BMP-2

This article is about the Soviet infantry fighting vehicle. For other uses, see BMP-2 (disambiguation).

The BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty, Russian: Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally "combat machine/vehicle (of the) infantry")^[4] is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s.^[5]

BMP-2
BMP-2
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Service history
In service	1980–present
Wars	See combat history
Production history
Manufacturer	Kurganmashzavod, Ordnance Factory Medak, ZTS Detva
Produced	1979–present
No. built	20,000+ (USSR), 26,000-35,000 (licence-built variants included)^[1]^[2]
Specifications
Mass	14.3 tonnes (15.8 short tons; 14.1 long tons)
Length	6.735 metres (22 ft 1.2 in)
Width	3.15 metres (10 ft 4 in)
Height	2.45 metres (8 ft 0 in)
Crew	3 (+7 passengers)
Armor	33 millimetres (1.3 in) (max)^[3]
Main armament	30 mm 2A42 autocannon 9M113 Konkurs ATGM,
Secondary armament	7.62 mm PKT machine gun
Engine	diesel UTD-20/3 300 hp (225 kW)
Power/weight	21 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed	65 km/h (40 mph) (road) 45 km/h (28 mph) (off-road) 7 km/h (4.3 mph) (water)

Development history

Main article: BMP development

 

The BMP-1, the predecessor to the BMP-2

Although the BMP-1 was a revolutionary design, its main armament, the 2A28 Grom and the 9S428 ATGM launcher capable of firing 9M14 Malyutka (NATO: AT-3A Sagger A) and 9M14M Malyutka-M (NATO: AT-3B Sagger B) ATGMs, quickly became obsolete. Therefore, the Soviet Union decided to produce an updated and improved version of the BMP-1. The main emphasis was put on improving the main armament. In 1972, work got under-way to develop an improved version of the BMP-1.

During its combat debut in the Yom Kippur War, Egyptian and Syrian BMPs proved vulnerable to .50 calibre machine-gun fire in the sides and rear, and to 106 mm M40 recoilless rifles. The 2A28 Grom proved inaccurate beyond 500 metres, and the 9M14 Malyutka missile could not be guided effectively from the confines of the turret.

Several Soviet technical teams were sent to Syria in the wake of the war to gather information. These lessons, combined with observations of western AFV developments, resulted in a replacement project for the original BMP in 1974. The result was the BMP-1P upgrade, which was intended as a stopgap to address the most serious problems with the existing design.

Smoke grenade launchers were added to the rear of the turret and the manually guided 9M14 Malyutka missile system was replaced with the semi-automatically guided 9K111 Fagot / 9M113 Konkurs system. The BMP-1P was in production by the late 1970s. Existing BMP-1s were gradually upgraded to the BMP-1P standard during the 1980s.

Design

 

BMP-2 graphic.

The BMP-2 is broadly similar to the BMP-1. The most significant changes are:

• The commander now sits with the gunner in an enlarged, two-man turret.
• Armament changed to the 2A42 30 mm autocannon and the 9P135M ATGM launcher capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M111 "Fagot" (AT-4 Spigot), 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel) and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" (AT-5B Spandrel B) anti-tank missiles.
• Only seven troops can be carried instead of eight.
• Two rear infantry roof hatches instead of four.
• Slightly improved armour.

Layout

 

BMP-2 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine demonstrates its amphibious capabilities.

In the centre of the vehicle is the welded steel turret, which seats the commander and gunner, both of whom have hatches. The commander sits to the right and has three day-vision periscopes, a 1PZ-3 day-sight designed for anti-aircraft use with 1.2× and 4× magnification, an OU-3GA2 infra-red searchlight, a TNP-165A designator and a TKN-3B binocular sight with 4.75× day magnification and 4× night-sight magnification.

The gunner sits to the commander's left and has a smaller rectangular hatch with a rearward-facing day periscope. There are three other day periscopes facing forward and left. The gunner has a BPK-1-42 binocular sight with a moon/starlight vision range of 650 metres, or 350 metres using the infra-red searchlight, and a TNPT-1 designator. An FG-126 infra-red searchlight is mounted coaxially to the 30 mm cannon.

The driver sits in the front left of the vehicle, with the engine in a separate compartment to his right. The driver has his own entry hatch above him, with three-day-periscopes. The centre TNPO-170A periscope can be replaced with either a TNPO-350B extended periscope for amphibious operation or a TVNE-1PA night vision scope. An infantryman sits immediately behind the driver, and has a firing port and vision block. TNPO-170A periscopes are used throughout the vehicle and are electrically heated.

In the BMP-1 and BMP-2, ammunition is stored near or even inside the compartment, which can lead to a catastrophic failure in case of a hull breach.^{[citation needed]}

Mobility

The BMP-1 and BMP-2 share the same chassis and have almost identical road performance. The BMP-2 is heavier, but also has a more powerful engine to compensate.

