BMD management. BMD - airborne combat vehicles

The newest combat vehicle. To paraphrase the motto of the paratroopers “no one but us,” we can say about “baemdashki”: no one but them can do this!

Military operation has begun: shooting, field tests, overcoming obstacles. When three tracked vehicles, shrouded in a snow whirlwind, synchronously cross the bridge, almost rearing up - this, brothers, is strong! The engines are roaring, the paratroopers are running around quickly, and here are the factory workers, “representatives of the manufacturer.”
This is “controlled military exploitation”, which our army owes to the current Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu. If earlier from the appearance of a new military equipment Years passed before it was put into service (and the results were often unsatisfactory), but now new items are immediately sent to the troops, where they are driven “in tail and mane”, identifying weaknesses and shortcomings. “And the factory workers are surprised: everything worked fine for them,” the military men laugh.
The BMD-4M, which will be discussed, has been undergoing such operation since the end of last summer, and bloggers may not hear any names of these machines. No wonder: the first ten copies are being tested.

BMD 4M photo airborne combat vehicle

“Gardener,” which was assigned to the new combat vehicles on the Internet, has nothing to do with them, just like “Bakhcha-U.” All this is a designation of turrets with weapons, but neither one nor the other is installed on the new vehicle. Therefore - just BMD-4M. "Fourth generation, modernized." And to be precise - completely redesigned.

• What types of BMD - airborne combat vehicles are there?

The BMD-1, put into service in 1969, made a real revolution: the paratroopers received a hitherto unprecedented vehicle - light, compact, floating... And most importantly, parachuted.
Remember the first parachute landing experience of a KAMAZ: after a hard landing, its front end was dented. And the “bamdashes” must land not just unharmed, but with the crew inside - and immediately enter into battle!
Therefore, the suspension was made hydropneumatic, the body was welded from durable but light aluminum armor (they say for the first time in Soviet history), and since 1971, the driver-mechanic and commander parachuted along with the car - in additional seats, like cosmonauts.
Over ten years, more than two thousand BMD-1s were produced - during this time the model underwent a number of upgrades and managed to fight in Afghanistan. There it turned out that the 73-mm Grom cannon was ineffective. It did not have a stabilizer, it did not allow shooting at mountain tops, and the shells did not penetrate Afghan mud walls well.

In 1 photo you can see smoke after firing at BMD 2, in another photo BMD 1 with a short-barreled 73 mm cannon in Afghanistan photo

Therefore, the BMD-2, which was put into service in 1985, had its cannon replaced with another - automatic, 30 mm caliber (it is called a “helicopter gun” because it is also installed on combat helicopters). And the vehicle turned out to be so successful that it is not only still in service, but also remains the main “armor” of the Russian landing force.

photo from the BMD-2 turret, flames on the sides - from the previous shot

But the BMD-3, which appeared at the turn of the nineties, on the contrary, turned out to be unsuccessful: it received a new armored hull, became larger and much heavier... But the weapons did not change! And since production took place during the era of economic collapse, in eight years the Volgograd Tractor Plant assembled only 137 copies.
Finally, at the beginning of the 2000s, the BMD-4 appeared - essentially the same three-ruble note, only with a turret from the BMP-3. But this car almost suffered the same fate as its predecessor: the plant in Volgograd went bankrupt, introduction into the troops was incredibly delayed...

The BMD-2 crew fires from a 30-mm automatic cannon, followed by a BMD-4M in the background photo

And the military didn’t just ask, they demanded new equipment. Here is a quote from an interview with the Commander-in-Chief of the Airborne Forces Vladimir Shamanov “ Rossiyskaya newspaper" in 2012:

The car is needed like air. Even in the fight against gangs in the North Caucasus, we lacked firepower. What if the enemy is more serious? With one 30-mm cannon and one anti-tank missile on the turret that fires every once in a while, you can’t fight much today!

And here is a quote from the speech of the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimova

BMD-2 are outdated both morally and physically. The cars are 20-25 years old, and sometimes more. Wear of the main components and assemblies does not allow the use combat capabilities. For this reason, during the march to the training ground (we are talking about a sudden check of the combat readiness of the troops), two BMD-2 units failed.

• BMD 4M photo airborne combat vehicle from Kurgan

And now, finally, before us is the BMD-4M - developed and made not in Volgograd, but in Kurgan. There are only two external differences from the previous BMD-4: the exhaust (not at the stern, but on the right) and the rollers (with a groove, like the BMD-2). But the “filling”...
Since Kurganmashzavod traditionally produces infantry fighting vehicles, the new infantry fighting vehicle is 60% unified with the BMP-3: it has a chassis, a turret with weapons, water cannons, and electrical equipment.
And a “power unit” with an engine - a 500-horsepower multi-fuel UTD-29 from the Barnaultransmash plant. By the way, the BMD-2 has a diesel engine, also from Barnaul, but 240 horsepower. So the power has more than doubled! Whereas the mass is 1.75 times. And fuel consumption has almost doubled: for the BMD-2 it is equal, judging by the capacity of the tanks and the power reserve, to 56 l/100 km, and for the new car - 92 l/100 km. But the power reserve itself remained the same - 500 km.

Engines BMD-2 and BMD-4M photo

And the weapons are not even dual, but triple: a 100 mm gun, a 30 mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. True, the designers had to make a compromise: since the “helicopter” gun did not fit here, it was replaced with an “airplane” gun, which had a slower rate of fire. But the shooting accuracy, on the contrary, has increased: since the 30-mm barrel is rigidly attached to the thick “pipe” of the 100-mm gun, it does not swing when moving. And if previously, to hit a target on the move, it was necessary to use a dozen or two 30 mm shells, now a few shots are enough for this.
And anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) are launched directly through a 100-mm barrel, by pressing a button, whereas with the BMD-2 you have to get out of the car to do this.
Finally, now the BMD is landing not only with the driver and commander, but with the entire crew and landing party. This means that after landing, fighters no longer have to look for their vehicles - which often land several kilometers away...
Of course, you have to pay for everything - for example, the features of landing.

removable hood covers, on the front BMD-2, in the background BMD-4M

If the BMD-2 can “jump” from different aircraft, from the AN-26 to Antey, then for the larger and heavier BMD-4M only the IL-76 is suitable, and it is now being modernized so that not two, but three vehicles can be landed.

photo comparative dimensions of the BMD-2 (she is on the left) the new BMD-4M looks like a real tank. The difference in armament is visible: the BMD-2 has one 30-mm cannon, the BMD-4M has a cannon of this caliber paired with a 100-mm gun

