18 January 2001

The BMD-3 airborne combat vehicle was developed at the Volgograd Tractor Plant. The older BMD-1 and BMD-2 airborne combat vehicles were also developed there.

The latter two vehicles were built in large numbers but it is understood that the BMD-3 has been built in much smaller numbers owing to budgetary considerations.

The BMD-3 normally has a crew of seven: three in the front of the vehicle, including the driver; two people in the turret; and two in the troop compartment to the immediate rear of the turret. The troop compartment is very cramped and for short distances the BMD-3 can carry only 10 people.

The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by two water jets mounted at the rear of the hull. Standard equipment includes an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system and night vision equipment. The BMD-3 can be air-dropped on a special platform from aircraft such as the Ilyushin Il-76M.

Specifications

Crew: 3 + 4 (10 max)

Armament: 1x 30mm 2A42 cannon (main); 1x 7.62mm PKT machine gun (ATGW) (co-axial); 1x AT-4 ('Spigot') or AT-5 ('Spandrel')(bow) 1x 30mm AGS-17 grenade launcher 1x 5.45mm RPKS machine gun

Combat weight: 13,200kg

Power-to-weight ratio: 34hp/t

Power pack: 2V-06-02 diesel developing 450hp coupled to a hydromechanical transmission

Length: 6.36m

Width: 3.154m

Height: 2.55m

Max speed: 70km/h

Range: 500km

Airportable: Ilyushin Il-76M (three)

Status

In production. In service with Russian airborne units (100 estimate).

Variants

A number of variants of the BMD-3 are under development and the 125mm 2S25 self-propelled anti-tank gun uses elements of the BMD-3 including the suspension.

Manufacturer

Volgograd Tractor Plant, Volgograd, Russia

The BMD-3 airborne combat vehicle was developed at the Volgograd Tractor Plant (Source: Jane's)