The BMP-2 is amphibious with little preparation, using hydrodynamic fairings to convert track momentum into water jets. Peacetime regulations require that any BMPs entering water must have a working radio set, since its bearings are not airtight and it can be carried away by currents in case of loss of engine power (the vehicle lacks an anchor).

Weapons

The main armament is a turret with a stabilized 30 mm 2A42 autocannon with dual ammunition feeds, which provide a choice of 3UBR6 AP-T and 3UOR6 HE-T / 3UOF8 HE-I ammunition and 9M113 Konkurs ATGM. The gun has a selectable rate of fire, either slow at 200 to 300 rounds per minute or fast at 550 rounds per minute. This gives a continuous fire time of 100–150 seconds (or only 55 seconds, depending on the rate of fire chosen) before running out of ammunition. The original stabilization provides reasonable accuracy up to a speed of about 35 kilometres per hour.

The AP-T ammunition can penetrate 15 millimetres of armour at sixty degrees at 1,500 metres. A new APDS-T tungsten round can penetrate 25 millimetres at the same distance. A typical ammunition load is 160 rounds of AP ammunition and 340 rounds of HE ammunition. The ammunition sits in two trays located on the turret rear floor. The gun can be fired from either the commander's or the gunner's station.

The commander's 1PZ-3 sight is specifically designed for anti-aircraft operation. Combined with the high maximum elevation of 74 degrees, it allows the 30 mm cannon to be used effectively against helicopters and slow flying aircraft. The turret traverse and elevation are powered and it can traverse 360 degrees in 10.28 seconds and elevate through 74 degrees in 12.33 seconds.

Reloading the BMP-2's 30 mm cannon can be somewhat problematic and can take up to two hours, even if the ammunition is prepared. The cannon is normally only used on the slow rate of fire, otherwise, fumes from the weapon would build up in the turret faster than the extractor fan can remove them.^{[citation needed]}

The effective range of the 30 mm cannon is up to 1,500 metres against armour, 4,000 metres against ground targets, and 2,500 metres against air targets.

A coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun is mounted to the left of the 30 mm cannon. 2,000 rounds of ammunition are carried for it. On the roof of the turret is an ATGM launcher. On Russian vehicles this fires 9M113 Konkurs missiles. On export models it normally fires 9K111 Fagot missiles. A ground-mount for the missile is carried, allowing it to be used away from the vehicle. The missiles are a substantial improvement on the 9M14 Malyutka missiles used on the BMP-1, in both range and accuracy.

Behind the turret is the troop compartment that holds six troops. A seventh sits just behind the driver. The troops sit back to back, along the center of the vehicle. Down each side of the compartment are three firing ports with periscopes. Access to the compartment is by the two rear doors, which hold fuel tanks. Both doors have integral periscopes. The left door has a firing port.

In addition to the main weapons, it can carry a man-portable surface-to-air missile launcher and two missiles, and an RPG launcher and five rounds. The vehicle is fitted with a PAZ overpressure NBC system and fire suppression system, and carries a GPK-59 gyrocompass.

Countermeasures

The original BMP-1 had a vulnerability in its mine protection scheme, which only became obvious during the war in Afghanistan. The one-man-turret fighting vehicle seated its driver and commander in tandem layout, in the front-left side of the hull alongside the diesel engine. When a BMP-1 hit a tilt-rod anti-tank land mine its steeply sloped lower front glacis armour plate allowed the mine's arming rod to tilt with little resistance until the maximum deflection was reached, at which time the mine was already well under the chassis.^{[citation needed]}

When it subsequently detonated, the blast usually killed both the driver and the vehicle commander. This shortcoming was addressed in the BMP-2 design, where the tank commander shares the well-armoured two-man turret with the gunner. The driver's station has been enlarged and he is provided with an armored driver's seat, in addition to extra belly armor in the lower front.^{[citation needed]}

The IFV lacks the ability to install add-on protection packages like slat armor cages or explosive reactive armor (ERA).^[6] The BMP-2's armor is very similar to the original BMP-1, resistant to 23 mm armor-piercing rounds on its frontal arc from 500 meters (and immune to 12.7 mm armor-piercing from the same angle) and to 7.62x39 mm armor-piercing rounds to its sides. Its armor is slightly thinner than the BMP-1's but the higher-quality steel used in its construction grants it the same effective protection.^[7]

The basic hull armor on the BMP-2 can be easily penetrated by any shaped-charge missile, from the 66 mm LAW on up. One important modification carried out as the result of operational experience in Afghanistan was the fitting of a second layer of stand-off armor, usually a high resistant ballistic rubber-like material, to act as spaced armour around the top of the hull sides and around the turret.

According to Russian sources, the vehicles repaired as of November 2023 are equipped with attachments to install additional protection kits.^[8]

Service history

 

The Indian Army's upgraded BMP-2 Sarath during military exercise in Rajasthan, India.

In the Soviet Army, BMPs were typically issued to the motor rifle battalions of tank regiments. In a typical motor-rifle division, one motor-rifle regiment had BMPs, the other two had wheeled BTRs.

