History:

The BMP-3 was first seen in public during a military parade in Moscow in 1990 and is built by Kurganmashzavod, which has also developed the BMP-2 infantry combat vehicle. The BMP-3 represents a totally different design concept from the BMP-1 and BMP-2 series. The BMP-3 is a light tank that can hold a complete infantry squad. It has a 100mm main gun that fires HE and long-range ATGMs through its barrel, a 30mm autocannon and a medium machine gun combined to a single unit in the turret. The hull of the BMP-3 is similar to the BMD Airborne Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The new turret is located in the center of the vehicle with the commander seat on the right and the gunner seat on the left side. The troop compartment at the rear of the hull can be accessed through a pair of doors in the rear side of the hull. The BMP-3 is fully amphibious and is propelled in water by two water-jets which are mounted at the rear of the hull. The armor of the BMP-3 is reinforced by laminated aluminium, and it gives protection against 30-mm armor-piercing rounds only over the front side of the vehicle. The front side of the turret is covered with a layer of spaced armor. On both sides of the turret are banks of three 81 mm electrically operated smoke dischargers.