Well, now it’s time to feel like a mechanic, driver and gunner! For starters - on the well-deserved BMD-2. Oh, how low the BMD-2 is compared to armored personnel carriers! “This is to hide from the enemy,” the military commented. “If the BMDs lie on their bottom, lowered on hydropneumatic suspension, they can crawl unnoticed through a wheat field.” In addition, such a suspension allows you to deceive electronic sights, which contain the dimensions of various armored vehicles. Electronics are lost: they say, what is this?
Let's compare with the BTR-82A (which finally received an electric turret rotation drive and a weapons stabilizer), is any of this set present on the BMD-2. And do you know what it turned out to be? The "baemdashes" of the eighties!!!, unlike the BTR-80, which is the same age, have it all!
“The Airborne Forces have always received the best,” the paratroopers smile. “Therefore, the design of the “baemdashki” is twenty, or even thirty, years ahead of similar infantry equipment.”
But from the point of view of a mechanic-driver, the BMD-2 is approximately the same as an armored personnel carrier, only with a workplace in the middle and levers instead of a steering wheel. There are three pedals, the dashboard is ancient.

spartan workplace of the BMD-2 driver; dashboard from Soviet times; a jumble of pipes and rods on the floor is visible

After starting the diesel engine, the first thing you need to do is set the idle speed regulator (900-1000 rpm). Then, having depressed the clutch, we engage first gear, pull both side levers towards ourselves, release first the clutch, then the “side” levers - and off we go. True, the driver sitting next to me changed the gears for me: so that I could concentrate on driving!!!
But it is quite understandable: you need to turn to the right - pull the right lever (the right track is braked, and the car spins around it), to the left - the left lever, brake - both levers. The levers are tight, but the “baemdashka” goes exactly where you want it - be it on a snowy road or in an open field. And the ride comfort is much higher than that of an armored personnel carrier, fortunately the suspension is hydropneumatic.

BMD 4M photo airborne combat vehicle passport details

Model		BMD-2	BMD-4M
Combat weight, T		8,0	14,0
Crew, people		2	3
Troops, people		5	4 (♦ reserve place)
External	length	5970	6000
dimensions, mm	width	2700	3150
	height	2180	2700
Ground clearance, mm	min.	100	100-30
	Max.	450	500+30
Engine		diesel 5D20-240	multi-fuel UTD-29
Max, power, hp		240	500
Specific power, hp/t		30,0	35,7
Transmission		mechanical	hydromechanical
Max, speed, km/h	along the highway	60-61	70
	afloat	10	10
Fuel tank capacity, l		280	460
Cruising range, km		500	500
Armament	gun-launcher (caliber)	-	2A70 (100 mm)
	gun (caliber)	2A42 (30 mm)	2A72 (30 mm)
	machine gun (caliber)	PKT (7.62 mm), 2 pcs.	PKTM (7.62 mm)
Ammunition	shots to the gun	-	34
	shots to the cannon	300	464
	machine gun cartridges	2980	2000
	ATGM	3	4

But in the gunner’s place, in the turret, it was difficult for me: in my size 56 winter overalls I could barely fit there. Somehow I squeezed into the hatch and stuck my legs under the seat. They say to me: “Do you see three buttons on the Cheburashka? Turn them on!” “Cheburashka” is a turret and weapon control panel with two aiming “ears” on the sides. And I can’t even press the buttons, I can barely breathe: “Cheburashka” rested right on my chest, crushing it. I turn on the electric drives with difficulty and understand: I can look through a regular sight, but it’s already difficult to look through an anti-aircraft sight (it’s to the left).
“We should take small and skinny ones as gunners here,” I sighed, getting out. Moreover, if the gunner is wounded or killed, you won’t be able to drag him from his place inside the vehicle even if you wanted to. And after firing in the turret there is a natural smoke screen: the gunner opens the hatch and smoke pours out...

• Description BMD 4M photo airborne combat vehicle

It is not surprising that when I headed to the BMD-4M, I was skeptical. But I was shocked - firstly, by the space, and secondly, by the abundance of cutting-edge solutions and electronics. (If it fails, the crew will simply switch to traditional control.)
The first shock awaited me at the gunner's place. Yes, here I can not only breathe, but move freely and even take photographs! And “Cheburashka” doesn’t interfere at all. If before the “turretman” sat alone (and the commander was below, to the left of the driver), now the commander and gunner are side by side. Both have the same thermal imager remotes, and you can point and shoot while looking directly at the screen. But there are also traditional sights, and they are located more conveniently than on the BMD-2.

BMD-4M - spaciousness, modern furnishings, only two pedals... and on-board computer messages, color shock-resistant display

The spaciousness and ambience in the “driver’s cabin” were no less shocking. Instead of levers, there is a steering wheel like a bicycle, and above it there is a gear selector, reminiscent of the Volga GAZ-21. Is there an automatic transmission here? Exactly! That’s why there is no clutch pedal, but the “brake” is wide, suitable for any foot.
Above the helm there is a block of illuminated buttons with clear inscriptions, on the left hand there is a multi-colored (which was absolutely amazing) shockproof monitor with images of instruments and messages from the on-board computer (“Ready to launch”, “Parking brake on”, “Attention! Close the hatches!”) . The feeling is as if you are sitting not in a “tank”, but in a spaceship!
Well, I won’t close the hatch, because I’ll go, like on the BMD-2, “in a camping manner” - raising the seat with a foot lever at the base and sticking my head out. How to start the engine?
“Electric starter, air or a combination,” they instruct me. “You press the desired button, then wait 20 seconds for the system to complete the diagnostics, depress the gas pedal, press the starter button again...”

Button block and automatic transmission selector photo BMD-4M

In armored vehicles - a color monitor with images of instruments. The driver-mechanic BMD-4M - spaciousness, modern furnishings, only two pedals... and on-board computer messages? Can't be! And the steering wheel instead of levers, the button block and the automatic transmission selector are very informative. Three yellow buttons (on the right) are responsible for starting the engine.

R-r-r-bang: the rumbling engine suddenly stalled. Did I do something wrong? Released the gas too quickly! But the second time everything worked out. They helped me set the speed, I removed the car from the “mountain brake” (analogous to a car handbrake), moved the transmission selector to “R” and, “beeping”, carefully backed up. And then everything is simple: first gear, acceleration, second - and drove across the field, steering with literally one finger. And if the BMD-2 is controlled perfectly, then the BMD-4 is also incredibly easy. And therefore, I can add to the military expression “beautiful equipment fights well”: but you don’t get tired of comfortable and modern equipment! The BMD-4M has much more space and comfort for the gunner; both the gunner and the commander have thermal imagers, with which they can both aim and shoot.

