Weight of bmd. BMD - airborne combat vehicles

In the early sixties, the command airborne troops required industry to create a specialized combat vehicle. The airborne combat vehicle (BMD) was supposed to have high mobility and powerful weapons. At the same time, the main quality of the promising technology was the ability to transport and land from existing military transport aircraft.


At the stage of forming the requirements for a new combat vehicle, doubts were often expressed about the very possibility of creating equipment with similar capabilities and minimal dimensions. However, the commander of the Airborne Forces, Colonel General V.F. Margelov was able to convince opponents of the project of its necessity. According to the final requirements, the new BMD had to have characteristics at the level of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. The capabilities of the An-12 aircraft affected the requirements for the dimensions and weight of the vehicle. Thus, the combat weight of a BMD with a parachute system should not exceed 12 tons.

IN research work Several enterprises were involved in the topic of promising BMD, including the Volgograd Tractor Plant. In 1964, Volgograd engineers completed work on two versions of the preliminary design of a combat vehicle. Both options were developed within the framework of the same project “Object 915” and therefore had several common features. The two versions of the project envisaged the use of the same engine, as well as similar layout solutions.

In two preliminary designs it was proposed to place fighting compartment in the middle part of the armored hull, and the engine-transmission unit in the stern. The differences in the layout were the placement of the crew and troops. In the first version of the project, three paratroopers were located in the front of the hull and could use machine gun mounts. Behind the seats of the three paratroopers, a fighting compartment was placed, in which it was planned to equip workplaces for the driver and commander-gunner. Since the driver's seat was moved to a rotating turret, it was equipped with a special rotating mechanism designed to maintain the position regardless of the angle of rotation of the turret. Similar mechanisms were developed for some previous light armored vehicle projects. Behind the fighting compartment it was possible to place two more seats for paratroopers. For landing and disembarking, troops could use hatches in the roof and rear of the hull.



The second version of the Object 915 project was less daring in terms of the ideas used. The driver's workplace was placed in the bow of the hull. To the left of him there was a seat for the commander, to the right for the paratrooper. The commander and paratrooper had machine gun mounts. The weapon system of the second version of the BMD used a turret borrowed from the BMP-1. Three seats for paratroopers were placed between the combat and engine compartments. The set of hatches in the hull corresponded to the first option.

Based on the results of comparing the two options, the first one was recognized as the most profitable. In April 1964, a model of the promising BMD “Object 915” of the first version was assembled, in which the driver was located in the fighting compartment. Despite the comparative complexity of this arrangement of the driver's workplace, at that time it was considered as a convenient and promising technical solution. In this case, the driver had to monitor the road through periscopic observation devices located on the roof of the tower. This had a positive effect on visibility when moving both on land and on water. However, certain psychological problems were identified: getting used to working in a rotating tower could cause great difficulties.

Comparison of the heights of the PT-76 tank and a full-size mock-up of the BMD “Object 915” (second version) in the position with minimum clearance, 1965

The construction of the model allowed us to determine the pros and cons of the new layout, and then refine it. Subsequently, the development of the Object 915 project was carried out through the development of the first preliminary design. Thus, in the technical design, the body of the promising BMD was divided into three compartments. In the front of the vehicle there were three seats for troops, three machine gun mounts with PKT machine guns, batteries, racks for ammunition boxes and spare parts. In the middle part of the hull there was a fighting compartment with a rotating turret. To the left of the weapons in the turret there was a rotating platform with a driver's workplace. To monitor the situation, a small turret with TNPO-170 instruments was provided above the platform. One of them could be replaced with a TVM-26 night vision device. To the right of the weapons in the turret there was a commander's seat and a set of sighting equipment. The commander's viewing instruments were similar to those of the driver. There, to the right of the weapons, they provided space for ammunition racks for a gun, a machine gun and a missile system.

Immediately behind the fighting compartment, in front of the engine bulkhead, there were two seats for paratroopers and racks for ammunition. Next to the paratroopers' positions there were ball mounts for firing from machine guns. For the landing and disembarkation of paratroopers, there had to be a relatively large hatch in the rear part of the fighting compartment. An observation device and a ball mount for firing from a machine gun were also provided in the hatch cover.

A UTD-20A diesel engine with a power of 250 hp was placed in the rear part of the hull. It is noteworthy that the engine for the Object 915 had less power compared to the basic UTD-20 used on the BMP-1. The promising airborne combat vehicle was almost twice as light as an infantry vehicle, which made it possible to choose a lower-power engine. The 250-horsepower UTD-20A diesel engine provided the optimal ratio of specific power and fuel consumption. It was possible to place several fuel tanks inside the hull total capacity 400 liters. The estimated range reached 500 kilometers.

When developing an armored hull for the Object 915 infantry fighting vehicle, Volgograd designers applied the developments obtained during the project of the experimental amphibious tank Object M906. It was supposed to widely use aluminum alloys, which would reduce the weight of the armored hull to 1.5 tons. A steel case with a similar level of protection was 500-550 kg heavier. The frontal parts of the hull and turret of the new landing vehicle provided protection from 14.5 mm bullets when fired from any distance. The side protected the crew and units from 7.62 mm bullets at a distance of 400 m. An interesting fact is that at the same time as the aluminum hull, a steel hull was being developed. Weighing about 2.5 tons, it provided a greater level of protection.