Proliferation varied greatly among the rest of the Warsaw Pact nations. For example, at least some East German motor-rifle divisions were recorded to have all three motor-rifle regiments with BMPs, ranging down to the Romanian and Bulgarian Armies, some of whose divisions had no BMPs at all.^[9]

Poland planned to replace its BWP-1 with BWP-2 (BMP-2 and BMP-2D); but, because of financial problems, only ordered 62 vehicles in 1988, which were delivered in 1989. Since obtaining a sufficient number of BWP-2 vehicles after the political changes of 1989 became impossible, Poland was forced to abandon this plan. The 62 BWP-2 that Poland bought were sold to Angola in 1995.^[10][11]

Combat history

 

A damaged abandoned Iraqi BMP-2K armoured command vehicle sits along a roadside in Northern Iraq, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq

 

A Russian BMP-2 of the 58th Army of the North Caucasus Military District in South Ossetia during the 2008 South Ossetia War.

• 1975–2002: Angolan Civil War (Angola)
• 1979–1989: Soviet–Afghan War (Soviet Union)
• 1980–1988: Iran–Iraq War (Iraq)
• 1988–1993: Georgian Civil War (Georgia)
  • 1991–1992: War in South Ossetia
  • 1992–1993: War in Abkhazia
• 1988–1994: First Nagorno-Karabakh War (Armenia, Azerbaijan)
• 1989: Georgian-Ossetian conflict
  • 2008 – War in South Ossetia
• 1990–1991: Gulf War (Iraq, Kuwait)
• 1991–present Somali Civil War
• 1992–1997: Civil War in Tajikistan (Russia, Tajikistan)
• 1994: Yemeni Civil War (1994)
• 1994–1996: First Chechen War (Russia)
• 1998: Six-Day War of Abkhazia
• 1998: Second Congo War (Angola)
• 1999: Second Chechen War (Russia)
• 2001: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) (Afghanistan, Czech Republic)
• 2003: Iraq War
  • 2003 invasion of Iraq (Iraq)
• 2003–2004 Indonesian offensive in Aceh (Indonesia)
• 2004: Iran–PJAK conflict^[12] (Iran)
• 2008: Russo-Georgian War (Russia, Georgia)
• 2011–present: Syrian civil war (Syria)
• 2014–present: Russo-Ukrainian War (Ukraine, Russia)
  • 2014–2022: War in Donbas
  • 2022–present: Russian invasion of Ukraine
• 2015: Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)
• 2016: 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes (Armenia, Azerbaijan)
• 2020: 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes (India)^[13]
• 2020: Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (Armenia, Azerbaijan)
• 2021: 2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes (Kyrgyzstan)
• 2022: 2022 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan)
• 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine (Ukraine, Russia)

Variants

 

BMP-2D on display near the Great Patriotic War Museum, Kyiv, 4 September 2005.

Soviet Union and Russian Federation

 

BMP-2M "Berezhok"

• BMP-2 obr. 1980 – Initial production model.^[14]
  • BMP-2 obr. 1984 – Improved version with "kovriki" armour on turret front.
    • BMP-2 obr. 1986 – Late-production model with new BPK-2-42 sight instead of the BPK-1-42.
  • BMP-2D (D stands for dorabotanaya – modified) – Fitted with additional spaced type steel appliqué armour on the hull sides, under the driver's and commander's stations, and 6 mm thick appliqué armour on the turret. Owing to the added weight, the vehicle is no longer amphibious. It also has provision for mounting a mine clearing system under the nose of the vehicle. In service since 1982, it saw service during Soviet–Afghan War. During that conflict, western observers saw the vehicle for the first time and gave it a designation BMP-2E.^{[citation needed]}
  • BMP-2K (K stands for komandirskaya – command) – Command variant fitted with two whip antennas mounted on the rear of the hull, one behind the turret and one on the right-hand side of the rear of the vehicle, one IFF antenna (pin stick) on the left-hand side of the rear of the vehicle and a support for a telescopic mast in the front of the IFF antenna. The firing port equipped with the periscope was removed from either side of the vehicle. The antennae on the turret was removed. The radio equipment consists ether of the R-123M and R-130M radio sets, or the more modern R-173, R-126 and R-10. The crew consists of six men.^{[citation needed]}
  • BMP-2M – This is the general designator for upgraded (modernizirovannyj) versions.
    • The upgrade package from 2008^[15] consists of the UTD-23 400 hp (294 kW) turbocharged engine, BPK-3-42 gunner`s sight and TKN-AI commander`s sight, additional passive armour, an AG-17 "Plamya" grenade launcher and a KBM-2 air conditioning unit. Furthermore, the upgraded vehicle will have an improved suspension with road wheels of higher load carrying capacity, enhanced-hardness torsion bars, power-consuming shock absorbers and tracks with rubber pad shoes.^[16]
    • BMP-2M "Berezhok"^[17] – Modernized version from KBP. This version has B05Ya01 Berezhok turret equipped with 2A42 30mm autocannon, PKMT 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, AGS-30 grenade launcher, 2+2 launchers for ATGM 9M133M "Kornet-M" and new day/night sights SOZh-TM (as found on BMP-3). Hull is fitted with armored side skirts and slat (cage) armor. There is an improved UTD-23 diesel engine (400 hp) coupled with automatic transmission. Suspension is also improved. This upgrade was selected by Algeria,^[18] and Russia will upgrade several hundred of its vehicles.^{[19][20][21][22]}
  • BMO-1 (boyevaya mashina ognemyotchikov) – Transport vehicle for a flamethrower squad armed with 30 RPO-A "Shmel" 93 mm napalm rocket launchers. It is equipped with storage racks and a dummy turret. The crew consists of seven soldiers. It entered service in 2001.^{[citation needed]}

