Armored Vehicles

BMP-1U Shkval

Also known as
  • BMP-1U
  • BMP-1U Shkval
  • BMP-1U "Shkval"
  • KBA-105 Shkval BMP-1U
  • БМП-1У Шквал

The BMP-1U Shkval is a Ukrainian modernization of the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle that replaced the original 73 mm turret with the KBA-105 Shkval weapon station. The upgrade centers on 30 mm cannon fire, a coaxial machine gun, a 30 mm automatic grenade launcher, and Konkurs anti-tank missile launchers, trading some troop capacity for a heavier remote combat module. Its most clearly documented wartime trail runs through Georgian vehicles captured by Russia in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and later seen or lost in Russian service during the full-scale phase of the Russia-Ukraine War.

BMP-1U Shkval, Infantry fighting vehicle modernization, Armored Vehicles
Image source: BMP-1U Wikimedia Commons Image

Role in Conflicts

2008 Russo-Georgian War
Force ProtectionCaptured Equipment
Side
Georgia

Georgia fielded Ukrainian-supplied BMP-1U Shkval infantry fighting vehicles before the August 2008 war; open-source loss summaries and defense reporting describe Russian forces capturing a batch of Georgian BMP-1Us during the conflict.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Ukraine
Type
Infantry fighting vehicle modernization
Service note
Post-Soviet modernization
Designer
Ukrainian artillery and small-arms design center in Kyiv
Designed
Late 1990s to early 2000s
Produced
2000s
Number built
About 30 conversions estimated by Tank-AFV; other sources describe a small batch
Developed from
BMP-1

Specifications

Base vehicle
BMP-1 tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle
Combat module
KBA-105 Shkval remote weapon station
Crew and dismounts
3 crew plus 6 infantry
Combat weight
About 14 t estimated
Dimensions
6.73 m length; about 3 m width; 2.07 m height
Engine
UTD-20 300 hp diesel
Speed
65 km/h road; 45 km/h off road; 7 km/h swimming
Range
600 km road; 500 km off road
Primary armament
KBA-105 Shkval module with 30 mm ZTM-1 or 2A72-class cannon
Secondary armament
7.62 mm PKT/KT-7.62 coaxial machine gun and 30 mm AG-17/KBA-117 automatic grenade launcher
Anti-tank armament
Two Konkurs ATGM launchers reported for the Shkval module
Module weight
About 1,300 kg with additional ammunition according to Army Recognition
Shkval Module Fit

The BMP-1U modernization is mainly a turret and combat-module change rather than a new hull design. Sources describe the KBA-105 Shkval station as a Ukrainian module for light armored vehicles, with the BMP-1U installation adding a 30 mm cannon, coaxial machine gun, 30 mm grenade launcher, and two Konkurs anti-tank missile launchers.

Firepower change

The original BMP-1 turret and 73 mm 2A28 gun are replaced by a 30 mm cannon-centered Shkval weapon station.

Troop tradeoff

Army Recognition reports that the heavier module and ammunition layout reduced carried infantry from eight to six dismounts.

Evidence trail

The vehicle is best documented through small-batch export/capture history rather than large-scale Ukrainian procurement.

Variants

The BMP-1U is the early Shkval-module BMP-1 modernization; later Ukrainian proposals changed the weapon station, sighting system, engine, or hull protection.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
BMP-1M / BMP-1MSExport-oriented Shkval-A development

Tank-AFV describes the BMP-1M as an evolved BMP-1U fitted with the improved KBA-105TB Shkval-A station, Barrier missiles, Tandem-2 sighting, and SWU-500-3C stabilization.

Sources: Tank-AFV BMP-1U Shkval

BMP-1UMZhytomyr upgraded hull and powerpack proposal

The later BMP-1UM added a Shkval-A station, 3TD-2 diesel, raised troop compartment roof, rear ramp, explosive reactive armor, and other survivability changes.

Sources: Tank-AFV BMP-1U Shkval

BMP-1UMDStylet-module successor proposal

Tank-AFV describes the BMP-1UMD as replacing Shkval-A with a Stylet station, Deutz diesel, digital fire-control system, Trek-M sight, and revised hull screens.

Sources: Tank-AFV BMP-1U Shkval

Parent Vehicle And Module Armament

The BMP-1U kept the BMP-1 tracked chassis but changed the fighting compartment around the Shkval module and its heavier automatic weapons fit.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
BMP-1, Infantry fighting vehicle, Armored VehiclesBMP-1Parent infantry fighting vehicle chassis

The BMP-1U is a modernization of the BMP-1, with sources describing the upgrade as replacing the original turret with the KBA-105 Shkval combat module.

Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia, Tank-AFV BMP-1U Shkval

2A72 30 mm automatic cannon, 30 mm dual-feed automatic cannon, Artillery2A72 30 mm automatic cannon30 mm automatic cannon option

Army Recognition describes the Shkval module with a 30 mm 2A72 automatic cannon or Ukrainian ZTM-1 equivalent.

Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia

DBA-117 (AG17) automatic grenade launcher, 30 mm automatic grenade launcher, Infantry WeaponsDBA-117 (AG17) automatic grenade launcher30 mm automatic grenade launcher class

Army Recognition lists the Shkval module's 30 mm automatic grenade launcher as AG-17 or Ukrainian KBA-117, matching the cataloged Ukrainian AG-17-derived vehicle-module launcher family.

Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia

9M113 Konkurs, SACLOS wire-guided anti-tank guided missile, Infantry Weapons9M113 KonkursAnti-tank guided missile

Army Recognition reports two Konkurs ATGM launchers as part of the BMP-1U Shkval module fit.

Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia

Why the Shkval module matters

The upgrade replaced the BMP-1's low-pressure 73 mm gun arrangement with a 30 mm autocannon-centered station, while the module's size and ammunition load reduced dismount capacity.

Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia, Tank-AFV BMP-1U Shkval

Timeline

BMP-1U Shkval Key Events

  1. Shkval station publicly shown

    Tank-AFV says the Shkval turret system was publicly displayed at IDEX 2001 on the BTR-3U before becoming associated with BMP-1U conversions.

    Sources: Tank-AFV BMP-1U Shkval

  2. Georgian batch reported

    Army Recognition reports that Ukraine supplied Georgia with 15 BMP-1U Shkval vehicles before the 2008 war.

    Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia

  3. Captured in the Russo-Georgian War

    Oryx lists 14 Georgian BMP-1U Shkval vehicles captured during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, consistent with Army Recognition and Defense Express reporting on the same captured batch.

    Sources: Oryx 2008 Russo-Georgian War Equipment Losses, Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia, Defense Express BMP-1U Avdiivka

  4. Russian service reported in Ukraine

    Army Recognition reported images of Russian forces using Ukrainian-made BMP-1U Shkval vehicles that had been captured from Georgia.

    Sources: Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In Georgia

  5. Ukrainian BMP-1U captured

    Oryx lists one Ukrainian BMP-1U Shkval as captured during the full-scale invasion.

    Sources: Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses Ukraine 2022

  6. Losses near Avdiivka reported

    Defense Express reported Russian BMP-1U Shkval losses near Avdiivka and linked the vehicles to the ex-Georgian captured batch.

    Sources: Defense Express BMP-1U Avdiivka

Media

BMP-1U Shkval Images

BMP-1U Shkval, Infantry fighting vehicle modernization, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: BMP-1U Zoom Wikimedia Commons Image
BMP-1U Shkval, Infantry fighting vehicle modernization, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: BMP-1U Wikimedia Commons Image
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Sources

Tank-AFV BMP-1U ShkvalPublisher: Tank-AFV | Note: Supports BMP-1U background, 2001 Shkval display context, estimated dimensions, weight, crew, propulsion, mobility, armament summary, production estimate, and later BMP-1M/BMP-1UM/BMP-1UMD variant distinctions. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Military Periscope KBA-105 ShkvalPublisher: Military Periscope | Note: Supports Ukrainian origin for the KBA-105 Shkval and identifies it as a remotely operated weapon station developed for armored fighting vehicles and light naval vessels. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Ukrainian Military Pages Shkval Factory TrialsPublisher: Ukrainian Military Pages | Note: Republishes Ukroboronprom material on Shkval and Stylet comparative factory trials, supporting Zhytomyr Armored Plant/Ukroboronprom modernization context and Shkval armament with ZTM-1, automatic grenade launcher, 7.62 mm machine gun, guided missile armament, laser rangefinder, and thermal-imaging sight context. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Army Recognition BMP-1U Captured In GeorgiaPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports the BMP-1U Shkval modernization description, Shkval module armament, reduced troop capacity, Ukrainian supply of BMP-1U vehicles to Georgia, Russian capture during the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, and reported Russian use in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Defense Express BMP-1U AvdiivkaPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use/loss context by reporting Russian BMP-1U Shkval losses near Avdiivka, and supports direct 2008 Russo-Georgian War captured-equipment context by identifying the vehicles as Georgian BMP-1Us captured by Russian forces in 2008. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Oryx Russian Equipment Losses Ukraine 2022Publisher: Oryx | Note: Supports direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War conflict-use evidence by listing visually documented Russian BMP-1U Shkval losses during the full-scale invasion. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Oryx Ukrainian Equipment Losses Ukraine 2022Publisher: Oryx | Note: Supports direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War conflict-use evidence by listing a visually documented Ukrainian BMP-1U Shkval captured during the full-scale invasion. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Oryx 2008 Russo-Georgian War Equipment LossesPublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports direct 2008 Russo-Georgian War conflict-use evidence by listing 14 Georgian BMP-1U Shkval vehicles captured during the war. | Accessed: 2026-07-02BMP-1U Wikimedia Commons ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 3.0 licensing for the primary BMP-1U image from the 2008 Independence Day parade in Kyiv. | Accessed: 2026-07-02BMP-1U Zoom Wikimedia Commons ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY 3.0 licensing for the close BMP-1U parade image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02BMP-1U Freedom Square Wikimedia Commons ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an additional BMP-1U gallery image from Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine Kyiv Armored PlantPublisher: Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine | Note: Provides additional background on Ukrainian Shkval combat-module production in the Kyiv Armored Plant profile; retained as broader Ukrainian armored-industry context rather than the primary manufacturer support. | Accessed: 2026-07-02