List of BMP-1 variants

Variants

Soviet Union

Infantry fighting vehicles

• BMP – The original main prototype of the BMP-1 was developed by the design bureau of the Chelyabinsk Tractor Works and built in 1965. In comparison with Ob'yekt 765Sp1, Ob'yekt 764 was 4 mm higher, had a maximum swimming speed of 10 km/h, a lower maximum range and a reduced number of firing ports for its passenger's armament. The vehicle had a curved shock-absorber behind the first road wheel and the rear fender and two tool stowage boxes on the fenders. To start production of the new vehicle, the design of the fighting and troop compartments were improved. Unlike the BMP-1, Ob'yekt 764 used a waterjet for swimming, which was removed to save space inside the vehicle. Ob'yekt 764 also had a larger main fuel tank, while the BMP-1 had the main fuel tank reduced in size and partially placed under the troop compartment.
• * Ob'yekt 765 – An improved Ob'yekt 764.
• * Ob'yekt 765 was fitted with an active location system for its eight passengers. It was developed in the mid-1960s. Its turret was moved to the rear of the hull. It was also fitted with three additional 7.62 mm PKT general-purpose machine guns in ball mounts in the middle of the hull. Three prototypes were built.
• ** BMP – An early type with a shorter nose section and a larger angled plate at the top of the hull line. The two tool stowage boxes on the fenders were removed. The swim vanes were modified by reducing the number of vanes from seven to four and the fender profile was raised nearer to the horizontal. The fume extraction ports on the hull roof to the rear of the turret were moved outwards and reoriented to point toward the rear of the vehicle. The single torsion bar used to spring the rear roof troop hatches was replaced by a twin torsion bar system. The firing ports on the side were moved up into the armor plate, giving the weapons used in the ports a higher degree of elevation. The vehicle weighs 12.6 tonnes. It was built from 1966 to 1969. It is sometimes incorrectly known as the BMP-A by some Western sources. NATO gave it the designation BMP Model 1966.
• *** BMP-1 – The standard production version weighs 13 tonnes. It was built from 1969 to 1973. Vehicles produced from the mid-1970s had a higher hull with more space inside as well as a different shaped nose section which also made it 20 cm longer, giving it an improved swimming capability. The triangular air intake behind the turret was replaced by a circular telescopic snorkel which was raised when the vehicle was afloat. The roof hatches were also slightly rearranged, the air intake located to the front left side of the driver's station was removed and the NBC sensor cover was moved inwards, closer to the turret. To the left of the turret was a prominent NBC filter cover and the PKM port was redesigned. NATO gave it the designation BMP Model 1970.
• **** BMP-1 was equipped with a stabilization system for its 73 mm main gun, a semi-automatic guidance for the 9S428 anti-tank-guided-missile launcher, an improved NBC system, a more powerful engine, an improved automatic loader and improved night vision devices.
• ***** BMP-1 – A slightly improved and 200 kg heavier version of Ob'yekt 765Sp2. Unlike its predecessors it had OG-15V HE-Frag rounds in its ammunition load. It was fitted with the new 1PN22M2 sight instead of the 1PN22M1 sight as well as with a traffic signal system. The M3 autoloader was removed. It was built from 1973 to 1979. NATO gave it the designation BMP M1976.
• ****** BMP-1S – The experimental prototype was equipped with the AV-1 device at the commander's station for target laser designation and for damaging enemy optics. Developed and tested in the 1970s, ammunition for the ATGM launcher was reduced from four to two 9M14Ms, as was the number of passengers.
• ****** BMP-1 – This variant was additionally armed with a 30 mm AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher for which it carried 290 rounds. A large number of BMP-1 IFVs were upgraded to this model during preventive and major repairs. Such IFVs carried up to seven troopers instead of eight. In Western sources they are sometimes called the "BMP-1G" but this is not an official Soviet designation. NATO gave it the name BMP M1979/1
• ****** BMP-1 – Fitted with six 81 mm 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers at the rear of the turret. Western sources often call it the BMP-1M but this is not an official Soviet designation.
• ******* BMP-1 – Modernized by the Belarusian 140th Repair Workshop from Barysaw in Belarus during major repairs between the 1970s and 2000s. The modernization package included the pintle-mounted 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs", 9M113M "Konkurs-M", 9M111 "Fagot" and 9M111-2 "Fagot" ATGMs as well as a new electronic pulsed infrared jam-resistant weapon system.