The chassis of the BMD "Object 915" used an adjustable air suspension. On each side of the vehicle there were six road wheels with an air spring, a hydraulic shock absorber and a roller travel limiter. Also on each side of the BMD there were three support rollers, a guide wheel with a hydraulic track tension system, and a drive wheel with a lantern gear. The use of air suspension made it possible to create a system for changing ground clearance. At the driver’s workplace, a control panel was provided, with which he could change the ground clearance in the range from 100 to 450 mm and adjust the track tension.

The requirements for the project included crossing water obstacles by swimming. The sealed hull had a good reserve of buoyancy (about 60%), which could be used to transport additional cargo weighing about 2 tons. For movement on water, two water cannons were placed in the engine compartment. Calculations showed that “Object 915” would be able to swim at speeds of up to 12 km/h.

To simplify design work, the Object 915 airborne combat vehicle in the first version of the project was equipped with a turret designed for light tank"Object 911B". As a result, the main armament of the new BMD became the 2A28 “Grom” smoothbore gun of 73 mm caliber. It was planned to mount a PKT machine gun in the same installation with the cannon. A launcher was provided on the roof of the tower anti-tank missiles complex 9M14 "Malyutka". Thus, the armament complex of the promising landing vehicle fully satisfied the customer’s requirements regarding unification with the BMP-1. To aim the gun and machine gun, the commander could use the PKB-62 combined (day and night) sight. Vertical aiming angles ranged from -3° to +20°.

Three machine guns located in the front of the hull were equipped with periscopic sights and covered a wide sector of the front hemisphere. All three machine gun mounts allowed firing in a horizontal sector 35° wide. Allowable elevation angles are from -3° to +15°. The Object 915 BMD project used machine gun mounts developed during the previous Object 914 infantry fighting vehicle project.

The ammunition of the 2A28 gun consisted of 40 active-reactive rounds, 27 of which were located in the mechanized stowage of the automatic loader. The latter was located in the aft niche of the tower and consisted of 27 tubular containers connected in a chain. Electric drives, at the command of the crew, brought the next container to the loading line and sent a shot into the gun barrel. The remaining 13 rounds were supposed to be transported in the stowage compartments of the fighting compartment. The fighting compartment also managed to accommodate racks for 4,000 machine-gun rounds, two Malyutka missiles, 10 hand grenades and a signal pistol with ammunition.

At a certain stage of the project, the designers of the Volgograd Tractor Plant considered other options for the weapons complex. Thus, instead of the “Grom” gun, it was proposed to install two 14.5-mm KPVT machine guns and retain the launcher of the missile system. In addition, it was proposed to create a two-man turret with a 30 mm automatic cannon, which was later implemented in the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle project.

The development of the first version of the Object 915 project led to the emergence of a new bold idea. The design of this combat vehicle made it possible to create a unified chassis for military equipment for various purposes with a combat weight of no more than 10-12 tons. There is information about the creation of preliminary designs for a light tank, command and staff and ambulance vehicles, as well as a self-propelled anti-aircraft installation. At the end of 1964, assembly of a full-scale model of the second version of the BMD, developed as part of the Object 915 project, began.

The Object 915 airborne combat vehicle project looked promising, but still some of its nuances did not suit the customer. However, the technical design of the BMD, developed in 1964, determined the direction for the further development of this class of equipment. Based on the results of a comparison of several projects, the Ministry of Defense chose the Volgograd Tractor Plant as the developer of a new combat vehicle for airborne assault. In 1965, a project was launched that retained the old designation. As part of the new project “Object 915”, a combat vehicle was created and put into service under the name BMD-1.

Based on materials from sites:
http://dogswar.ru/
http://otvaga2004.ru/
http://b-m-d.info/
http://arms-expo.ru/

Airborne troops have always been the elite - first in the Soviet, and then in Russian army. They differ from conventional ground units not only in their increased level of combat training, but also in their special equipment, of which they have been a part since the 60s of the last century. combat vehicles landing. The most modern example of this light armored vehicle is the BMD 4M. Their serial production has been ongoing since 2015, however, the “biography” of the new combat vehicles began much earlier and was quite difficult.

History of the development of the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle

In the 80s of the last century, a change in generations of light armored vehicles occurred in the Soviet army: motorized rifle troops received the BMP-2, and the airborne troops received the BMD-2. These machines differed from each other in layout and total weight, but were unified in terms of armament, the main element of which was the 2A42 automatic thirty-millimeter cannon.

Apparently, both military customers and armored vehicle designers planned to continue to ensure “firing parity” between conventional infantry and paratroopers. Meanwhile, back in 1977, work began on the creation of the BMP-3, the armament of which was radically strengthened by the new 2A70 gun with a caliber of 100 mm. An attempt to install the same gun on a BMD threatened to unacceptably increase its mass.

