Rostec has presented the BMP-1AM “Basurmanin” modernized infantry fighting vehicle at the International Military-Technical Forum ARMY 2018. One of the most popular infantry fighting vehicles in the world is now equipped with a new complex of weapons, modern electronics and a more powerful propulsion engine, which has considerably improved its fighting qualities.
The BMP-1AM “Basurmanin” vehicle, upgraded by UralVagonZavod (part of Rostec), has a 30 mm weapon station from the BTR-82A armored personnel carrier with an automatic cannon, 7.62 mm Kalashnikov modernized PKTM tank machine gun, a fire control system with a combined 24/7 anti-aircraft sight, a two-plane weapons stabilizer and the “Metis” anti-tank system.
The machine’s mobility is improved due to the UTD-20S1 engine and torsion bars with increased power capacity. In addition, the machine’s floatability and its ability to swim are also increased due to the wings displacing water.
“The BMP-1 is not a new machine, but modern equipment has given it a new lease of life. Due to a new engine, increased floatability and more powerful weapons, the machine’s fighting qualities have improved significantly. This approach is also attractive for foreign customers, as an upgrade is much cheaper than new machines. Overall, during the period of production, over 20,000 BMP-1 machines were made by UralVagonZavod. Almost two-thirds of them are in other countries,” says the Industrial Director of Rostec’s cluster of conventional weapons, ammunition and special chemistry Sergey Abramov.
The fighting qualities of the 2A72 cannon are similar to those of its predecessor, the 2A42, which was installed on the BMP-2 and is still used for the Ka-52 and Mi-28N attack helicopters. The propellant gas removal system and the rate of fire, which has been reduced to 330 shots per minute (compared to the 2A42’s 550 shots per minute) to increase the accuracy of fire, are the only differences.
Due to the new standardized fighting compartment, “Basurmanin” can effectively hit lightly armored machines at a distance of up to 2 kilometers, and low-flying targets, including drones and helicopters.
Rostec Corporation is a Russian corporation that was established in 2007 to facilitate the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products designed for civilian and military applications. The Corporation comprises over 700 organizations that are currently part of eleven holding companies operating in the military-industrial complex and three holding companies working in civilian industry, as well as over 80 directly managed organizations. Rostec’s portfolio includes well-known brands such as AVTOVAZ, KAMAZ, Concern Kalashnikov, Russian Helicopters, UralVagonZavod, etc. Rostec companies are located in 60 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and supply products to the markets of more than 100 countries. In 2017 the consolidated revenue of Rostec reached 1 trillion 589 billion rubles, while the consolidated net income and EBITDA amounted to 121 and 305 billion rubles respectively. In 2017 the average salary in the Corporation was 46,800 rubles. According to Rostec’s strategy, the main objective of the Corporation is to ensure that Russia has a technological advantage in highly competitive global markets. Rostec’s key objectives include the introduction of a new techno-economic paradigm and digitalization of Russian economy.
