they can. Shustro only on the roads. 40km/h is already pretty cool. At speeds >60 km/h, the tracked vehicles become uncontrollable and drive only in a straight line.

[Blackgrifon]

Quote: Smoked

It is interesting how military equipment will eventually change due to the abundance of various loitering ammunition of various sizes.

Get additional equipment. Fortunately, there are already developments in some countries: Israel, China, Germany, Russia. The question is in the power decision and implementation.

[invisible_man]

In all these BMP-BMDs, it is impossible to turn around in body armor and unload.
God forbid, something will fall and they will light up - it will turn out to be a mass grave.
This is the main reason forcing the landing force to ride on armor. So there is at least some chance to survive.
At the same time, the dimensions of the vehicles now do not really matter: they are most often fired at not from anti-tank guns, as in World War II, but from anti-tank systems with intelligent guidance elements.

[Sergey_52]

and from ATGM with intelligent guidance elements

We are waiting for the introduction of funds to blunt anti-tank systems ...

[invisible_man]

There are funds, but the implementation is bad. In general, as always.
The new T-90s come with the Cape, which completely neutralizes the 4 guidance channels at the missile's homing head. But few of them.

[blackGRAIL]

Write nonsense from the category that stealth is completely invisible to radar. The cape reduces the detection range / aiming range of the tank in the thermal and radar spectrum. And no more, she does not need to invent fantastic abilities.

[Postcode]

The success of any business in the army is achieved by repeated training))))).... if something serious gets anywhere, it will be problematic to get out of anything, it’s not much to get out of the body of the Urals or KAMAZ, if not at the tailgate sitting...

[invisible_man]

Yes, you can’t get out of the BMP quickly even in a calm situation. No training will make a fighter in armor and unloading thinner))

[would]

The best assessment I've heard is "BMP-3 is a very good light tank for infantry support and a bad BMP." Exactly for the reason you described.

[nobody75]

Why does my vacuum cleaner have lidar, but the BMP 3 does not?
Sincerely

[Nikolaevich I]

Vesch, of course, is good! You can also have an option equipped with a 57-mm cannon, strengthen missile weapons up to anti-aircraft ... It is planned to equip the BMP with a set of DZ, KAZ ... And all this is within the "framework" of the BMP-3! I had to hear that the BMP-3M (modernized version) was also created ... It seems that many more options can be created as part of the Manul R&D! And the fact that the paratroopers do not like to "step over" through the engine is whims! Make them a conveyor belt through the engine!

[Sergei N 58912062]

And the fact that the paratroopers do not like to "step over" the engine is whims! Make them a belt conveyor through the engine!

Initially, it was necessary to think with your head, and not .... and make a normal exit. It's good that BMP-3 "Dragoon" and BMP-3 "Manul" appeared. Now it only remains to wait for the BMP-3 to be replaced by these vehicles.

[bairat]

the power plant is located at the rear, which increases the visibility of the driver and makes the engine less vulnerable.

The mechanics are not a pity, they are still giving birth, and the engine is an exclusive thing, it must be hidden away.

[ln_ln]

The rear engine provides normal trim afloat. After all, they wanted to make the car universal for motorized rifles, airborne forces and marines. In the early ones, there were electromechanisms for changing the ride height for loading into an aircraft. This point of view was in the early 80s.

[Zaurbek]

At the moment, there is not and will not be better, and changes need to be made with modernization.
The cart has margins for strength, adequate armament.

[dump22]

BMP-3 is still a 35-year-old project.
The balance in the means of destruction and the landing force has been disturbed.

Aluminum armor is easily penetrated by any projectile or ATGM, and after that, the ammunition of a 100mm gun in the automatic loader explodes.
And the installation of additional armor (BMP-3M variant) immediately increases the weight to 22.7 tons. And it is still not clear whether the military accepted it?
And, of course, the lack of mine protection is also depressing.

[Sergei N 58912062]

Initially, there were questions for the BMP-3, one of which was related to its layout. And now the BMP-3 is already obsolete. It is necessary to change the BMP-3 to the BMP-3 "Dragoon" or BMP-3 "Manul".

[AlexWar]

Personally, I think that such vehicles as the BMP-3 should no longer be produced, it is outdated. As you have seen, planes cannot fly with us now, 2 planes and 2 helicopters were shot down. What kind of landing and ejection are there? But breakthrough machines are needed.
The landing force must be taught how to survive in the forests. Break through the enemy, how to defuse mines.
The landing force must shoot well from a cannon.
The Airborne Forces must go ahead as assault troops. And then motorized rifles.
Their goal should be one to drag everyone on the offensive to break through some section of the front
Tank a couple of terminator vehicles, a couple of infantry fighting vehicles and a couple of platoons of assault units
They trained Vsu, they gathered the best in assault groups and stormed.
At Hitler, motorcyclists and armored personnel carriers were ahead of the tank units, their task was simply to meet resistance and start a fight to transfer to the authorities.

[Victorovich]

The text of your comment is too short and in the opinion of the site administration does not carry useful information.

[AlexWar]

Now it makes no sense to concentrate the airborne units in one direction, but it makes sense to send these guys to different units as support. Now, against our ordinary motorized rifle units, I will simply call them as they used to be called, special forces from the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fighting, these advancing units should meet our airborne units. This means that there are not many of them on a 1-kilometer section. Then no one will run anywhere and there will be no need for colonels to command the battle. When there is someone who is not afraid and the rest will not be afraid.
I will give an example, for example, the unit commander must report, and if he is afraid, he no longer transmits data. His people fled and he with them.
Remember the mobilization were those who shoved the colonels, spoke out, believe me, there are such people in the trenches. There is no discipline in PMC Wagner, in terms of the fact that in each unit there is one who studied as a lieutenant. When a lieutenant is taught he is taught how to fight as a unit. And now the PMC is simply storming in the forehead instead of bypassing the city. I do not think that this is bad, but their way is to clearly grind the enemy. In addition to PMCs, no one storms us head-on, and there is a shortage of assault units in the army, because the front is large
Most of those who are now in the trenches just need those who, as it were, consider themselves an elite.
If there is a good assault platoon, no one will retreat anywhere.
The purpose of these units should be, among other things, the moral support of all other military personnel.

[Victorovich]

Quote from Alexwar

Now against our usual motorized rifle units, I will simply call them as they used to be called

What else are they called now?

Quote from Alexwar

these advancing units should meet our airborne units

and the Airborne Forces are designed to hold the defense ?? Do they have the strength and means to do this???

Quote from Alexwar

This means that there are not many of them on a 1-kilometer section.

This type is enough for 1 km of the airborne detachment and the enemy will be defeated ?? Or maybe just put the flag of the Airborne Forces and that's it?

Quote from Alexwar

I will give an example, for example, the unit commander must report, and if he is afraid, he no longer transmits data.

Scared to retransmit data??? How can you be afraid to transfer data and

Quote from Alexwar

His people fled and he with them.

I see no reason to comment further.