Former Czechoslovakia

• BVP-2 (bojové vozidlo pěchoty) – Czechoslovak-produced version of BMP-2.
• BVP-2V or VR 1p (vozidlo velitele roty) – Company commander's vehicle with tent, telescopic mast and radiosets RF 1325 (x 2), IPRS 32, RF 1301 and NS 2480D.^[23] Photos
• VPV (VPV stands for vyprošťovací pásové vozidlo) – BVP-2 conversion into an ARV developed at the ZTS Martin Research and Development Institute and production commenced at the ZTS Martin plant (which is now in Slovakia) in 1984. It is equipped with a powered crane with 5 tonnes capacity, heavy winch, wider troop compartment etc. Hatches on top of the turret and the troop compartment were removed. The vehicle is divided into four compartments: engine, commander's, driver's and repair/cargo. The crew consists of a commander/crane operator, driver/welder/slinger and a logistician/mechanic. The vehicle is armed with a pintle-mounted 7.62 mm PKT light machine gun. A small number of those vehicles was also based on BVP-1.^[24]

India

 

An Indian BMP-2 "Sarath" on display.

• BMP-2 "Sarath" ("Chariot of Victory"), also known as BMP-II – Indian licence-produced variant of the BMP-2,^[25] built by Ordnance Factory Medak. The first vehicle, assembled from components supplied by KBP, was ready in 1987. By 1999, about 90% of the complete vehicle and its associated systems were being produced in India. It was estimated that, by 2007, 1,250 vehicles had been built. As of February 2020, around 2,500 Saraths were made.^[26]
• On June 2, 2020, India's Ministry of Defence announced placement of an order of 156 BMP-2 Sarath vehicles (Infantry Combat Vehicles) for the Indian Army's infantry units.^[27] The ₹1,093 crore (equivalent to ₹13 billion or US$160 million in 2023) order will be executed by state owned Ordnance Factory Board, and BMP-2/2K Sarath will be produced by Ordnance Factory Medak. The delivery is expected to be complete by 2023.

India has also developed the following versions of the "Sarath":

• • BMP-2 Light Tank – DRDO developed light tank on BMP-2 Chassis DRDO light tank.^[28]
  • BMP-2K "Sarath" Carrier Command Post Tracked – Command vehicle, similar to the Soviet/Russian version.^[29]
  • BMP-2M - Upgraded BMP-2 shown in DEPEXPO 2022 with a loitering munition system (LMS), anti-tank guided missiles and an armament upgrade with an integrated fire-control system.^[30] Being modernised with TISAS (Thermal Imaging Stand Alone Sights), better fire control, and more modern ATGM armament (Konkurs M). BMP-2M upgrade includes two thermobaric missiles and two tandem warhead Konkurs missiles. It also has an integrated TI sight, an LRF, and has an AGL mounted on the turret which is also stabilised in the horizontal plane. 100 upgraded each year. To enhance the rate to 125 a year.^[31] On 14 March 2024, Ministry of Defence signed an initial contract with Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited to upgrade 693 units to BMP-2M configuration.^[32]
  • Armoured Ambulance – This version retains the turret but without the gun or smoke grenade launchers.^[33] The troop compartment has been modified to carry four stretchers.
  • Armoured Vehicle Tracked Light Repair – Armoured recovery vehicle, fitted with a light hydraulic crane.^[34]
  • Armoured Amphibious Dozer (AAD) – Turret-less combat engineer vehicle, fitted with a folding dozer blade at the rear, mine ploughs, a main winch with a capacity of 8,000 kg and a rocket-propelled earth anchor for self-recovery.^[35][36]
  • Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV) – This version has no gun and is fitted with specialised equipment, including an echo-sounder, a water current metre, a laser range finder and GPS. On the left rear of the hull, a marking system with 40 rods is fitted.^[37]
  • NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) – For detection of nuclear, biological and chemical contamination. The NBCRV was developed by DRDO and VRDE and has been ordered by the Indian army.^[38][39]
  • Carrier Mortar Tracked Vehicle – This turret-less version has an 81 mm mortar mounted in the modified troop compartment. The mortar is fired through an opening in the hull roof that has two hinged doors. It has a max. range of 5,000 m and a normal rate of fire of 6–8 rds/min. There is also a longe-range version of the mortar.^[40] The vehicle carries 108 mortar rounds and is also fitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun with 2,350 rounds. Crew: 2+4. The first prototype was completed in 1997.^[41]
  • NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) – part of the Nag anti-tank missile system. The Nag (Cobra) missile is launched from a retractable armoured launcher that contains four launch tubes and the guidance package. "Nag" is a fire-and-forget top-attack ATGM with a tandem-HEAT warhead and a range of at least 4 km.^[42]
  • Akash – Air-defence missile system that is based on a modified "Sarath" chassis with 7 road wheels. On top of the hull there's a launcher for three SAMs with a range of 27 km and semi-active homing guidance.^[43]
  • Trishul Combat Vehicle - A variant with four Trishul SAM launchers and a Flycatcher radar system.^[44] The vehicle entered trials in 2001, but never entered service.^[45]
  • Rajendra – This is a multifunctional 3-D phased radar (MUFAR), associated with the "Akash" system. It is also based on the stretched chassis.^[43]
  • BMP-2 UGV "Muntra" – is a family of unmanned reconnaissance vehicles developed by DRDO, The Muntra family has several versions such as "S" version is fitted with equipment used to detect nuclear, biological and chemical contamination while the "M" version is designed to detect mines and "N" for operations in Nuclear and chemical contaminated areas.^[46][47]
  • 105 mm Self-Propelled Gun – This is OFB's mechanized version of the Indian Indian Light Field Gun (EQPT 105/37 LFG E2) with 42 rounds stowed. The gun is mounted in a lightly armoured turret.^[48][49] The 105 mm SPG was shown for the first time in public in February 2010 during DEFEXPO-2010 in New Delhi and was planned to replace the FV433 Abbot SPG in the Indian army,^[50] but it wasn't accepted into service.