Despite these concerns, already during the design of the future BMD-3, the possibility of using the same types of weapons on it as on the BMP-3 was studied. Calculations have shown that the weight of such a machine will exceed 18 tons. This meant that the main military transport aircraft Il-76 could only carry two infantry fighting vehicles, which did not suit the command of the airborne forces.

As a result, the BMD-3 remained with the same 2A42 cannon as the BMD-2, differing from the latter in its weapon control system and slightly reinforced armor. As a “half measure” to increase the level of armament, the new vehicle was equipped with an automatic grenade launcher. In 1990, the BMD 3 was put into service, however, the entire volume of its subsequent serial production amounted to only 137 units.

As a result, by the beginning of the twenty-first century, the Russian Airborne Forces arrived with the obsolete BMD-1 and BMD-2. Both of these machines could no longer provide full fire support on the battlefield. Anticipating such a situation, the designers of the Volgograd Tractor Plant back in 1997 decided to return to the old idea and try to modernize the BMD-3 by installing a Bakhcha-U fighting compartment on it, as on the BMP 3.

On the last day of 2004, the updated airborne combat vehicle was named BMD-4. Within a few months, the first samples entered the airborne troops. It should be noted that even during the development period, the designers managed to get customers to somewhat relax the requirements for the weight of the machine. At first, the military wanted the mass of the BMD-4 to be the same as that of the BMD-3, but after long and painful negotiations, the parties agreed on a limit of 13,200 kilograms. Others received on BMD 4 specifications The customers were quite satisfied.

In reality, the weight was 13.6 tons, which immediately caused a lot of complaints, although it was already clear that it was physically impossible to install a hundred-millimeter cannon with ammunition and not make the vehicle heavier.

In an effort to reduce weight, the designers removed the automatic grenade launcher from the BMD and slightly reduced the ammunition load of the thirty-millimeter cannon, but it was not possible to achieve full “compensation.”

Despite a number of positive reviews, the Ministry of Defense was in no hurry to place orders for the BMD-4. The reasons for this were revealed a little later, but this did not help the Volgograd Tractor Plant - in 2005 the enterprise went bankrupt and was actually abolished. Since the airborne troops still needed to update their fleet of armored vehicles, the BMD-4 project was transferred to Kurganmashzavod, the manufacturer of the BMP-3.

Already in 2008, a converted version of the airborne combat vehicle was demonstrated, designated BMD-4M. The designers of Kurganmashzavod significantly changed the geometry of the armored hull, bringing it closer to the BMP-3, and installed a more powerful engine, which made it possible to slightly increase speed and maneuverability. At the same time, the set of weapons remained the same. It seemed that the project had finally moved forward, however, it was then that the contradictions that had remained “under the rug” among the military leadership surfaced.

In April 2010, V.A. Popovkin, Russia's first deputy defense minister, said on behalf of that department that no purchases of BMD-4M are planned. The new car immediately began to be fiercely criticized - this time quite publicly. Particular indignation was expressed regarding the low level of crew protection and the high purchase price (about 10% more than the T-90A tank). It came to statements about the need to acquire foreign military equipment for the Airborne Forces.

In 2012, the BMD-4M once again “buried” N.E. Makarov, chief General Staff The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which incidentally also cursed the BMP-3. Meanwhile, the new car also had supporters. At the same time, it was not difficult to notice that the BMD-4M was opposed by generals from the “regular” ground forces, while their opponents were representatives of the Airborne Forces. The most authoritative “defender” of the new car was V.A. Shamanov.

It should be taken into account that from 2007 to 2012 the Ministry of Defense was headed by A.E. Serdyukov, who treated the airborne troops with open hostility, since they clearly “did not fit in” with the reform he was carrying out. For some time there was even a question about the complete abolition of the Airborne Forces. Of course, the paratroopers could not come to terms with such an attitude, which led to a long and meaningless “war”, one of the victims of which could well have been the BMD-4M.

Only in 2016 was it decided to adopt a new airborne combat vehicle. The volume of serial production of BMD-4M amounted to over 180 units, production continues. Moreover, it is planned to manufacture new types of amphibious armored vehicles on the chassis of this vehicle. It is difficult to say whether these plans will come true, because the financial situation of Kurganmashzavod is quite difficult - for many years now the enterprise has literally been balancing on the very edge of the abyss, and now there is simply no other manufacturer in Russia.

Goals and objectives

Fighting machine landing BMD-4M was created to solve the following main tasks:

  1. Transportation of airborne troops in the near and operational rear;
  2. Destruction of firing points, armored vehicles, fortifications and manpower of the enemy;
  3. Ensuring protection of airborne troops on the battlefield from fire small arms and fragments of the most common types of shells and mines.

The main quality that distinguishes the BMD from a conventional infantry fighting vehicle is that it can be dropped both by parachute and by landing, together with its crew.

Description of design

In my own way internal structure The BMD-4M is in many ways similar to earlier tracked vehicles for the airborne forces, primarily the BMD-3, however, Kurganmashzavod engineers made a number of changes to the design aimed at achieving the maximum level of unification with the BMP-3. This approach greatly simplifies serial production, repair and maintenance.