The working clearance of the BMD-4M is 420 mm, but can vary from 500 to 100 mm

You know what I didn't expect? How the paratroopers will answer my question whether they like the service. Several people from the BMD crews, without saying a word, said that they were very interested: “Well, of course, we are studying new equipment.” And to serve with interest - you will agree, is completely different from mastering the machines whose levers the fathers of today's guys sat at.
By 2025, the Airborne Forces should receive about 1,500 new “baemdashes” - which, as the military assures, has no analogues in the armies of other countries. So - what a landing! And for these machines to be fired only at firing ranges.

The armored vehicles of Russia and the world, photos, videos, watch online, were significantly different from all their predecessors. To provide a large reserve of buoyancy, the height of the hull was noticeably increased, and to improve stability, its cross section was given a trapezoidal shape. The required bullet resistance to the hull was provided by rolled cemented armor with an additionally hardened outer layer of the KO brand (Kulebaki-OGPU). In the manufacture of the hull, armor plates were welded on the inner soft side, and special stocks were used to facilitate assembly. To simplify the installation of units, the upper armor plates of the hull were made removable with a seal on fabric gaskets lubricated with red lead.

Armored vehicles of the Second World War in which the crew of two people was located near the longitudinal axis at the back of each other's heads, but the turret with weapons was shifted 250 mm to the left side. The power unit is shifted to the starboard side in such a way that access for engine repairs was possible from inside the tank's fighting compartment after removing the safety partition. At the rear of the tank, along the sides, there were two gas tanks with a capacity of 100 liters each, and directly behind the engine there was a radiator and a heat exchanger, washed by sea water when moving afloat. At the stern, in a special niche, there was a propeller with navigable rudders. The balance of the tank was chosen in such a way that when afloat it had a slight trim to the stern. The propeller was driven by a cardan shaft from a power take-off mounted on the gearbox housing.

Armored vehicles of the USSR in January 1938, at the request of the head of the ABTU D. Pavlov, the tank’s armament was to be strengthened by installing a 45-mm semi-automatic gun or a 37-mm automatic gun, and in the case of installing a semi-automatic gun, the crew was to be increased to three people. The tank's ammunition was supposed to consist of 61 rounds for the 45 mm cannon and 1,300 rounds for the machine gun. The design bureau of plant No. 185 completed two projects on the “Castle” theme, for which the Swedish Landsverk-30 tank was used as a prototype.

The Wehrmacht armored vehicles did not escape troubles with engine boost. To what has been said, we can only add that this crisis was actually overcome only in 1938, for which the tank received not only a forced engine. To strengthen the suspension, thicker leaf springs were used. Rubber tires made of neoprene, a domestic synthetic rubber, were introduced, the production of tracks from Hartfield steel by hot stamping began, and high-frequency-hardened fingers were introduced. But all these changes to the tank were not introduced simultaneously. The tank hull with inclined armor plates could not be manufactured on time. However, the conical turret of improved protection was delivered on time, and the tank with the same hull, reinforced suspension (due to the installation of thicker leaf springs), a forced engine and new tower entered testing at the NIBT test site.

Modern armored vehicles went under the code T-51. It retained the process of transition from tracks to wheels, like the prototype, by lowering special levers with wheels without a person leaving. However, after adjusting the requirements for the tank, making it a three-seater (it was decided to retain backup control for the loader), and strengthening its armament to the BT level, it was no longer possible to implement the Landsverk-type wheel drive. In addition, the tank's wheel drive transmission was overly complex. Therefore, soon work on the “Castle” theme was carried out on the T-116 tank, in which the “change of shoes” was carried out according to the BT type - by removing the track chains.

The development of a new combat vehicle - “object 915” - began in 1965 at the Volgograd Tractor Plant Design Bureau (VgTZ), headed by I.V. Gavalov. The designers had to create a high-speed, lightly armored, tracked, amphibious airborne combat vehicle with combat capabilities similar to the ground-based BMP-1 that was being developed at that time. The initial plan provided for the creation of a conventional landing unit, consisting of the vehicle itself, the MKS-5-128R multi-dome parachute system and the P-7 serial landing platform. The platform was intended to roll the block into the plane, ensure its exit from the plane using a pilot chute, and cushion the landing. However, the required landing mass, determined by the carrying capacity of the An-12 aircraft for a given number of simultaneously loaded combat vehicles, did not allow the creation of a vehicle with a corresponding TTZ dead weight. In order to ultimately meet the weight limit, the idea was proposed to use a hydropneumatic suspension with variable ground clearance on the car. This implied the possibility of implementing the following scheme: a block (a machine with a parachute system) independently enters the plane, then lowers to the bottom and is moored for the duration of the flight; when ejected, the block on the bottom moves along the roller conveyor of the aircraft's cargo deck and leaves the side. In addition, it was assumed that during the flight to the ground, the vehicle's road wheels would automatically lower to maximum ground clearance. Then the suspension, brought into working condition, will play the role of a shock absorber upon landing. However, it soon became clear that such a decision would lead to unpredictable bouncing of the car after landing and a possible capsize. In this case, the car inevitably had to become entangled in the lines of the parachute system. This problem was solved with the help of special disposable shock-absorbing skis, but the road wheels had to be fixed during the landing in a special upper position “D”, right up to the unmooring operation, which was carried out on the ground.

In 1969, the Object 915 airborne combat vehicle was put into service airborne troops Soviet army under the designation BMD-1. Since 1968, it has been mass-produced at VgTZ.