Israel

• BMP-2 upgrade designed by Nimda fitting it with new power unit and automatic transmission which improves both mobility and reliability.^[51]

Poland

• BWP-2 – Polish designation for BMP-2 and BMP-2D.^{[citation needed]}

Finland

 

Finnish BMP-2MD

• BMP-2MD – Finnish modernisation of the BMP-2, which includes thermal camouflage, thermal sights, anti-aircraft sight and new day/night optics for the gunner and commander, heated cabin and seats, new external storage boxes functioning also as spaced armour and new radio and communications systems.^[52][53]

Operators

Current operators

•   Afghanistan – 150 along with 1,500 9M111 Fagot ATGMs were ordered in 1987 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1987 and 1991 (some of the vehicles were possibly previously in Soviet service).^[10][11] 550 BMP-1s and BMP-2s in service in 1992.^[54] Between 60 and 80 BMP-1s and BMP-2s were delivered from Russia after 2002.^[55]
•   Algeria – 225 along with 2,250 9M111 Fagot ATGMs were ordered in 1989 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1990 and 1991. 54 BVP-2s and BVP-2Ks were ordered in 1994 from Slovakia and delivered between 1995 and 1996. 64 were ordered in 1998 from Ukraine and delivered between 1998 and 1999 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service).^[11] Estimated to have 220 BMP-2 and 760 BMP-2M in service as of 2023^[56]
•   Angola – 65, along with 650 9M111 Fagot ATGMs, were ordered in 1987 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1987. 7 were ordered in 1993 from Hungary and delivered in 1993 (the vehicles were previously in Hungarian service and were sold via Czech Republic). 52 BMP-2s were ordered in 1994 from Poland and delivered between 1994 and 1995 (the vehicles were previously in Polish service). 65 were ordered in 1997 from Russia and delivered in 1998 (the vehicles were possibly previously in Soviet and later Russian service). 62 were ordered in 1999 from Belarus and delivered in 1999 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Belarusian service). 31 were ordered in 1999 from Ukraine and delivered in 1999 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service).^[11] 250 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in service as of 2023^[57]
•   Armenia – 15 as of 2023^[58]

 

Czech BVP-2 on a Military parade in Prague, 28 October 2008.

 

Two Finnish BMP-2s, 25 October 2004.