Hull and turret

The layout of the BMD-4M is the same as that of other Soviet/Russian airborne combat vehicles. At the front of the case there is a control compartment. It provides space for two paratroopers and a driver (in the center). The middle part of the vehicle is the fighting compartment. Directly above it is a rotating tower. Here, along with the main weapons systems, the commander and gunner are located.

The turret, unlike the aluminum body, is made of steel armor. It is part of a single combat module “Bakhcha-U”, which is also installed on other types of Russian light armored vehicles. The tower can be rotated 360 degrees in a horizontal plane.

Fire control system (FCS)

A set of equipment designed to conduct accurate fire at various targets includes the following main elements:

  1. Commander's sight. With the help of this device, the commander can independently shoot at various targets from cannons and a machine gun, or give target designation to the gunner. Rangefinder, day and night channels are used;
  2. Gunner's sight. Unlike the commander, this BMD-4M crew member can use anti-tank guided missiles, for which there is a separate information channel in his sight. If necessary, you can use twelve times optical zoom. In addition, there is a thermal imager coupled to the sight;
  3. Weapon stabilizer. Alignment is performed in two planes;
  4. A device for automatic target tracking, integrated with sights;
  5. Ballistic computer.

In addition, the commander and gunner have monitors and control panels. All these devices work in close interaction, which is achieved through the use of a single information system, supplemented by sensors to obtain external data about the environment.

The characteristics of the on-board fire control system ensure accurate destruction of targets both from a standstill and during movement, including afloat. It is also possible to fire high-explosive fragmentation shells from closed positions.

Powerplant and transmission

The BMD-4M is equipped with a liquid-cooled multi-fuel diesel engine UTD-29, the same as on the BMP-3. This ten-cylinder engine reaches its maximum power of 500 Horse power at a main shaft speed of 2600 rpm. The highest torque is 1460 Nm. The engine has a dead weight of 910 kilograms. It is capable of operating in high altitude conditions, maintaining all its performance characteristics even at an altitude of 4500 meters.

The transmission of the airborne combat vehicle is also unified with the BMP-3 and is assembled in the same block with the engine. The gearbox is automatic, four-speed, with a hydrodynamic transformer. When driving in reverse, the car can reach a speed of 20 km/h.

Chassis

Representatives of Kurganmashzavod have repeatedly stated that they managed to achieve unification of the BMD-4M with the BMP-3 and the chassis, but if this happened, the changes apparently affected mainly the design details hidden from view. Externally, the previous five road wheels on each side of the vehicle are clearly visible on the BMD 4M. Nothing new is noticed in the design of the tracks.

The BMD-4M airborne combat vehicle is equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension that allows you to change the ground clearance from 190 to 590 mm by raising and lowering the body.

Armament

The Bakhcha-U universal combat module installed on the BMD-4M includes the following types of weapons:

  1. 2A70 gun with automatic loader. Caliber – 100 mm, sighting range – up to 7 km, shot weight – from 15.8 to 18.2 kg, rate of fire – up to 10 rounds per minute;
  2. Automatic gun 2A72. Caliber – 30 mm, sighting range – up to 4 km (in terms of manpower). Feeding – selective, high-explosive fragmentation or armor-piercing cartridges 30x165 mm;
  3. PKTM machine gun. Caliber – 7.62 mm, sighting range – up to 1.5 km;
  4. Anti-tank guided missiles "Arkan" 9M117M3. Launched through the barrel of the main gun. Sighting range– up to 5.5 km, armor penetration – 750 mm (average). Warhead– tandem.

The main gun's ammunition includes 34 rounds, of which 4 are Arkan ATGMs, and 30 regular rounds are placed in the "carousel" of the automatic loader.

The ammunition load of the 2A72 gun consists of 350 shells. If landing is necessary, their number should be reduced to 254 to reduce weight. Compared to the 2A42 gun, which was installed on the BMD-2, the new gun has much lower recoil, but this advantage is obtained by reducing the rate of fire, which calls into question the effectiveness of hitting air targets. However, for the BMD 4M, the characteristics of “anti-aircraft fire” are not so important.

The PKTM machine gun is equipped with two thousand rounds of ammunition.

In addition, on the sides of the turret there are six mortars for launching 3D6M smoke grenades.

Performance characteristics

The main parameters are given for both the BMD-4M and the original version of the combat vehicle.

BMD-4M BMD-4
Weight 13,500 kg 13,600 kg
Case length 6.1 m 6.1 m
Width 3.11 m 3.114 m
Height 2.45 m 2.4 m
Clearance 19-59 cm 19-59 cm
Maximum speed 70 km/h 67.5 km/h
Water speed 10 km/h 10 km/h
Power reserve 500 km 500 km
Engine power 500 hp 450 hp
Capacity Crew – 3 people, landing party – 5 people Crew - 3 people, landing party - 5 people.

Thanks to the replacement of the engine, the BMD 4M airborne combat vehicle has a higher specific power– 37 horsepower per ton (the BMD-4 had 33 hp per ton).