1 and 21 - inserts with embrasures; 2 - upper frontal sheet; 3 - base of the driver's hatch; 4 and 6 - roof sheets; 5 - ring; 7 and 8 - stops for installing the platform of the parachute-jet system; 9,14 and 20 - rear, middle and front upper side sheets; 10 - ring for installing and fastening the final drive; 11 - hatch for ball mounting for AKMS assault rifle; 12 - hole for supporting the air spring; 13 - holes for the axis of the support roller; 15 - balancer support bracket; 16 - lower side sheet; 17 - balancer bracket; 18 - hole for the guide wheel crank bracket; 19 - towing hook; 22 - lower frontal sheet; 23 - hinge doors of the wave-reflective shield

1 - hinge flaps of the wave-reflective shield; 2 - vehicle commander’s hatch; 3 - clip for observation device; 4 - hole for the TNPP-220 device; 5 - machine gunner's hatch; 6 - aft hatch cover; 7 - hole for installing the supercharger valves of the collective protection system; 8 - hole for the MK-4s device; 9 - removable engine air intake cover; 10 and 27 - hatches for access to the filling necks of fuel tanks; 11 and 24 - removable covers for access to water and oil pipelines; 12 and 16 - removable roof sheets for access to the power compartment; 13 - protective grille with mesh; 14 - outlet of the drain pipe; 15 - rear inclined sheet; 17 - hole for water flow pipe; 18 - hole for installing the water jet damper glass; 19 - towing device; 20 - stern sheet; 21 - bracket for installing a removable ski mounting bracket; 22 - pad (breaker fist); 23 - hatch for ball mounting for AKMS assault rifle; 25 - hole for antenna input cup; 26 - hatch for access to the oil tank filler neck; 28 - hatch for access to the filling neck of the cooling system; 29 - hinge flaps for parachute systems; 30 - hole for the exhaust fan valve; 31 - hole for installing VZU equipment PRHR

The BMD-1 has a layout that is classic for tanks, but unusual for infantry fighting vehicles: fighting compartment is located in the middle part of the hull, and the engine and transmission is in the stern. 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 the car much lighter, but at the expense of security. The armor could only protect the crew from fire small arms 7.62 mm caliber and shell fragments. The upper frontal plate is very strongly inclined to the vertical - 78°, the angle of inclination of the lower one is much less and is 50°. This decision was dictated by the desire to increase the volume of internal space, as well as the buoyancy of the machine. The wave-reflective shield, which lies on the front frontal plate when driving on land, serves as additional protection. The body in the bow narrows, its cross-section is T-shaped with developed fender niches. The turret is welded from steel armor, borrowed from the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. Its frontal parts protect against 12.7 mm armor-piercing bullets.

In the front part of the body along the axis of the machine there is a workplace for the driver. 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 prismatic observation devices TNPO-170. To monitor the movement of the BMD afloat, instead of the middle TNPO-170 device, the TNP-350B device with increased periscope is installed. To drive a car at night, instead of the average daytime observation device, a night-time non-illuminated binocular observation device TVNE-4 is installed. To the left of the driver is the seat of the BMD commander, who enters and exits the vehicle through his hatch. The commander is equipped with a heated periscope observation device - the TNPP-220 sight, in which the sight arm has a 1.5-fold magnification and a field of view angle of 10°, and the observation arm has viewing angles of 21° vertically and 87° horizontally. The same TNPP-220 device is installed on the machine gunner sitting to the right of the driver. At night, the commander uses the TVNE-4 device. The paratroopers, located behind the fighting compartment at the aft partition of the MTO, use two prismatic heated devices TNPO-170 and a periscopic device MK-4S (in the aft hatch).

1 - bracket for connecting the pilot chute lock; 2 - bracket for attaching shock-absorbing skis; 3 - pad for attaching the PRS probe; 4 - emphasis for shock-absorbing skis; 5 - hole for releasing gases from the heater boiler; 6 - hatch for draining oil from the tank; 7 - protective grille of the water jet; 8 - brackets for fastening the PRS probe; 9 - hatch for access to the pressure reducing valve of the engine oil pump; 10 - hatch for draining oil from the gearbox; 11 - grip for installing removable brackets for fastening shock-absorbing skis; 12 - rear towing hook; 13 - hatch for draining oil from the engine; 14 - hatch for draining fuel from tanks; 15 - hole for draining coolant; 16 - hatch for access to the tension mechanism of the mechanized ammunition conveyor

In the middle part of the hull there is a fighting compartment with a single-seat turret, borrowed from the BMP-1, inside which there is a gunner’s seat. It serves a 73 mm caliber 2A28 Grom semi-automatic smoothbore gun with concentrically located recoil devices and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The gun has a wedge breech and a sector lifting mechanism. The height of the firing line is from 1245 to 1595 mm, depending on the established ground clearance. Direct shot range at a target 2 m high is 765 m. The longest sighting range is 1300 m. Combat rate of fire is 6 - 7 rounds/min. Ammunition for the gun - 40 PG-15V rounds with cumulative anti-tank grenades is located in a mechanized (conveyor) installation located around the circumference of the turret on a rotating platform, as in the BMP-1. Since one of the most important requirements for the vehicle was its low weight, the designers had to simplify (compared to the BMP-1) 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 simultaneous solution of such tasks as searching for targets, aiming a gun, loading it and firing is quite a complex problem for one person, so the psychophysical data of the gunner noticeably deteriorated depending on the duration of hostilities and the number of shots fired. The armament of the tower was supplemented by an anti-tank launcher guided missiles- ATGM (according to the terminology of that time: rockets - ATGM) 9M14M "Malyutka", access to which is through a special hatch in the roof. The rocket is controlled through the wires of a single-channel system, in which control forces in the pitch and heading planes are created by one executive body. The control is divided into two mutually perpendicular planes due to the forced rotation of the rocket in flight at a frequency of 8.5 rpm. In total, the vehicle carries three ATGMs (two in the turret and one in the hull) and 2,000 rounds of ammunition for the coaxial machine gun. The latter are loaded into belts, which are placed in two magazines of 1000 rounds each, placed in a cartridge-link collector. After installing the magazines in place, the tapes are connected to each other by a cartridge.

1 - commander's hatch cover; 2 - stopper; 3 and 16 - screens; 4 - driver's hatch cover; 5 - machine gunner hatch cover; 6 - belt handle; 7 and 15 - hinge doors; 8 - hole for observation device; 9 - hole for the ball device; 10 - aft hatch cover; 11 - bracket; 12 - torsion bar; 13 - finger; 14 - locking screw; 17 - stop; 18 - loop

Like the BMP-1, the turret's armament is not stabilized. Guidance in the horizontal and vertical planes is carried out using 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 combined (day and unilluminated night) monocular periscope sight 1PN22M1.

