Rostec delivers new BMP-3s, BMD-4Ms as Russia ramps up wartime production

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on 23rd October 2024. 

Kurganmashzavod has delivered a new batch of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and BMD-4M airborne IFVs to the Russian armed forces, all fitted with additional protection designed for the war in Ukraine, according to an 8th October press release on the Rostec website. Russia is ramping up its production of armoured fighting vehicles and all land warfare systems to meet the needs of its expanded and heavily committed armed forces.

The modernised vehicles have been fitted with bar armour around the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle as well as a protective cage over the turret that is designed to protect against some of the effects of drone-delivered munitions. Available imagery indicates that there is an additional sheet of spaced armour added to the sides of the vehicle, which is then used as the mount for the bar armour.

The spaced armour may be designed to increase protection of the vehicle against artillery fragments. The BMP-3 and BMD-4M are built from aluminium armour, which is relatively weak and softer than steel equivalent armours. This makes the sides of the vehicles vulnerable to small arms fire above 7.62 mm and artillery fragments.

The bar armour will offer protection against warheads like the PG-7 that can be fired from an RPG or is often used to arm first person view (FPV) drones. Bar armour is known as a form of statistical protection as it has a probability of disrupting the fuzing mechanism on a PG-7 type warhead. This means it might damage the fuze and copper lining that the warhead uses to penetrate armour, or it might not. It is only effective against RPG-type projectiles.

This image shows a modified BMD-4M with the spaced armour and bars fitted to the sides. A chain skirt around the turret is also visible, likely designed for FPVs. Credit: Russian social media accounts.

The vehicles are also supplied with a “Cloak” (Ru: Nakidka) thermal-signature reducing camouflage system, which reduces the heat signature of the vehicle and is also designed to absorb radar signals to reduce its probability of being detected.

Russian forces are known to use their BMP-3s and BMD-4Ms in offensive operations as well as to provide defensive fire support. In the latter scenario, the vehicles may be held in a bed-down position some way behind the most forward positions. They are brought forward to fire at Ukrainian positions using their 100 mm 2A70 rifled gun, which has a maximum effective range of 5,000 m and a rate of fire of 8 – 10 rounds per minute.

It can fire guided missiles like the 9M117M1 Arkan, which can penetrate 650 mm of rolled homogeneous armour, as well as a suite of 100 mm ammunition including the 3UOF19 high-explosive fragmentation round. The ammunition has a dispersion rate of around 10 m at a range of 2,000 m, which means that it can be effectively used against point targets to provide fire support, according to The Soviet Armour Blog.

The movement of vehicles between bed-down positions and firing points likely exposes them to Ukrainian FPVs and other weapons. The movement of vehicles makes it difficult for them to conceal themselves. However, when stationary and providing fire support, the Nakidka would likely reduce the vehicle’s signature and make it more challenging for Ukrainian forces to find.

Barnaultransmash has increased production of BMP engines by 50% in 2024, according to Rostec. Credit: Rostec.

Kurganmashzavod has increased production of both vehicles by 20% over the same period in 2023, according to Rostec. This is in line with other announcements from Russia’s defence industry, including one from September indicating that Barnaultransmash has increased production of BMP engines by 50%. This is the fourth batch of BMP-3s delivered in 2024, and the second of BMD-4Ms, which are used by Russia’s airborne forces. Kurganmashzavod is also responsible for repairing BMPs damaged during the war in Ukraine as well as producing new platforms. Moreover, a recent RUSI report indicates that Russia is ramping up its production of large calibre barrels to meet its needs in Ukraine. Altogether this indicates that a significant expansion of Russia’s defence manufacturing is under way, especially for land platforms as it works to replace vehicles lost in the war.