•   Azerbaijan – 101 in service with the army and 168 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in service with the State Border Service as of 2023^[59]
•   Belarus – 906 as of 2023^[60]
•   Czech Republic – 200 inherited from former Czechoslovakia.^[10] 120 in service and 65 in storage as of 2023^[61]
•   Finland – 20 were ordered in 1988 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1988 and 1989. Further 84 were ordered in 1991 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1992 by Russia.^[11] 110 BMP-2MD in service as of 2023^[62]
•   Georgia – 40 were ordered in 2004 from Ukraine and were delivered between 2004 and 2005 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service).^[11] 89 in service as of 2023^[63]
•   India^[10] – 700 BMP-2 "Sarath" ordered in 1984 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1987 and 1991 (most produced in India). 400 BMP-2 "Sarath" ordered in 1985 and produced in India between 1992 and 1995 at Ordnance Factory Medak of Ordnance Factories Board^[64] under Russian licence. 123 BMP-2K ordered in 2006 from Russia and delivered between 2007 and 2008.^[11] 2,400 BMP-2 Sarath, plus an unknown number of BMP-2K and armored engineering vehicles in service as of 2023^[65]
•   Iran – 1,500 ordered in 1991 from Russia and 413 were delivered between 1993 and 2001 of which 82 were delivered directly by Russia and 331 were assembled in Iran.^[11] 400 in service as of 2023^[66]
•   Indonesia – 9 ordered in 1998 from Ukraine and delivered in 1998 (the vehicles were possibly previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service and were sold via Slovakia). 2 ordered in 1998 from Ukraine and delivered in 1998 (the vehicles were possibly previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service and were sold via Slovakia). 11 BVP-2s ordered in 1999 from Slovakia and delivered in 2000 (the vehicles were probably previously in Czechoslovak and later Slovakian service).^[11] 22 ex-Czech BVP-2s are currently in service in the Marine Corps as of 2023^[67]
•   Ivory Coast – 2 ordered in 2002 from Angola and delivered in 2002 (the vehicles were previously in Angolan service). 1 ordered in 2003 from Ukraine and delivered in 2003 (the vehicle probably was previously in Ukrainian service).^[11] 10 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in 2023, possibly non-operational^[68]
•   Kazakhstan – 280 in service as of 2023^[69]
•   Kurdistan Region^[70]

 

Kuwaiti soldiers sit beside a Kuwaiti BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle during Operation Desert Storm.

•   Kuwait – 245 along with 2,450 9M111 Fagot ATGMs were ordered in 1988 from the Soviet Union and delivered between 1989 and 1990.^[10] Some captured or destroyed by the Iraqi forces. 46 along with 460 9M111 Fagot ATGMs were ordered in 1994 from Russia and delivered between 1994 and 1995.^[11] 76 in service as of 2023^[71]
•   Kyrgyzstan – 90 as of 2023^[72]
•   Libya − Unknown number in service with the Government of National Unity^[61]
•   Maldives − 2 in service as of 2023^[73]
•   North Macedonia – 11 were ordered in 2001 from Ukraine and delivered in 2001 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service).^[11][74] 10 BMP-2 and 1 BMP-2K in service as of 2023^[75]
• Popular Mobilization Forces − Unknown number in service^[76]
•   Russia – 2,350 BMP-2 and BMP-2M in service with the army, 300 in service with the Naval Infantry, and an unknown number in service with the 1st Army Corps, 2nd Army Corps, and National Guard as of 2023^[77]
•   Slovakia – 91 in service as of 2023^[78]
•   Sri Lanka – 4 were ordered in 1994 from Ukraine and delivered in 1994 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service). 36 were ordered in 2001 from Russia and delivered in 2001.^[11] 49 in service as of 2023^[79]
•   Sudan – 6 were ordered in 1995 from Ukraine and delivered in 1996 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service). 9 were ordered in 2003 from Belarus and delivered in 2003 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Belarusian service).^[11] Unknown number in service as of 2023^[80]
•   Syria – 400 were ordered in 1987 from the Soviet Union and were delivered between 1987 and 1988.^[11] Unknown number in service as of 2023^[81]
•   Tajikistan – 15 as of 2023^[82]
•   Togo – 20 ordered in 1996 from an unknown supplier (officially Poland despite the fact that all 62 Polish BWP-2s were exported to Angola) and delivered in 1997.^[11] 20 in service as of 2023^[83]
•   Transnistria^[84]
•   Turkmenistan – 430 BMP-2 and 4 BMP-2D as of 2023^[85]
•   Uganda – 31 were ordered in 2003 from Ukraine and were delivered between 2004 and 2005 (the vehicles were previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service).^[11] 37 as of 2023^[86]
•   United States - Unknown amount used for opposing force units.^[87]

 

Ukrainian BMP-2s on parade, 24 August 2008

•   Ukraine – 890 in service with the army and 1 in service with the National Guard prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine^[88]
•   Uzbekistan – 270 in service as of 2023^[89]
•   Vietnam – Around 20 along with 500 9M111 Fagot ATGMs were ordered in 1982 from the Soviet Union and were delivered between 1982 and 1984.^[11] 300 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in service as of 2023^[90]
•   Yemen – 100 were ordered in 2002 from Ukraine and were delivered between 2003 and 2004 (the vehicles were probably previously in Soviet and later Ukrainian service). Between 180 and 188 BMP-2Ds were ordered in 2004 from Russia and were delivered between 2004 and 2005.^[11] Unknown number in service as of 2023^[91]
  •   Houthis − Unknown number in service as of 2023^[91]

Former operators

 