1 - 73 mm smoothbore gun; 2 - driver's seat; 3 - battery; 4 - distribution panel; 5 - 7.62 mm machine gun, coaxial with a gun; 6 - machine gunner's seat; 7 - supercharger of the collective protection system; 8,9 and 31 - shooters' seats; 10 - ball mount for firing from machine guns; 11 - relay regulator; 12 - manual hydraulic pump; 13 - generator blowing fan; 14 - hydraulic pump drive clutch; 15 - removable engine air intake cover; 16 - filler neck of the right lower fuel tank; 17.28 - fuel tanks; 18 - hydraulic system reservoir; 19 - water radiator; 20 - protective cover over the outlet valve of the sump pump; 21 - water pump; 22 - rear marker light; 23 - protective grille with mesh; 24 - water pipe; 25 - antenna input; 26 - power block; 27 - oil tank assembled with the heater boiler; 29 - coarse fuel filter; 30 - hydraulic pump; 32 - rotating tower; 33 - gunner-operator seat; 34 - exhaust fan; 35 - sight; 36 - commander's seat; 37 - PRHR sensor; 38 - power supply; 39 - PRHR control panel; 40 - switching block; 41 - apparatus A-1 tank intercom; 42 - installation of a 7.62 mm machine gun; 43 - box for machine gun belt; 44 - radio station; 45 - power supply unit for direction indicator; 46 - air cylinder

1 - gyro-compass; 2 - radio power supply; 3 - machine gun installation; 4 - driver's seat; 5 - radio station; 6 - observation device with a built-in sighting tube; 7 - central shield of the driver; 8 - driver's hatch; 9 - driver observation devices; 10 - power supply unit for the driver’s night observation device; 11 - battery; 12 - magazine box; 13 - battery switch; 14 - valve-reducer of the engine air intake system

The sight embrasure is located on the left side of the turret roof in front of the gunner's hatch. In night mode, the visibility range depends on the background of the area, the transparency of the atmosphere and the amount of natural light and averages 400 m. The field of view angle is 6°, the magnification factor is 6.7. In daytime mode, the sight has a 6x magnification and a field of view of 15°. In the eyepiece to the right of the aiming reticle there is a rangefinder scale designed for a target with a height of 2.7 m. In addition to the sight, the gunner uses four TNPO-170 periscopic devices to monitor the terrain.

In the embrasures along the edges of the frontal part of the hull, two PKT machine guns are installed in ball bearings. The vehicle commander and machine gunner fire from them. The ammunition load of each machine gun consists of 1000 rounds, placed in four standard boxes. The maximum effective firing range using the TNPP-220 sight is 800 - 1000 m.

In the middle part of the vehicle's hull, on both sides and in the aft hatch cover, there is one ball mount for firing from AKMS assault rifles. Ball installations located on the sides are closed by armored flaps, which are opened manually from the shooters' workplaces.

The rear part of the hull houses the engine-transmission compartment, in which a 6-cylinder V-shaped four-stroke liquid-cooled 5D20 compressor-free diesel engine is installed, developing a power of 240 hp. (176 kW) at 2400 rpm. Taking into account the small weight of the machine - only 6700 kg - this gives a very high value power density- 32 hp/t, which, in turn, allows the machine to develop maximum speed more than 60 km/h. Engine displacement - 15,900 cm 3, weight - 665 kg. Power is taken from the engine to the transmission on the flywheel side, and to the hydraulic pump drive - HLU-39 on the opposite side.

Fuel - diesel DL, DZ or YES. The total capacity of fuel tanks is 280 l. Fuel is supplied using a six-piston high-pressure block pump.

A special feature of the air supply system is the air intake device, which consists of two kinematically connected valves that alternately block the air intake from outside the vehicle and from the fighting compartment, which increases the safety of movement afloat. The air intake from the engine is heated.

The cooling system is ejection and also provides dust extraction from the air cleaner and ventilation of the MTO. It includes a calorifier-type heater for heating the fighting compartment.

1 - embrasure cheek; 2 - gun embrasure; 3 - holes for wedges; 4 - cutout for a machine gun; 5 - hatch for installing 9M14M; 6 - eye; 7 - hole for fan; 8 - operator's hatch; 9 - ring; 10 - tower roof; 11 - clips for surveillance devices; 12 - hole for mounting a sight

1 - sleeve link collector; 2 - roller; 3 - sleeve-link collector cover; 4 - PKT store; 5 - lock; 6 - rib; 7 - lifting mechanism; 8 - gun 2A28; 9 - launch bracket; 10 - mounting bracket for the lifting mechanism; 11 - sector; 12 - eccentric handle; 13 - bracket; 14 - observation device; 15 - guide; 16 - drive roller; 17 - intermediate roller; 18 - conveyor drive; 19 - sight 1PN22M1; 20 - front support of the turret rotation mechanism; 21 - thrust; 22 - ATGM control panel; 23 - gunner-operator seat; 24 - conveyor frame; 25 - guide mounting bracket; 26 - roller bracket; 27 - centering roller; 28 - platform suspension bracket in the tower; 29 - rear hinge support of the turret rotation mechanism; 30 - turret rotation mechanism; 31 - connection rod between the sight and the gun; 32 - roller for installing the guide; 33 - PKT machine gun, coaxial with a gun; 34 - conveyor chain; 35 - platform; 36 - centering ring; 37 - guide support

1 - bushing; 2 - intermediate clip; 3 - outer ring; 4 - nut; 5 - rubber ring; 6 - seal; 7 - spring; 8 - support; 9 - travel stopper; 10 - sleeve link outlet; 11 - housing roof; 12 - outer disk; 13 - internal disk; 14 - body; 15 - observation device - sight TNPP-220; 16 - protective cap; 17 - axis; 18 - forehead protector; 19 - eccentric clamp; 20 - electric trigger button of the machine gun; 21 - handle; 22 - bunker; 23 - frame for installing a box with tape; 24 - front pillar; 25 - frame with sliders; 26 - bed; 27 - torsion balancing device; 28 - bracket; 29 - torsion bar

The main method of starting the engine is with an electric starter; air starting is possible, but the car does not have a compressor. There is an automatic mechanism for protecting the engine from water ingress, preventing its penetration into the engine cylinders when it stops while overcoming a water obstacle or washing.

The engine is interlocked with a transmission consisting of a single-disc dry friction clutch, a four-speed manual gearbox with constant mesh gears and synchronizers in 3rd and 4th gears, two side clutches with band brakes and two single-stage planetary final drives. The side clutches are multi-disc, with steel-on-steel friction. The main clutch, gearbox, and side clutches are connected to the engine into one 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 placed above the gearbox. Air circulation through the radiator is ensured thanks to the shutters in the upper plate of the housing.

The BMD-1 chassis, applied to one side, consists of five rubberized dual ribbed road wheels made of light alloy. The role of elastic suspension elements is performed by hydropneumatic springs, combined into unified system. As elastic element they use compressed nitrogen, the force of which is transmitted through a liquid.