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage that the BMD-4M has over all earlier models of airborne combat vehicles is its very powerful weapons, which allow it to hit any targets at significant distances.

This sample of light armored vehicles has other advantages:

  1. A high level of compatibility with the BMP-3 ensures increased maintainability, ease of operation and maintenance, and also improves the supply of components;
  2. Excellent cross-country ability on any off-road;
  3. The BMD-4M has excellent handling, confidently taking sharp turns and overcoming steep slopes. The car no longer sways, “entering resonance”, as happened with the BMD-1 and BMD-2;
  4. It is possible to enhance security using a set of applied armor. True, during landing it is impossible to use it;
  5. The BMD-4M has a certain reserve of modernization - many other types of military equipment can be made on its basis.

The disadvantages of the new vehicle are in many ways traditional for this entire class of weapons:

  1. Weak armor protection for the crew. The BMD-4M is relatively easily hit by small-caliber automatic guns, and the sides are also vulnerable to large-caliber machine guns;
  2. The main gun's ammunition is located in the middle of the vehicle and has no additional means of protection. Thus, when 100 mm shells detonate, the entire crew is guaranteed to die;
  3. Mine protection is not enhanced in any way compared to earlier models;
  4. The interior of the BMD-4M is very cramped, especially if the fighters are in full combat gear.

In addition, the layout of the machine itself causes criticism. It has been repeatedly suggested that the engine and transmission compartment should be placed in front, which would provide additional protection for the crew. But such a solution is incompatible with landing due to the shift in the center of gravity.

Modifications of BMD-4M

So far, there are only two variants of the BMD-4M - the base model and the “commander” BMD-4K upgraded to its level, designated BMD-4KM.

A whole family of new modifications should appear in the near future:

  1. Self-propelled anti-tank gun 2S25M "Sprut-SDM1". Prototypes of this vehicle are the fighting compartment of the existing Sprut-SD self-propelled gun, rearranged on a modified and extended BMD-4M chassis;
  2. Self-propelled gun for the Airborne Forces 2S42 "Lotos". The chassis is the same as that of the Sprut-SDM1, the armament is a long-barreled universal cannon with a caliber of 120 mm. This machine should replace the well-known “None-S”;
  3. "Cornet-D1", index 9P162M. Installation for anti-tank guided missiles "Kornet" on the BMD-4M chassis;
  4. "Birdcatcher". Anti-aircraft missile system short-range for airborne troops. There is little information about it, but it is known that it will also be produced on the basis of the BMD-4M.

In addition, the press received reports about the use of the BMD-4M to create a repair and recovery tractor and a reconnaissance vehicle.

All this new technology, most likely, will appear in the next decade.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them

Currently, the topic of providing the Airborne Forces with armored vehicles is hotly discussed both in the Ministry of Defense and by military experts. However, this topic seems to deserve much more careful attention - and above all with regard to the fate of the BMD-4 and related issues related to the development of weapons for the Airborne Forces.

UNDEservEDLY OFFENSED BMD

BMD-4 basically answers everything modern requirements. Let's repeat a little: the base chassis is BMD-3, the weapons are BMP-3. Let us remind you that the BMP-3 has been in production since 1979.

Let's move on to consider the performance characteristics of the car. We will not consider everything, only selectively, problematic issues in the comparison of BMD-4 and BMD-2 (BTR-D). Machine weight – more than 13 tons. The question immediately arises: isn’t this too much? Apparently, the mass is prohibitive. For example, the weight of the BTR-D is 8 tons, the Il-76 is capable of transporting three units of the BTR-D (BMD-2), and the BMD-4 only one. Again the question is: where can we get so many planes? There is no answer, just as there are not so many planes.

The transmission on the car is hydromechanical. Easy to operate, but much more complex in design, unlike the BMD-2 mechanical transmission, hence some problems. The transmission device has three powerful oil filters and quite a few different valves. In particular, high-quality fuels and lubricants TSZp-8 (MGE-25T), strict requirements for the presence of moisture and all kinds of impurities, as well as high requirements for the qualifications of operating personnel - in particular, the driver - are used.

The weight of the BMD-4 transmission is more than 600 kg, that of the BMD-2 is more than 200 kg, the difference is significant. Repair of the BMD-4 transmission is carried out only at the manufacturer, while the BMD-2 transmission can be repaired in the field.
The engine on the BMD-4 is of the same family as on the BMD-1, -2 and BTR-D, only these engines are different in power and weight, we will not consider them. There is only one drawback, again the weight of the BMD-4 engine and the dimensions are higher.

The armament of the BMD-4 is similar to the BMP-3: 100 mm 2A70 cannon and 30 mm 2A72 cannon, fire control system (FCS) is basically the same. The weight of the BMD-4 ammunition load is higher than the weight of the BMD-2 ammunition load, and this, in turn, causes a problem with the provision of ammunition; an increase in the number of vehicles or the number of ammunition supplies per day is required.