Ex-East German BMP-2

•   Artsakh − In February 2023, it was estimated to have 100 BMP-2s.^[92] Seized by Azerbaijan after the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes^[93]
•   Czechoslovakia – 279 ordered in 1978 and produced between 1983 and 1989.^[11] Passed on to the successor states.
•   East Germany – 24 were ordered in 1985 from the Soviet Union and were delivered between 1986 and 1987 (the vehicles were possibly produced in Czechoslovakia).^[11] Passed on to the unified German state.
•   Germany – 24, taken from East Germany's army, all sold to other countries or given to the museums.
•   Iraq – 200 were ordered in 1986 from the Soviet Union and were delivered between 1987 and 1989^[10](some of the vehicles were possibly produced in Czechoslovakia).^[11] 1,000 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in service in 1989,^[94] and 900 BMP-1 and BMP-2 in 2001.^[95] Possibly captured some from Kuwait in the First Persian Gulf War. All destroyed or scrapped.
•   Jordan − 37 BMP-2 ordered from the Soviet Union in 1986 and delivered in 1987.^[11] None remain in service in 2023^[96]
•   Poland – 62 BMP-2s and BMP-2Ds (all of which were designed as BWP-2) ordered in 1988 and delivered in 1989. Sold in 1994 to Angola and delivered between 1994 and 1995.^[10][11]
•   Sierra Leone – 4 were ordered in 1992 from Russia and delivered in 1992 (the vehicles were second-hand).^[11] None remain in service in 2023^[97]
•   Soviet Union – 26,000 BMP-1s and BMP-2s in service in 1989.^[98] Passed on to successor states.

See also

• BMD-1 – related family of Soviet airborne fighting vehicles
• Combat Vehicle 90
• BMP-1 - predecessor vehicle
• BMP-3 - successor vehicle
• M113/BMP-2 - US armored personnel carrier visually modified as a BMP-2 for training exercises