1 and 2 - magazine boxes for the right-hand machine gun; 3,4 and 9 - bags for signal and lighting cartridges (missiles); 5 and 7 - stowage of 9M14M ATGM shells; 6 - mechanized (conveyor) stacking for 40 PG-15v rounds; 8 - bags for F-1 hand grenades; 10-slots for stowing grenades for RPG-7; 11,12 and 13 - box magazines for the left directional machine gun; 14-- lower magazine box for a coaxial machine gun; 15 - upper magazine box for coaxial machine gun

1 - crankcase; 2 - flywheel; 3 - pointer arrow: 4 - tachometer sensor; 5 - block head; 6 - block head cover; 7 - coolant outlet fitting; 8 - fine fuel filter; 9 - exhaust manifold; 10 - high pressure tube; 11 - fuel pump; 12 - fuel priming pump; 13 - rod for measuring the oil level in the regulator; 14 - centrifugal oil filter; 15 - all-mode regulator; 16 - fuel pump control lever; 17 - cover of the access hatch to the nozzle; 18 - intake manifold; 19 - generator; 20 - air distributor; 21 - starter gear

Hydropneumatic suspension is more complex than torsion bar suspension, but has more favorable elasticity characteristics over a wide range of loads. In addition, it combines the functions of an elastic spring, a hydraulic shock absorber that dampens body vibrations, an actuator power cylinder when the vehicle's ground clearance changes from 100 to 450 mm, and a mechanism for holding the road wheels in the upper position when the body is suspended. The suspension allows you to reduce the overall height of the vehicle when stopping and driving on a flat road, hang it when installed on a landing platform, and reduce the protruding undercarriage when moving afloat. All suspension elements and ground clearance adjustments are located inside the body. The guide wheels are located at the front of the housing. The track tension is changed using a hydraulically driven crank mechanism. The process of tensioning and loosening the tracks is controlled by the driver from his seat, without leaving the car. The BMD-1 uses small-link caterpillars with OMSh, consisting of 87 tracks each. In the middle part of the tracks, there are guide ridges on their inner surface. The upper branches of the caterpillars rest on four single-pitch rubberized support rollers, two of them (the middle ones) located outside the ridges, and the outer ones behind them. The caterpillar track is not covered with protective screens.

Movement on water is carried out by water-jet propulsors located in the engine-transmission compartment along the sides of the vehicle's hull. The water cannons are mounted in tunnels, the inlets of which are located in the bottom of the vehicle, and the outlets in its stern. 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 cannons 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 water from flooding the front part of the hull of the machine.

The additional equipment equipped with the BMD-1 includes a collective protection system against weapons of mass destruction, an automatic fire extinguishing system, as well as water pumping and smoke-generating equipment.

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 for five subscribers.

On the basis of the BMD-1, since 1971, the BMD-1 K command vehicle was produced, on which the following were additionally installed: a second radio station R-123M; antenna filter; second device A2 of the R-124 intercom; gas-electric unit; heading indicator; heater and fan of the middle compartment; radiation and chemical reconnaissance device PRHR (instead of the GD-1M gamma sensor); two removable tables. To improve the commander's working conditions, the left directional machine gun mount was removed from the vehicle.

In 1974, the BTR-D tracked armored personnel carrier, created under the leadership of A.V. Shabalin at the VgTZ design bureau using components and assemblies of the BMD-1, was adopted by the airborne troops. Prototypes of this vehicle underwent military tests in the 119th Parachute Regiment of the 7th Guards. Airborne Division, which has since become a kind of base for testing new equipment.

The appearance of the BTR-D was not accidental. Strict requirements for limiting weight forced the dimensions and, accordingly, the capacity of the BMD-1 to be limited. It could accommodate only seven people: two crew members and five paratroopers (for comparison: in the BMP-1 - 11). Thus, in order to put the Airborne Forces “on armor”, too many combat vehicles would be required. Therefore, the idea arose to develop an armored personnel carrier based on the BMD-1, weaker armed, but having a larger capacity. It differed from the BMD-1 by having a body lengthened by almost 483 mm, the presence of an additional pair of road wheels, and the absence of a turret with weapons. The BTR-D's armament consisted of two front-facing 7.62-mm PKT machine guns mounted in the nose of the vehicle, similar to the BMD-1, and four 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers, mounted in pairs on the rear wall of the troop compartment. In the second half of the 1980s, some vehicles were equipped with a 30-mm AGS-17 “Plamya” automatic grenade launcher, mounted on a bracket on the right side of the hull roof. The permanent crew of the BTR-D consists of three people: a driver and two machine gunners; the troop compartment accommodates ten paratroopers. On the sides of the troop compartment, the height of which, compared to the entire hull, is slightly increased, there are two embrasures with ball mounts for firing from AKMS assault rifles and two prismatic heated devices TNPO-170. In the aft hatch there is an MK-4S periscope device and another ball mount for firing from a machine gun. Observation in the front sector from the troop compartment can be carried out through two rectangular viewing windows, which are closed with armored covers in the combat position. In front of the roof of the troop compartment there is a landing commander's hatch, borrowed from the BMP-1. The observation sector through the TKN-ZB device and two TNPO-170 devices installed on the hatch is expanded due to its rotation on a ball bearing. Despite the increased size, due to the abandonment of the turret with weapons, the combat weight of the BTR-D, compared to the BMD-1, increased by only 800 kg.

In 1979, on the basis of the BTR-D, the BTR-RD “Robot” armored personnel carrier was created, equipped with the 9P135M launcher of the “Konkurs” anti-tank complex for the 9M113 ATGM or 9P135M-1 for the 9M111 “Fagot” ATGM. It entered service with the anti-tank units of the airborne troops. Later, on the basis of the BTR-D, the BTR-ZD “Skrezhet” was created for transporting crews anti-aircraft missile systems(six Strela-3 MANPADS). This vehicle is also used as a chassis for mounting a 23-mm ZU-23-2 twin automatic anti-aircraft gun on a field carriage on the roof of the hull.

The BTR-D also served as the basis for the creation of a self-propelled artillery piece 2S9 “Nona” and 1B119 “Rheostat” artillery control vehicles. The latter is equipped with a ground target reconnaissance radar with a detection range of up to 14 km, a laser rangefinder (detectable distance up to 8 km), day and night observation devices, a topographic surveyor, an on-board computer, two R-123 radio stations, one R-107. The crew is accommodated in the control room, the instruments are installed in a rotating turret. Armament includes a course PKT, MANPADS, and three Mukha-type RPGs.

