During the course of April 5th, the industrial plant Kurganmashzavod, part of the state conglomerate Rostec, reported a new delivery of Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) BMP-3 to the Russian Ground Forces. The delivery responds to the constant need to replenish vehicles lost in combat in Ukraine.
The industrial production of Russian military equipment has been boosted since the beginning of the conflict, something that, despite inaccuracies in the published data, is evidenced by the figures showing the increase in deliveries and contracts of Kurganmashzavod. During the course of the year 2023, the latter data shows more than 2,000 contracts in various areas of the company, from machine tool operators to electricians, with the process still ongoing today.
The BMP-3 stands as one of the most advanced IFV models in service within the inventory of the Russian Ground Forces, although it has not managed to replace its predecessor, the BMP-2, as the standard bearer of the force. Designed in the 1990s, the armored vehicle has been acquired by the ground forces of various users, including Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates, and Ukraine itself, among others. China, for its part, has relied on this model for the local production of its ZBD-97 or Type 97, with observable changes in its weaponry, to equip the Ground Force of the People’s Liberation Army.
While information is scarce, both from the Russian Ministry of Defense and from the Rostec statement, it is difficult to provide details on the variant that has been recently delivered, such as quantities, but it is presumed from previous statements that the BMP-3M model is being referred to.
If so, the updated model is characterized by the incorporation of the Sodema sight with integrated laser telemetry systems, to which a new type of reactive armor resistant to shots of 12.7 caliber projectiles at 50 meters distance is added, and a UTD-32 engine with 660 HP power. To this is added the standard 100mm cannon capable of using armor-piercing and high-explosive ammunition, along with another 30mm cannon mounted on a Bakhcha-U turret with a range of 4,000 meters.
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