Notes

1. "BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com.
2. "Soviet BMP-2 IFV (1980)".
3. info about BMP-2 29 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Fas.org. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
4. . Web.archive.org (11 May 2005). Retrieved 20 September 2011.
5. "BMP-2 | Weaponsystems.net". Weaponsystems.net. from the original on 3 October 2018.
6. Russia`s Ministry of Defense to overhaul BMP-2 Infanty [sic] Fighting Vehicles 28 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 25 August 2016
7. https://[citation needed]
8. "ЦАМТО / / В российскую армию передана партия отремонтированных БМП-2". ЦАМТО / Центр анализа мировой торговли оружием (in Russian). 22 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
9. Warsaw Pact 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Orbat.com. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
10. BMP-2 Pancerni.net 1 18 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Pancerni.abajt.pl. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
11. SIPRI Arms Transfers Database 5 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
12. "IRAN ARMY: IRGC fighting PKK and PJAK Terrorists". YouTube. 9 August 2014. from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
13. "Indian Army deploys BMP-2 Sarath IFV fighting vehicles to counter Chinese threat in Galwan Valley | Defense News July 2020 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year". www.armyrecognition.com. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
14. "BMP-2 IFV tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle video | Russia Russian army light armoured vehicle UK | Russia Russian army military equipment vehicles UK". Armyrecognition.com. from the original on 5 November 2018.
15. Defence Security Report. Janes.com (8 December 2008). Retrieved 20 September 2011. 16 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine
16. Fire power 3 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Kurganmash.ru. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
17. (in Russian) Армс-Тасс 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Armstass.su. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
18. Military Parade 2006-6-page 61
19. Russian BMP-2 and BMD-2 upgraded with new Berezhok weapon station 4 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine – Armyrecognition.com, 3 October 2017
20. . Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
21. . Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
22. "ЦАМТО / Главное / На форуме «Армия-2022» подписаны 7 и вручены 29 госконтрактов с 26 предприятиями ОПК".
23. CZE – BVP-2V (velitelské stanoviště). forum.valka.cz. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
24. Photos 8 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine
25. Ordnance Factory Board 21 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
26. "India manufactured around 2,500 BMP-2 IFVs under Russian license". www.armyrecognition.com. 7 February 2020.
27. Defence Watch Bureau (2 June 2020). "OFB gets supply order of 156 BMP Infantry Combat Vehicles worth Rs 1,094 Cr". PSUWATCH. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
28. Singh, Ajay. "The Search for A Light Tank". FORCE. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
29. "Technologies and Products | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
30. "Defexpo 2022: India unveils upgraded BMPs". Janes.com. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
31. . Bharat Rakshak. 20 February 2002. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
32. "MoD inks contract with AVNL for 693 Armament Upgrades of Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP2 to BMP2M". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
33. "Technologies and Products | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
34. "Light Repair [www.bharat-rakshak.com]". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
35. "Armoured Amphibious Dozer | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
36. "Armoured Amphibious Dozer. DRDO". from the original on 7 May 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
37. "Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle (AERV) | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
38. "NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle Mk-I | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
39. "NBC-Recce Vehicle (NBC-RV) MK-I | Defence Research and Development Organisation - DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India". www.drdo.gov.in. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
40. Ordnance Factory Board 30 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
41. Ordnance Factory Board 30 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
42. Desk, EurAsian Times (20 August 2020). "NAG Missile Carrier NAMICA-2 To Dramatically Boost Indian Army's Firepower Against China". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
43. Chopra, Anil (7 February 2021). "Akash Air Defence Missile– India's Formidable Weapon System". Air Power Asia. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
44. Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 113.
45. Kumar, Neha. "DRDO's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme | IPCS". Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
46. "DRDO develops India's first unmanned tank, Muntra; rolls it out of Chennai lab". Firstpost.com. 29 July 2017. from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
47. . Drdo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
48. OFB 105 mm SPG Specs | Flickr – Photo Sharing! 3 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Flickr (19 February 2010). Retrieved 20 September 2011.
49. OFB 105 mm Tracked SPG on BMP II | Flickr – Photo Sharing! 3 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Flickr. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
50. Choudhari, Palash; Karthikeyan, Varun; Madhavan, Anoop. "Military Balance India Vs China Part-3 Indian artillery systems". Full Afterburner. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
51. . Archived from the original on 2 March 2009.
52. "Suomi modernisoi noin 100 rynnäkköpanssarivaunua – tarkoitus sinnitellä ainakin 2030-luvulle asti" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. 30 January 2015. from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
53. "Rynnäkköpanssarivaunu BMP-2 MD" (in Finnish). Finnish Defence Forces. from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
54. История России. Всемирная, мировая история – Афганистан в конце XX в 14 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Istorya.ru. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
55. Defence Express News – РОССИЯ И АФГАНИСТАН ВЫПОЛНЯЮТ ДОГОВОРЕННОСТИ, ЗАКЛЮЧЕННЫЕ МЕЖДУ ВОЕННЫМИ ВЕДОМСТВАМИ ДВУХ СТРАН В КАБУЛЕ В 2002 Г 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Defense-ua.com (29 January 2003). Retrieved 20 September 2011.
56. The Military Balance 2023, p. 315.
57. The Military Balance 2023, p. 433.
58. The Military Balance 2023, p. 171.
59. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 172−174.
60. The Military Balance 2023, p. 175.
61. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 87−88.
62. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 82−83.
63. The Military Balance 2023, p. 177.
64. "Ordnance Factory Board". Ofbindia.gov.in. from the original on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
65. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 247−248.
66. The Military Balance 2023, p. 324.
67. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 253−256.
68. The Military Balance 2023, p. 445.
69. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 178−179.
70. The Military Balance. author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2016. ISBN 9781857438352.
71. The Military Balance 2023, p. 336.
72. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 180−181.
73. The Military Balance 2023, p. 273.
74. Macedonian Armor 30 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Vojska.net. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
75. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 112−113.
76. The Military Balance 2023, p. 330.
77. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 183−197.
78. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 130−131.
79. The Military Balance 2023, p. 289.
80. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost. "From Conflict To Conflict: Sudan's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
81. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 354−355.
82. The Military Balance 2023, p. 198.
83. The Military Balance 2023, p. 484.
84. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost. "The Struggle For Relevance: Transnistria's Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
85. The Military Balance 2023, p. 199.
86. The Military Balance 2023, p. 485.
87. "Combined-Arms Teams in the Offense: Maximizing Lethality by Mixing Formations" (PDF). army.mil. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
88. The Military Balance 2022, pp. 211−214.
89. The Military Balance 2023, p. 205.
90. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 298−299.
91. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 362.
92. The Military Balance 2023, p. 174.
93. "Armenian separatists start surrendering weapons in Karabakh". Militarnyi. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
94. International Institute for Strategic Studies 1989, p. 101.
95. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2001). The Military Balance 2001-2002. Oxford University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-19-850979-0.
96. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 334.
97. The Military Balance 2023, pp. 474−475.
98. International Institute for Strategic Studies 1989, p. 34.

References

• Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005–2006.
• Andrew W. Hull; David R. Markov; Steven J. Zaloga. Soviet/Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices:1945 to Present.
• Tsouras, P.G. Changing Orders: The evolution of the World's Armies, 1945 to the Present Facts On File, Inc, 1994. ISBN 0-8160-3122-3
• FM 100-60
• Ustyantsev, Sergej Viktorovich; Kolmakov Dmitrij Gennadevich Boyeviye mashiny Uralvagonzavoda. Tank T-72
• A.V. Karpenko (1996) Obozreniye Bronetankovoj Tekhniki (1905–1995 gg.) Nevskij Bastion
• Perrett, Bryan (1987). Soviet Armour Since 1945. London: Blandford Press. ISBN 0-7137-1735-1.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (1 January 1989). The Military Balance 1989-1990 (Report). Brassey's. ISBN 978-0-08-037569-4.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (14 February 2022). The Military Balance 2022 (Report). Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-62003-0.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2023). The Military Balance 2023 (Report). Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.
• Cullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F., eds. (1992). Jane's land-based air defence: 1992-93 (PDF). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0979-3. Retrieved 29 September 2023.

Further reading

• Grau, Lester W. , Red Thrust Star, January 1997

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMP-2.

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMP family IFV.

• BMP-2M Berezhok and other upgrades on V. Kuzmin's photo blog 8 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine
• BMP-2M Berezhok walk-around on Prime Portal