Vehicle 2S25 "Sprut" - 125 mm self-propelled artillery installation(self-propelled guns), in essence, is the same BMD-3, only with different weapons. The Sprut is equipped with a 125-mm 2A75 cannon, an analogue of the 125-mm 2A46 tank gun of the T-72 tank. The gun's automatic loader was apparently also borrowed from the T-72. In general, the weapon system has been tested for a long time, is reliable and does not cause any complaints. Moreover, the T-72 tank is the most sold abroad and the most belligerent domestic tank, no other advertising is needed. But the weight of the vehicle is 18 tons, which is clearly excessive for an airborne vehicle.

And the weight of 125-mm ammunition is clearly high and incomparable even with the Nona ammunition and the D-30 howitzer with all the ensuing consequences. At the same time, in terms of its combat qualities, the 120-mm Nona HE shell is superior to the 125-mm HE shell and is comparable to the combat power of a 152-mm HE howitzer. If the presence of "Octopus" in Ground forces And Marine Corps necessary, easy to justify and historically confirmed, then the presence of such a heavy and large vehicle in the Airborne Forces is unclear. After all, there are anti-tank missile systems(ATGM), which are most suitable for paratroopers, besides, the Airborne Forces already had a similar ASU-85 vehicle, which was later abandoned, although in general the paratroopers gave it good mark- yes, it weighed 15 tons.

ECONOMIC COMPONENT

On this moment the purchase price for the BMD-4 and Sprut ranges from several tens of millions of rubles per vehicle. This is definitely an inflated price, many times over, and is not justified by anything; the cars obviously don’t cost that much. What is the reason?
For example: at the moment the cost of the T-90 tank is at the level of 55–60 million rubles per vehicle, depending on the configuration. It is not difficult to conclude: at such prices, the Airborne Forces will really be on a starvation diet.

Soviet/Russian combat tracked amphibious vehicle, airborne by parachute, parachute-jet or landing method. The BMD-3 is designed to transport personnel of the airborne troops, increasing their mobility, armament and security on the battlefield.

Entered service in 1990.

History of creation

Work on the creation of the BMD-3 began in parallel with the development of the BMP-3. However, the development results showed that the mass of the BMP-3 with landing equipment will significantly exceed 20 tons, so the Il-76M aircraft will be able to lift on board only one combat vehicle. Therefore, in the early 1980s, work began on creating the appearance of an airborne combat vehicle. During the design, two variants of the BMD-3 were considered. The first assumed a vehicle with an armament complex consisting of a 100-mm 2A70 gun paired with a 30-mm 2A72 small-caliber automatic cannon. The estimated weight of such a BMD was 18 tons. The second option involved the use of a combat module with a 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon. Thus, the loading of the Il-76M aircraft was either 2 BMD weighing 18 tons, or 3 BMD weighing 12.5 tons. Subsequent research work has proven that with the second option, BMD tasks are performed much more efficiently. Based on the experience gained and the results of research, on May 20, 1983, by resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Central Committee of the CPSU No. 451-159, the OCD was officially opened under the code “Bakhcha”. The work included the development of an airborne combat vehicle weighing 12.5 tons. The Volgograd Tractor Plant was appointed as the lead developer.

A month after the decree was issued, the tactical and technical specifications for the new BMD were agreed upon, and the technical design stage was completed. When developing the new BMD, the experience gained during the work on the BMD-1 and the Object 934 light tank was used. By 1985, three prototypes of the new BMD were manufactured and completed acceptance tests. According to the test results, it was revealed that all samples exceeded the permissible weight by 190-290 kg, the chassis of the vehicle gave numerous malfunctions, however, thanks to the prompt work of the VgTZ design bureau, most of the shortcomings were eliminated in May 1986 experienced BMD completed preliminary tests.

In 1986, the Volgograd Tractor Plant produced 3 more prototypes, which were sent for State testing. The new samples exceeded the permissible weight by 400 kg, as they were manufactured taking into account measures to increase the reliability of the chassis components. State tests of the BMD took place from October 27, 1986 to October 27, 1987. Based on the test results, two of the three vehicles were modified and sent for control tests in various climatic zones. The tests were carried out from July 10 to November 19, 1988. The test result on the topic “Melon” was assessed as positive. The vehicle generally complied with the tactical and technical requirements, therefore, on February 10, 1990, the Object 950 combat vehicle was adopted by the USSR under the designation BMD-3.

Description of design

Thanks to the two-channel sight, both the gunner-operator and the vehicle commander can fire from the cannon and the coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. The vehicle is equipped with a stabilized combined day and night (active-passive) periscope sight.
The BMD-3 has individual universal seats for the entire combat crew (7 people), which are attached not to the bottom, but to the roof of the hull, this increases the protection of the vehicle crew from mines and landmines.
There is protection against weapons of mass destruction.
Ammunition, pcs.:
-30 mm rounds for the 2A42 cannon (500)
-cartridges caliber 7.62 mm (2000)
-ATGM “Competition” (4)
-shots for the AGS-17 grenade launcher (290)
-cartridges caliber 5.45 mm (2160)
-Air transportation: Il-76, An-22, An-124, Mi-26
-Airdropping: Il-76, An-22