The command and staff vehicle of the "regiment - brigade" link KShM-D "Soroka" is equipped with two R-123 radio stations, two R-111 radio stations, an R-130 reconnaissance radio station and classified communications equipment. The battalion-level BMD-KSh "Sinitsa" has two R-123 radio stations.

The BREM-D armored repair and recovery vehicle is equipped with a boom crane, a traction winch, a shovel opener and a welding machine.

On the basis of the BTR-D, the R-440 ODB “Phobos” satellite communication station, a sanitary armored personnel carrier, as well as launch and control stations for remotely piloted aircraft type "Bee" and "Bumblebee" of the Malachite aerial surveillance complex.

In the late 1970s, BMD-1s were subject to changes during major overhauls. In particular, on some vehicles a block of smoke grenade launchers of the 902V “Tucha” system was installed in the rear part of the turret; on others, the road wheels were replaced with newer ones (later such rollers appeared on the BMD-2).

1 - bottom; 2 and 6 - prisms; 3 - transition frame; 4 - upper body; 5 - intermediate prism; 7 - cover; 8 - visor; 9 - safety cushion; 10 - clip; 11 - forehead protector; 12 - lower body; 13 - eccentric clamp; 14 - toggle switch

In 1978, a modernized version of the BMD-1P was put into service with increased firepower due to the installation, instead of the Malyutka ATGM, of a launcher for firing ATGMs of the Konkurs or Fagot complex with semi-automatic guidance, increased armor penetration and an expanded range of combat ranges. The complex is designed to destroy tanks and other mobile armored objects moving at speeds of up to 60 km/h, stationary targets - firing points, as well as hovering enemy helicopters, subject to their optical visibility at ranges of up to 4000 m. The launcher of the 9M14M complex on the gun mantlet has been dismantled , and on the roof of the turret there is a bracket for mounting the 9P135M launcher machine of the Konkurs (Bassoon) complex. The shooter can aim and launch an ATGM by leaning out of the turret hatch. The ammunition load consists of two 9M113 missiles and one 9M111 missile, which are stowed inside the body in standard launch containers. In the stowed position, a launcher is placed inside the body, and in addition, a tripod, which allows for guidance and launch of ATGMs from the ground.

The ammunition load of the 2A28 gun includes 16 OG-15V rounds with fragmentation grenades. In mechanized laying, they are spaced evenly - after three PG-15V shots, two OG-15V are stacked. The ammunition load for the PKT course machine guns is 1940 rounds in belts of 250 rounds, packed in six boxes; 440 rounds are in original packaging. The vehicle is also equipped with improved surveillance devices and a 1PN22M2 sight, new rollers, and the engine and transmission have undergone some modifications. The combat weight of the BMD-1P increased to 7.6 tons.

BMD-1 airborne combat vehicles began to enter service with the troops in 1968, that is, even before their official adoption. The first to receive new equipment and begin to master it was the 108th Parachute Regiment of the 7th Guards. Airborne Division, which became the first regiment fully armed with BMD-1. In the remaining shelves at first new technology Only one battalion was equipped. The first division equipped with new equipment was the 44th Guards. Airborne Division, followed by the 7th Guards. vdd. According to the staff, the parachute regiment is supposed to have 101 BMD-1 and 23 BTR-D, not counting the combat vehicles for various purposes at their base. The process of arming the airborne troops with combat vehicles was completed only by the beginning of the 1980s.

In parallel with the development of new technology, during the 1970s there was a process of mastering the means of landing it. At the first stage, the P-7 parachute platform and the MKS-5-128M and MKS-5-128R multi-dome parachute systems were used to land the BMD-1 and BTR-D. The P-7 parachute platform is a metal structure on removable wheels, designed for landing cargo with a flight weight of 3750 to 9500 kg from Il-76 aircraft at a flight speed of 260 - 400 km/h, and from An-12B and An-22 - at 320 - 400 km/h. The versatility of the platforms, the multiplicity of proven mooring options and the presence of a full set of fasteners made it possible to land literally anything on them - from a combat vehicle to a caterpillar tractor or field kitchens. Depending on the mass of the cargo being dropped, a different number of parachute system blocks were installed on the object (from 3 to 5, 760 m2 each). When landing at speeds of 300 - 450 km/h and minimum height ejections of 500 meters, the rate of descent of objects is no more than 8 m/s. To absorb the shock at the moment of landing, air or honeycomb shock absorbers are used.

By the end of 1972, quite a lot of experience had been accumulated in dropping BMD on multi-dome parachute systems and special platforms. The paratroopers successfully used new combat vehicles in large tactical exercises; they took them from the sky, unmoored them and entered into “battle” with them. The systems had a fairly high reliability, confirmed by a large number of landings - 0.98. For comparison: the reliability of a conventional parachute is 0.99999, that is, one failure per 100 thousand uses.

However, there were also disadvantages. The weight of the platform with wheels and mooring means, depending on the type of vehicle and aircraft, was from 1.6 to 1.8 tons. Preparation for landing required quite a long time, and transportation of systems to airfields took a long time. large quantity freight vehicles. It was difficult to load moored cars onto planes. The low speed of descent of the BMD on multi-dome parachute systems was also not satisfactory. In addition, when landing, the domes interfered with the movement of combat vehicles; they got into the tracks, melted, causing the movers to jam. The greatest difficulty lay elsewhere. From airplanes different types From one (An-12) to four (An-22) vehicles were dropped, the crews jumped after them. Sometimes the paratroopers scattered at a distance of up to five kilometers from their BMDs and searched for them for a long time.

At the turn of the 1960s - 1970s, the commander of the Airborne Forces, General of the Army V.F. Margelov, conceived a bold and, at first glance, unrealizable idea - to parachute people directly into the equipment, and not separately, as was done before. This achieved a significant gain in time and increased the mobility of the landing units. Margelov understood perfectly well that with a significant scattering of paratroopers and equipment combat mission may turn out to be impossible - the enemy will destroy most of the landing force immediately after landing.

In the summer of 1971, development began on the “parachute system - combat vehicle - man” complex, which received the code designation “Centaur”. It was created at the beginning of 1972. The testers began dumping the mock-up of the machine with people. Overload tolerance was checked by specialists from the State Research Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine. The vehicles were equipped with simplified space chairs of the “Kazbek” - “Kazbek-D” type. After receiving positive results, a stage of technical landings of the complex from aircraft followed. Then - resetting the BMD with dogs - the results are also excellent; the animals tolerated the overload normally. In mid-December 1972, testers L. Zuev and A. Margelov (son of the commander of the Airborne Forces) and five backups (cadets of the Ryazan School and athletes of the Central Sports Parachute Club of the Airborne Forces) under the leadership of the deputy commander for airborne service Lieutenant General I.I. Lisov underwent final training for landing inside a combat vehicle on a special simulator near the village of Medvezhye Lakes near Moscow.

