Armored Vehicles

BMP-3

Also known as
  • BMP-3 IFV
  • BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle
  • BMP-3 Obr.
  • BMP-3 Obr. 2024
  • upgraded BMP-3
  • improved BMP-3

The BMP-3 is a Soviet-designed, Russian-built tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle that combines a 100 mm gun-launcher, 30 mm autocannon, and machine guns in a light armored troop carrier. It has appeared in Russian mechanized formations, Ukrainian captured-vehicle use, Azerbaijani service in Nagorno-Karabakh, and UAE coalition operations in Yemen, while Russia's Ukraine-war production batches have added extra mine and drone protection to address battlefield losses.

BMP-3, Tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, Armored Vehicles
Image source: File:BMP-3.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Soviet Union / Russia
Built in
Russia
Type
Tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle
Service note
Entered Soviet service in the late Cold War and remains in Russian service
Designer
A. Blagonravov design bureau
Designed
1970s-1980s
Unit cost
Not reliably published
Produced
Late 1980s-present
Number built
More than 2,000 reported

Specifications

Crew
3 crew plus 7 passengers, with two additional seats noted in export specifications
Combat weight
18.7 t
Primary armament
2A70 100 mm gun-launcher and 2A72 30 mm automatic cannon
Secondary armament
Three 7.62 mm PKTM machine guns
Engine
UTD-29T multifuel diesel, 450 hp in Rosoboronexport specifications
Mobility
70 km/h on paved roads, 10 km/h afloat
Operational range
600 km
Variants

This record covers the baseline BMP-3 family while distinguishing modernized, command, marine, and reconnaissance configurations that use the same chassis or role family.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
BMP-3MModernized infantry fighting vehicle

Army Recognition describes the BMP-3M as an upgraded BMP-3 with revised fire-control equipment, thermal imaging, target tracking, and an anti-tank guided missile loading mechanism.

Sources: BMP-3M

BMP-3KCommand variant

Army Recognition lists the BMP-3K as a command configuration with navigation equipment and a modified machine-gun and antenna arrangement.

Sources: BMP-3 IFV

BMP-3FMarine/amphibious variant

Army Recognition identifies the BMP-3F as a sea-operations variant with improved seaworthiness, buoyancy, and sustained amphibious operating endurance.

Sources: BMP-3 IFV

BRM-3K RysReconnaissance variant

Army Recognition lists the BRM-3K Rys as a reconnaissance vehicle variant in the BMP-3 family, fitted with dedicated sighting and reconnaissance equipment.

Sources: BMP-3 IFV

Improved BMP-3 (Army-2024 configuration)Wartime protection and robotization demonstrator

Rostec said Kurganmashzavod showed an improved BMP-3 at Army-2024 with added armor and cage screens for drone and shaped-charge threats, upper-hemisphere protection, better driver video observation, and equipment enabling crewed, remote, or algorithmic control modes.

Sources: Rostec Army-2024 BMP-3 Upgrade

Ammunition Fired

Rosoboronexport and Army Guide place the 3UBK23-3 Arkan round in the BMP-3's guided-ammunition family. The BMP-3 reference lists 30-mm HEI-T among the vehicle's 30 mm ammunition types. The BMP-3's 100 mm 2A70 gun-launcher can fire guided rounds and high-explosive ammunition from the same main weapon.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
3UBK23-3 / 9M117M1-3 Arkan guided round, 100 mm laser-guided anti-tank missile, Munitions3UBK23-3 / 9M117M1-3 Arkan guided round100 mm guided anti-tank round

Army Guide lists 3UBK23-3 as a round included in the BMP-3 family, and Army Recognition says the Arkan fixed round with the 9M117M1-3 ATGM is offered for the BMP-3 IFV and fired from its gun-launcher.

Sources: BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Analysis Russian anti-tank guided missiles & ammunition able to destroy modern armored vehicles

30 mm x 165 HEI-T round, 30x165 mm high-explosive incendiary tracer cartridge, Munitions30 mm x 165 HEI-T round30 mm HEI-T round

The BMP-3 reference lists 30-mm HEI-T as one of the vehicle's other 30 mm ammunition types.

