BMD-3

BMD-3
File:Bmd3bakhcha.jpg
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1990 - present
Production history
Manufacturer	Volgograd Tractor Factory
Specifications
Mass	12.9mt
Length	6m
Width	3.13m
Height	2.25m
Crew	3 (+4 passengers)
Armor	turret - steel, hull - aluminum alloy
Main armament	2A42 30mm autocannon with coaxial 7.62mm PK machine gun, 9K11 or 9M111 ATGMs from turret mounted launcher
Secondary armament	bow-mounted AGS-17 Plamya 30-mm automatic grenade launcher and 5.45-mm RPK machine-gun
Engine	2V-06-2 water cooled diesel 450hp
Power/weight	34hp/ton
Suspension	hydroneumatic with variable height control (130mm-530mm)
Operational range	500km
Maximum speed	70 km/h off-road: 45 km/h water: 10 km/h

The BMD-3 "Bakhcha" (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta , Russian "Боевая Машина Десанта" "Бахча", literally "Combat Vehicle of the Airborne") is a light infantry fighting vehicle originating in the Soviet Union that is fully amphibious and air-droppable with crew inside. It is intended to be a fire-support platform for use by airborne and air assault units. It is not an upgraded BMD-1 but a completely redesigned vehicle with a hydropneumatic suspension, new hull, a more powerful 2V-06-2 diesel engine and fitted with the complete turret of the BMP-2.

The vehicle is manufactured at the Volgograd Tractor Factory, Volgograd, Russia under the industrial index Ob'yekt 950. Entered service in 1990.

The BMD-3 was introduced in the last year before the fall of the Soviet Union. About 1,000 BMD-3 and BMD-4 are in service with armed forces of the Russian Federation, and 500 BTR-MD and 57 2S25 have been ordered.

Variants

• BMD-3 (Object 950) - Basic type, as described.
  • BMD-4 (Object 960) - Modified chassis with new turret "Bakhcha-U" comprising: 100mm main gun 2A70, 30mm autocannon 2A72, 7.62mm machine gun, and new fire control system "Ramka". The bow-mounted AGS-17 has been removed. The armament is similar to the one of the BMP-3. BMD-4's are new-build or upgraded BMD-3's. The prototype was known as BMD-3M. Photos
  • RKhM-5 (Object 958) - Chemical reconnaissance vehicle, fitted with the same specialised equipment as the BTR-80 version RKhM-4. The turret has been removed; the RKhM-5 has a fixed superstructure with machine gun turret.
  • BTR-MD “Rakushka” (Object 955) - Multi-role transport vehicle with bigger hull and no turret. This type can be used to transport troops, fuel, ammunition and wounded personnel. It also serves as the basis for a new range of specialised vehicles for the Russian airborne forces, including a mortar platform, an ambulance BMM-D, a command post vehicle and a recovery vehicle. Some of the variants will have a longer chassis with 7 road wheels and probably the same 510hp engine as the 2S25.
  • 2S25 "Sprut-SD (Object 952) - Self-propelled anti-tank gun, armed with a 125mm gun 2A75 that has similar ballistics as the main gun of the 2A46 series and can also fire the ATGM 9M119 "Svir". The chassis has 7 instead of 5 road wheels on each side and the engine is now the 2V-06-2S of 510 hp. The 2S25 has a combat weight of 18 tonnes and a crew of 3. It entered service in 2007. Photos

See also

• BMD-1, BMD-2
• BMP-1, BMP-2, BMP-3
• List of AFVs
• Russian Airborne Troops

Resources

• BMD-4 from DogsWar.ru (Russian)
• FAS
• Military Factory
• Janes