Characteristics

Combat weight, t: 12.9..13.2
-Crew, people: 2
-Landing, people: 5
-Dimensions:
-Case length, mm: 6000
-Length with gun forward, mm: 6360
-Case width, mm: 3114
-Height, mm: 2170..2450
-Base, mm: 3200
-Gauge, mm: 2744
-Clearance, mm: 130..530
Reservations:
-Armor type: bulletproof. Steel turret, aluminum armor hull
Weapons:
-Caliber and brand of gun: 30 mm 2A42
-Gun type: rifled small-caliber automatic gun
-Cannon ammunition: 500+360
-VN angles, degrees: -5..+75
-GN angles, degrees: 360
-Firing range, km: up to 4
-Sights: BPK-2-42, 1PZ-3, PZU-5, PPB-2-2
-Machine guns: 1 x 7.62 mm PKT 1 x 5.45 mm RPKS-74
-Other weapons: 1 x AGS-17 “Plamya” 1 x PU ATGM 9M111 “Fagot”/9M113 “Konkurs”
Mobility:
-Engine type: Brand: 2B-06-2 Type: supercharged diesel Volume: 16950 cc Configuration: Opposed-6 Cylinders: 6 Fuel consumption in the combined cycle: 136..164 l/100 km Fuel consumption on the highway: 90 l/100 km Cooling: liquid Stroke (number of strokes): 4 Cylinder operating order: 1l-3p-2l- -1p-3l-2p Recommended fuel: DL, DZ, DA, TS-1, T-2, A-72 , A-76, AI-93 Engine power, l. pp.: 450
-Highway speed, km/h: 70..71
-Speed ​​over rough terrain, km/h: 10 afloat
-Highway range, km: 500
- Cruising range over rough terrain, km: 275..330
-Specific power, l. s./t: 24.3
-Suspension type: independent, individual pneumatic
-Specific pressure on the ground, kg/sq.cm: 0.32..0.48
- Climbability, degrees: 35
-Overcome wall, m: 0.8
-Ditch to be overcome, m: 1.5
-Fordability, m: floats

Since the inception of the airborne troops, the thoughts of designers have been occupied with the problem of creating effective weapons and military equipment for them. The experience of the Second World War showed that " winged infantry"in terms of security, firepower and mobility should not be inferior to ground infantry. However, the solution to this problem in the first years of the creation of airborne troops was hampered by the level of development of military transport aviation, as a means of delivering them to the landing site. With the advent of specially created military transport An-8 and AN-12 aircraft and new directions in the development of military theoretical thought, increased industrial capabilities, material and technical prerequisites appeared for the creation of weapons and equipment capable of landing not only by landing, but also by parachute.

Work on the creation of the world's first BMD was started by the design bureau of the Volgograd Tractor Plant in 1965. The designers had to create a high-speed, lightly armored, tracked, amphibious, airborne combat vehicle with the combat capabilities of the ground BMP-1. In 1969, such a machine was created and put into service Soviet army and put into mass production at the Volgograd Tractor Plant under the designation BMD-1. Currently, in addition to the airborne troops of Russia and some other CIS countries, this vehicle is in service with India and Iraq.

The BMD-1 is built according to a design scheme that is classic for tanks, but unusual for infantry fighting vehicles: the fighting compartment is located in the middle part of the hull, and the engine compartment is in the rear. The hull is welded from relatively thin armor plates - for the first time in the practice of Soviet mechanical engineering, aluminum armor was used. This made it possible to significantly lighten the car, but at the expense of protecting the armored space.

The armor protects the crew only from small arms fire of 7.62 mm caliber and shell fragments. The upper frontal plate is very strongly deflected from the vertical - by 78", but the angle of inclination of the lower one is much less and is only 50". This decision was dictated by the desire to increase the volume of internal space, as well as the buoyancy of the car. The wave-reflective shield, which lies on the front frontal plate when driving on land, serves as additional protection.

In the front part of the body along the axis of the machine there is workplace driver mechanic. To enter and exit the car, it has an individual hatch, the cover of which lifts and slides to the right. While driving the car, the driver can observe the terrain in a 60° sector using three periscopes. To the left of the driver is the seat of the BMD commander, who enters and exits the vehicle through his hatch. To monitor the terrain, it has an all-round optical device and one periscope. Communication with higher command is maintained using the R-123 radio station.

WITH right side From the driver there is a gunner's seat, which serves two 7.62 mm machine guns installed in ball mounts on both sides of the bow of the BMD and for this reason having limited firing angles.

In the middle part of the hull there is a fighting compartment with a single turret. The tower is manufactured using a combined method, its main part is made by casting, after which the remaining fragments are welded to it. The gunner's seat is located inside the turret. It serves a 73 mm caliber 2A28 semi-automatic smoothbore gun and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. Ammunition for the gun - 40 rounds - is located in a magazine located around the circumference of the turret, as in the BMP-1. The cannon fires cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells. Since one of the most important requirements for the vehicle was its light weight, the designers had to simplify (compared to the BMP) the automatic loader. The conveyor delivered the projectile selected by the gunner to the loading point, after which the gunner had to manually carry it and insert it into the breech. The turret's armament was complemented by a launcher for launching 9M14M Malyutka anti-tank guided missiles. In addition to one ATGM on the launcher, two more were transported in the vehicle. The launcher, ATGMs, control devices and, finally, the method of installing them on the BMD-1 are exactly the same as on the BMP-1.

