BRADLEY A3 / BMP3 Comparison Report

BMP-3

LAYOUT of the BMP-3: Weapon Systems A 2A70 100-mm gun gunner B 2A72 30-mm autocannon gunner C PKT 7.62-mm coax machinegun gunner Da & Db PKT 7.62-mm machineguns squad machinegunners/driver Crew Members 1 Vehicle Commander 2 Gunner fires main weapons 3 Driver drives, fires Da & Db when 4a & 4b dismount 4a & 4b Machinegunners mans machineguns, dismounts 5 Squad members dismounts 6 spare seat

Hull Capabilities

Hull design & Capabilities

Turret Capabilities

Turret Components

100mm and 30mm Coaxial Weapon System

AT-10 STABBER Antitank Guided Missile The 9K116 Bastion (AT-10 STABBER) is a laser-beam riding, antitank missile launched from the main gun of a T-55AM2B main battle tank, BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and the MT-12 antitank gun. The 9K116 system uses beam-riding laser guidance. The 9K116 uses the 9M117 missile. The ammunition for this system is designated 3UBK10 for the T-55, and 3UBK12 for the BMP-3. This ammunition consists of the 9M117 missile and a propellant sleeve which fits over the rear end of the missile. As a result, the complete 3UBK10 resembles a normal round of 100-mm ammunition. The 9M117 missile has two sets of pop-out fins, a rear set for stability and a front set for steering. For the MT-12, the missile is called the Kastet, and requires that the MT-12 have a special laser designator mounted nearby to provide the necessary guidance. The missile has a 80% probability of hit at 4000 meters. Armor penetration is 550-600 mm of RHA, and the projectile has an effective envelope of 100 to 5000 meters.

BMP-3 (Abu Dhabi Variant) The first export client for the BMP-3 was Abu Dhabi. These are fitted with an externally mounted thermal imaging sight, manufactured by the French firm SAT. The sight could not be mounted in the usual place inside the hull due to the already congested fire control layout.

BMP-3K Command Vehicle BMP-3K is a BMP-3 based vehicle intended for command and control operations in a combat environment. Designed to support company and battalion commanders, the vehicle has a crew of three (commander, gunner and driver), and has work space for three officers. BMP-3K is equipped with a TNA-4-6 navigation system, two R-173 FM radio sets, intercom for seven users, and a portable power unit. The corner mounted PKT machineguns are removed.

9M157-2 The AT-X-15 Khrizantema missile system is mounted on a modified BMP- 3 infantry combat vehicle chassis. A missile launcher consisting of a twin elevating arm with two missiles in the ready-to-launch position replaces the standard turret of the BMP-3, and the firing ports in the rear troop compartment have been removed. An automatic loading system is installed in the back of the vehicle. Once the ready missiles have been launched, the launcher arm is retracted into the hull and loaded automatically. The automatic loading system carries a total of fifteen missiles in launch tubes. Once all fifteen missiles have been expended, missiles are loaded from the right side of the vehicle using an onboard loading device. Standard equipment includes an NBC protection system and a front- mounted self-entrenching blade. The two-man crew, consisting of a commander/gunner and driver, are seated in the front of the vehicle under full armor protection.

BREM-L Armoured recovery vehicle designed for evacuation of infantry vehicles and their modifications, as well as their repair in the field conditions, technical observation of the battlefield during the day or night, transportation of spare parts, earth digging, load handling and welding operations. fully rotatable crane of 5T capacity, retractive winch of 20T capacity (40T - with a pulley block), arc-welding equipment (welding of aluminum alloys provided) •plow-dozer •cargo bed to haul ICV power blocks •rigid coupling and hawsers for recovery

BRM-3 "Lynx" This vehicle is a reconnaissance variant of the BMP-3. This vehicle was designed to conduct battlefield reconnaissance by day and night and under all weather conditions. This vehicle may be a replacement for the BRM-1K and/ or PRP-4 vehicles. The main external differences include no firing ports in the rear troop compartment, removal of the two bow-mounted 7.62-mm PKT machine-guns and removal of the 100-mm 2A70 rifled gun. Equipment installed to enable the reconnaissance role includes the mast mounted 1RL-133- 1 TALL MIKE battlefield surveillance radar (which can be retracted into the vehicle when not in use); the 1PN71 night observation TV device; the 1PN61 night observation device; and the 1D14 periscope laser rangefinder. The electro-optical devices are mounted on either side of the turret and when not being used, the optics are covered by a hinged shutter that opens to the left. The vehicle is also equipped with the latest TNA-4 navigation device and the 1G50 gyro compass which enables the crew to quickly determine their position on the battlefield

Bottom Line: An attempt to cram as much firepower into a small package as possible, with adequate protection and relatively good mobility. It provides a mechanized infantry force with the ability to engage virtually every threat on the battlefield, from helicopters and main battle tanks (with the AT-10), light armored vehicles (with with 30- mm autocannon), and fortifications, troops and other soft targets (with the 100-mm gun firing HE). While a good system, I would choose either the US M2A2 Bradley or GVN Defence Warrior, because of their superior fire control systems, level of protection and mechanical reliability. But for the price, you could probably buy twice as many BMP-3s...