The idea of ​​landing people inside the BMD was put into practice on January 5, 1973, when at the Slobodka parachuteport (near Tula), the Centaur crew - commander Lieutenant Colonel L. Zuev and gunner-operator Senior Lieutenant A. Margelov - fell on their heads for the first time in world history “enemy” from the sky in airborne combat vehicles.

A total of 34 landings of systems of this type were carried out, in which 74 people took part. From the An-12 aircraft, the BMD-1 and the entire crew landed inside. This happened at the Ryazan Airborne Command School on August 26, 1975. The use of a joint landing complex allowed the crews of combat vehicles to prepare the vehicle for battle in the first minutes after landing, without wasting time on finding it, as before, which significantly reduced the time it took for the landing force to enter the battle. Subsequently, work to improve joint landing systems continued.

Other shortcomings of multi-dome parachute systems were eliminated in the PRSM-915 parachute-rocket system adopted by the Airborne Forces. This is a strapdown parachute landing craft designed for landing specially prepared cargo and military equipment from Il-76 and An-22 aircraft equipped with roller conveyor equipment, or from an An-12B aircraft equipped with a TG-12M transporter. A distinctive feature of the PRSM-915, in comparison with the MKS-5-128R with the P-7 parachute platform, is the following: instead of five blocks of main parachutes in the MKS-5-128R, each of which has an area of ​​760 m2, the PRSM-915 uses only one main parachute with an area of ​​540 m²; Instead of a parachute platform with a shock absorber, a jet engine-braker is used.

The operation of parachute-jet systems is based on the principle of instantaneous damping of the vertical descent speed at the moment of landing due to the thrust of jet engines mounted on the object itself. At the beginning, after separation from the aircraft, the main parachute is put into operation using the EPS (exhaust parachute system), which dampens and stabilizes the falling speed. At this time, the automation of the reactive system is activated; a special generator spins up and charges a large capacitor - its charge will then be used to ignite the brake motor. Two probes, lowered vertically down, have contact contacts at their ends. When they touch the ground, they trigger the powder jet engine, which instantly reduces the vertical speed from 25 m/s to zero. The length of the probes is set depending on the mass of the object, the height of the terrain and the air temperature in the release area.

1 - support; 2 - power hydraulic cylinder; 3 - lever; 4 - crank; 5 - guide wheel; 6 - air spring; 7 - support roller; 8.9 - supporting rollers; 10 - balancer stop; 11 - drive wheel; 12 - final drive; 13 - track

The advantage of this system is that an additional platform is not required to land objects. All elements of the PRS are attached and transported on the machine itself. Disadvantages include some difficulty in organizing the storage of elements of the PRS, their use only for a certain type of military equipment, and greater dependence on external factors: temperature, air humidity.

On January 23, 1976, the Reactavr or Jet Centaur joint landing complex was tested using the PRSM-915 parachute-jet system. In the landing combat vehicle were Lieutenant Colonel L. Shcherbakov and, as in the case of the “Centaur,” the son of the Airborne Forces commander A. Margelov. The tests were successful. In subsequent years, about 100 landings of the Reactavr system were carried out.

The practice of large-scale training landings by airborne troops became characteristic of the 1970s. In March 1970, for example, a major combined arms exercise “Dvina” was held in Belarus, in which the 76th Guards Airborne Chernigov Red Banner Division took part. In just 22 minutes, more than 7 thousand paratroopers and over 150 units of military equipment were landed.

The experience of airlifting a significant amount of military equipment and personnel was useful when sending troops into Afghanistan. In December 1979, formations and units of the Airborne Forces, conducting essentially independent airborne operation, landed in Afghanistan at Kabul and Bagram airfields and before approaching ground forces completed the assigned tasks.

The use of BMD-1 and BTR-D in Afghanistan was not very successful and therefore short-lived. The thin armor of the bottom and the small mass of the vehicles meant that when exploded by powerful landmines, they were practically destroyed into their component parts. Weaker anti-tank mines either completely destroyed the chassis or pierced the bottom.

The impossibility of firing on mountain slopes and the low effectiveness of 73-mm shells against adobe walls were immediately revealed. Therefore, most airborne units in Afghanistan switched to the ground BMP-2, and then to a variant with reinforced armor - the BMP-2D. Fortunately, there was no need for an airborne combat vehicle in Afghanistan, and the paratroopers fought there as elite infantry.

BMD-1 and BTR-D were not exported. However, judging by Western publications, Cuba received a small number of BMD-1s, which used them in Angola. After the withdrawal of Cuban troops from the African continent, several vehicles apparently remained in service with government forces and, judging by photographs, participated in a major battle with UNITA troops near Movinga in 1990. Apparently Iraq also had a small number of BMD-1s in 1991.

After the collapse, a significant number of airborne combat vehicles remained outside of Russia, in some former Soviet republics, on whose territory airborne forces were stationed. As a result, these vehicles were used by warring parties in armed conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria.

By the time of the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, the Vienna negotiations on concluding the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) were already in full swing. According to data that Soviet Union presented for its signing, as of November 1990, the USSR had 1632 BMD-1 and 769 BTR-D on this continent. However, by 1997, in the European part of Russia, their numbers amounted to 805 and 465 combat vehicles, respectively. At the moment, their number has decreased even more - combat losses in the North Caucasus and technical wear and tear have affected them. Up to 80% of machines have been in operation for 20 years or more, 95% have undergone one or even two major repairs.

In the early sixties, the command of the airborne troops demanded that industry 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 the fighting compartment in the middle part of the armored hull, and the engine-transmission compartment 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, a place was provided for ammunition racks for a gun, a machine gun and missile complex.

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 the Object 911B light tank. 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. On the roof of the tower there was a launcher for anti-tank missiles of the 9M14 “Malyutka” complex. 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 stowage for 4,000 machine-gun cartridges, 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 gun. 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/

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, adopted by the 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 a workplace for the driver. 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.

On the right side of the driver is the gunner's seat, which serves two 7.62 mm machine guns mounted in ball mounts on both sides of the BMD bow 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 reverse gear), 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 a single 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.