Sources: BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

3UBK10M-3 / 9M117M laser-guided anti-tank round, 100 mm laser-guided anti-tank round, Munitions3UBK10M-3 / 9M117M laser-guided anti-tank round100 mm laser-guided anti-tank round

Rosoboronexport lists the 3UBK10M-3 round with the 9M117M guided missile as ammunition intended for the BMP-3's 2A70 gun-launcher.

Sources: Rosoboronexport Land Forces Weapons Catalogue

3UOF17 100 mm high-explosive round, 100 mm HE-Frag unitary round, Munitions3UOF17 100 mm high-explosive round100 mm high-explosive round

The FAS BMP-3 reference lists 3UOF17 among the vehicle's main-armament ammunition types for the 100 mm 2A70 gun-launcher.

Sources: BMP-3 (FAS)

Armament And Protection Notes

The BMP-3 combines troop carriage, amphibious mobility, and unusually heavy IFV armament. Recent Ukraine-war reporting and official Russian industry material also show protection changes aimed at mines, artillery fragments, shaped-charge weapons, and drones.

FeatureDocumented detailReader context
Main armament100 mm 2A70 gun-launcher paired with a 30 mm 2A72 automatic cannon and 7.62 mm machine gunsLets the vehicle fire high-explosive 100 mm rounds, guided rounds, and autocannon ammunition from one turret.
Guided ammunitionRosoboronexport lists 3UBK10M-3 / 9M117M ammunition for the BMP-3's 2A70 gun-launcher; Army Recognition identifies the later 3UBK23-3 Arkan round.The same gun-launcher can use conventional 100 mm ammunition and guided anti-tank rounds, while the 30 mm cannon covers lighter targets.
MobilityExport data lists 70 km/h road speed, 10 km/h water speed, and 600 km operational range.Amphibious mobility is central to the design, but conflict notes still distinguish documented use from general capability.
Wartime protectionRussian 2026 reporting described added side screens, mine-protection kits, anti-drone grilles, and masking measures on new production batches; Rostec's Army-2024 display added armor, cage screens, upper-hemisphere protection, and improved video observation.These changes reflect Ukraine-war threat pressure and modernization of the BMP-3 line rather than a fully separate cataloged vehicle family.

Sources: BMP-3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle; Rosoboronexport Land Forces Weapons Catalogue; Analysis Russian anti-tank guided missiles & ammunition able to destroy modern armored vehicles; Russia Increases BMP-3 IFV Production With New Drone and Mine Protection for Ukraine War; Rostec Army-2024 BMP-3 Upgrade.

Timeline

BMP-3 Key Events

  1. BMP-3 enters Soviet service

    Army Recognition dates the BMP-3's Soviet Army service entry and first public appearance to 1990, with Kurganmashzavod manufacturing the chassis and KBP responsible for the turret.

    Sources: BMP-3 IFV

  2. UAE BMP-3s deploy to Yemen

    Bellingcat traced UAE Army BMP-3 deployments in Yemen from 2015, including coalition operations around Aden, Al Anad air base, and Bab al-Mandab.

    Sources: Logbook, Part I: The UAE's BMP-3 IFV in Yemen

  3. Azerbaijani BMP-3 losses documented in Nagorno-Karabakh

    Oryx visually documented Azerbaijani BMP-3 losses during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, supporting direct Azerbaijani battlefield use.

    Sources: The Fight For Nagorno-Karabakh: Documenting Losses On The Sides Of Armenia And Azerbaijan

  4. Full-scale Ukraine invasion expands BMP-3 evidence

    Oryx documented Russian BMP-3 losses and captures after the full-scale invasion, while Army Recognition separately reported Ukrainian operation of captured BMP-3 vehicles.

    Sources: Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers captured enough Russian BMP-3 IFVs to equip one battalion

  5. Rostec shows improved BMP-3 at Army-2024

    Rostec described a Kurganmashzavod improved BMP-3 with added anti-drone and shaped-charge protection, retained amphibious mobility, better driver video observation, and optional robotization equipment.