Like the BMP-1, the turret's armament is not stabilized. Guidance in the horizontal and vertical planes is carried out using fully electric drives. If they fail, the gunner can use a manual drive.

To observe the terrain and fire, the gunner has at his disposal a monocular periscope sight-rangefinder 1PN22M1. The window of this device is located on the left side of the turret, in front of the gunner's hatch. The rangefinder sight can operate in two modes: day and night. Monitoring in the dark is ensured by an active night vision device (the spotlight is located on the tower, to the right of the hatch). Depending on the weather conditions, the maximum visibility limit ranges from 400 m to 900 m. The eyepiece has a rangefinder scale, the base for which is the target height of 2.7 m. Directly behind the turret there are places for three paratroopers. Two serve the RPG-7 hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher, the third is armed with his standard weapon, a 7.62 mm AKM assault rifle. On the sides and the aft hatch cover there are three periscopes and three ball mounts for firing from personal weapons of the combat crew.

The rear part of the hull houses the engine and transmission compartment, in which a six-cylinder four-stroke liquid-cooled diesel engine 5D20 is installed, developing a power of 176 kW at 2600 rpm. The engine is interlocked with a transmission, which consists of a single-disc dry friction clutch, a five-speed gearbox (one gear reverse), two side clutches with brakes and two single-stage planetary final drives. All these nodes form a single power unit. In addition, gearboxes that drive water jet propulsors are installed in the engine-transmission compartment.

A radiator for the engine cooling system is located above the gearbox. Air circulation through the radiator is ensured by louvers in the top plate of the housing. Two additional fuel tanks are installed on both sides of the air intake on the wings of the vehicle.

The BMD-1 chassis, for one side, includes five rubberized dual ribbed road wheels made of light alloy. The role of elastic suspension elements is performed by hydropneumatic units, combined into unified system. All suspension elements and ground clearance adjustments are located inside the body. The tension wheels are located in the front part of the housing. The track tension is changed using a hydraulic drive. The process of tensioning and loosening the tracks is controlled by the driver-mechanic of the BMD from his seat, without leaving the vehicle. The BMD-1 uses small-link tracks, in which adjacent tracks are connected to each other by means of common fingers. In the middle part of the tracks, on their inner surface there are guide ridges. The upper branches of the caterpillars rest on four supporting rollers, two of them (the middle ones) are located outside the ridges, and the outer ones are behind them. The caterpillar track is not covered with protective screens.

The BMD-1 is capable of swimming across water obstacles. Movement on water is carried out by water-jet propulsors located in the engine-transmission compartment. The water cannons are mounted in tunnels, the inlets of which are located in the bottom of the vehicle, and the outlets in its rear. The inlet and outlet openings are closed with special sliding flaps, which perform the functions of both protection and steering when swimming. Closing the valves of one of the water jets causes the machine to turn. The BMD-1 floats perfectly on the water, while possessing good swimming speed - up to 10 km/h - and maneuverability. During swimming, a wave-reflective shield rises in the front part of the hull, preventing the front of the car from flooding with water.

The additional equipment that the BMD-1 is equipped with includes a filter-ventilation unit, an automatic fire extinguishing system, and smoke-generating equipment. In addition, a radio beacon is installed on the BMD-1, the signals of which indicate to the crew members the location of the vehicle dropped on parachute system from a transport aircraft. All paratroopers - crew members, dropped with parachutes separately from the BMD-1, have radio sensors that receive beacon signals. This greatly facilitates and speeds up the search for a car, which is often quite a difficult task.

To ensure external communications, the R-123M radio station is installed on the airborne combat vehicle. Communication inside the vehicle is provided by the R-124 tank intercom.

Successful design solutions incorporated in the creation of the BMD-1 made it possible to use it as a base vehicle in the development of other types of weapons for the airborne troops. In 1971, on the basis of the BMD-1, the BMD-1K command airborne combat vehicle was created. In this vehicle, unlike the BMD-1, two radio stations and a gas-electric unit were installed for autonomous power supply.

In 1974, the BTR-D tracked armored personnel carrier, created on the components and assemblies of the BMD-1, was adopted by the airborne troops. It differed from the BMD-1 by having a body lengthened by almost 400 mm, the presence of an additional pair of road wheels, and the absence of a turret with weapons. The armament of the BTR-D depended on its purpose, however, most often it consisted of two 7.62 mm machine guns installed in the nose of the vehicle, an automatic 30 mm AGS-17 grenade launcher, one or two machine guns and four smoke grenade launchers. BTR-Ds were used as control vehicles, artillery tractors and auxiliary vehicles (for example, ambulance and communications). The permanent crew of the BTR-D consisted of three people; the troop compartment housed ten soldiers.

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