    Sources: Rostec Army-2024 BMP-3 Upgrade

  6. Wartime production batches emphasize added protection

    Army Recognition reported Russian 2026 BMP-3 production above plan and described new mine, drone, and fragmentation protection tied to Ukraine-war battlefield attrition.

    Sources: Russia Increases BMP-3 IFV Production With New Drone and Mine Protection for Ukraine War

Media

BMP-3 Videos

BMP-3 Images

BMP-3, Tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: File:BMP-3 (1).jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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Sources

BMP-3 Infantry Fighting VehiclePublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Official export page supporting BMP-3 role, armament, mobility, crew capacity, and other specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20BMP-3 (FAS)Publisher: FAS | Note: Supports the BMP-3 main-armament ammunition list, including 3UOF17 100 mm high-explosive round, and the vehicle's 2A70 gun-launcher context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Rosoboronexport Land Forces Weapons CataloguePublisher: Rosoboronexport | Note: Supports the BMP-3's 100 mm 2A70 gun-launcher ammunition context, including the 3UBK10M-3 round with the 9M117M guided missile intended to be fired from the vehicle. | Accessed: 2026-06-27BMP-3 Russian Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)Publisher: ODIN OE Data Integration Network | Note: U.S. Army ODIN reference page supporting general vehicle role, armament, and threat-recognition context. | Accessed: 2026-06-20The Fight For Nagorno-Karabakh: Documenting Losses On The Sides Of Armenia And AzerbaijanPublisher: Oryx | Note: Directly supports 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict use: BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles were used by Azerbaijani forces, with six Azerbaijani BMP-3 losses visually documented in the 2020 fighting. | Accessed: 2026-06-20BMP-3 IFVPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Reference entry supporting Kurganmashzavod manufacturing attribution, vehicle role, service-entry context, general specifications, and BMP-3K, BMP-3F, and BRM-3K variant notes. | Accessed: 2026-06-20BMP-3MPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports the BMP-3M variant description, including upgraded fire-control, thermal-imaging, target-tracking, and guided-missile loading equipment. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Analysis Russian anti-tank guided missiles & ammunition able to destroy modern armored vehiclesPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports BMP-3 armament background and the 3UBK23-3 Arkan fixed round equipped with the 9M117M1-3 ATGM, including the BMP-3 gun-launcher relationship. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Russia's BMP-3 role in Ukraine is shifting to indirect fire support vehiclePublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use of Russian BMP-3 vehicles in fire-support roles near the Kupyansk direction. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukrainian soldiers captured enough Russian BMP-3 IFVs to equip one battalionPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War Ukrainian use context by reporting Ukrainian operation of captured Russian BMP-3 IFVs in battalion-scale quantity in May 2022. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Russia Increases BMP-3 IFV Production With New Drone and Mine Protection for Ukraine WarPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports 2026 production and battlefield-adaptation context, including Russian reporting of higher BMP-3 output and added mine, drone, and fragmentation protection for Ukraine-war conditions. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Rostec Army-2024 BMP-3 UpgradePublisher: Rostec | Note: Official Rostec article supporting the improved BMP-3 shown by Kurganmashzavod at Army-2024, including additional protection against drones and shaped-charge munitions, upper-hemisphere protection, driver video-observation improvements, and optional robotization equipment. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Attack On Europe: Documenting Russian Equipment Losses During The Russian Invasion Of UkrainePublisher: Oryx | Note: Directly supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War context through visually documented Russian BMP-3 combat losses and captures. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Logbook, Part I: The UAE's BMP-3 IFV in YemenPublisher: Bellingcat | Note: Directly supports 2014 Yemen Civil War use of UAE BMP-3 IFVs with coalition forces, including deployments around Aden, Al Anad air base, and Bab al-Mandab. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:BMP-3.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the primary BMP-3 image, credited to the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation and licensed CC BY 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-20File:BMP-3 (1).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for the secondary gallery image, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 with VRT permission recorded by Wikimedia Commons. | Accessed: 2026-06-20