• ****** BMP-1P – The first serious modernization of the BMP-1; it was developed in the middle of the 1970s after an analysis of BMP-1 combat use during the 1973 Yom Kippur War and during the Angolan Civil War three years later. Firepower was enhanced by adding the pintle-mounted 9P135M launcher with a semi-automatic control capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" ATGMs which increased armor penetration and extended weapon range. The new ATGM launchers were somewhat difficult to operate since the gunner had to stand in the open hatch on top of the turret to use the weapons, exposing himself to hostile fire and in NBC conditions destroying whatever value the BMP-1P's NBC protection suite gave. The Malyutka loading hatch was usually welded shut and the mount was removed. A special NBC protection covering was placed on the inside and outside of the turret, hull, engine compartment upper access hatch, commander's and driver's hatches as well as under the driver's station. A new fire-extinguisher system for protection against napalm was installed after an analysis of armored fighting vehicle usage during the Vietnam War. There is an additional machine gun firing port on the left side of the hull and at the front of the turret, increasing the number of firing ports from seven to nine. For protection against air attacks, two 9M32M "Strela-2M" or 9M313 Igla-1 missiles of corresponding performance were added instead of the previous 9M32 "Strela-2", but sometimes they were replaced by an RPG-7 anti-tank rocket propelled grenade launcher. The BMP-1P weighs 13.4 tonnes. It was built from 1979 to 1983. NATO gave it the designation BMP M1981
• ******* BMP-1P – It was a late production model fitted with six 81 mm 902V "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers at the rear of the turret and additional kovriki turret armor. Some vehicles were equipped with a track-width KMT-10 mine plow. In Western sources, BMP-1Ps that were fitted with smoke grenade launchers are often called BMP-1PM but this is not an official Soviet designation. Sometimes a BMP-1P fitted with the KMT-10 is called the BMP-1PM1 and the BMP-1P fitted with additional kovriki turret armor is called the BMP-1PM2 but those are not official Soviet designations.
• ******** BMP-1PG is a BMP-1P armed additionally with an AGS-17 "Plamya"automatic grenade launcher on the left hand side of the top of the turret for which it carries 290 grenades. The BMP-1PG was inspired by self-made field modifications. Some crews participating in the Soviet–Afghan War welded a grenade launcher to the top of the turret in order to compensate for the quite low fragmentation effect of the OG15V HE-Frag round used by the main gun. The vehicle weighs 13.6 tonnes and can carry up to seven soldiers instead of the usual eight. A new 9K34 "Strela-3" man-portable air-defense system, was carried inside the troop compartment. A short production run took place at the end of the 1970s. The vehicle entered service with the Soviet Army but many were exported. NATO gave it the designation BMP M1979/2.
• ******** BMP-1PG – Modernization was carried out by the Kurgan Engineering Works. There are two variants. The first has tracks and drive sprockets from the BMP-2. The second is the same as the first except for minor chassis improvements and flotation sides-skirts/mudguards from the BMP-2. The BMP-1PG is considered by the Russian Army, to be the same as the BMP-2, in terms of efficiency. Some BMP-1Ps were reengineered into BMP-1PGs by tank repair plants during scheduled major repairs, some – by the main manufacturer "Kurganmashzavod".
• ****** BMP-1D – This vehicle is a modernized BMP-1 built in 1982 for Soviet assault battalions serving in Afghanistan. It is often known as the "Afghan" variant. It has 5–6 mm thick appliqué steel armor on the sides of the hull as well as five plates per side covering the suspension and additional armor under the commander's and driver's seats for protection against mines. Because of this modification, the side armor of the BMP-1D is able to withstand 12.7 mm armor-piercing rounds fired by the DShK and Browning M2 heavy machine guns used by the Afghan Mujahideen, which can penetrate the side armor of the standard BMP-1, as well as larger artillery shell fragments. The additional armor has holes cut out to allow the transported infantry to use their small arms through the firing ports. Additional firing ports were added into the top hatches of the troop compartment and a stowage box was placed on the roof at the rear of the hull. The use of appliqué armor increased the ground pressure to 0.65 kg/cm², decreased the maximum range to 500 km and jeopardized the amphibious ability. The 9S428 ATGM launcher was often replaced by an AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launcher in field conditions.
• * Ob'yekt 768 – It was an experimental IFV utilizing parts of the BMP-1 developed and built in 1972. A new two-man turret armed with a 73 mm "Zarnitsa" semi-automatic smoothbore gun and a 12.7 mm coaxial heavy machine gun, was installed. The original design included a small rotating turret on top of the commander's hatch armed with a 7.62 mm PKT general-purpose machine gun but it was not included in the prototype. It was also armed with a pintle-mounted ATGM launcher capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" ATGMs. It carried 40 rounds for the main gun, 500 rounds for the coaxial machine gun and 4 ATGMs. Ob'yekt 768 had a significantly modified nose section and strengthened suspension with an additional road wheel. The track unit was equipped with hydrodynamic grills to increase swimming traction performance but it was decided to remove them because of the damage from stones. It weighed 13.6 tonnes and had a crew of three men. The prototype is preserved at the Kubinka Tank Museum.
• ** Ob'yekt 769 – An experimental IFV based on an Ob'yekt 768 chassis and built in 1972. It was fitted with a new turret armed with a 30 mm 2A42 autocannon and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun. A second PKT was installed in a small rotatable turret on top of the hull. It was also armed with a pintle-mounted ATGM launcher capable of firing SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" and 9M113M "Konkurs-M" ATGMs. It carried 500 rounds for the main gun, 2000 rounds for the machine guns and four ATGMs. The track unit, with hydrodynamic grills, was used for swimming. It was fitted with a diesel engine developing 321 hp, weighed 13.8 tonnes and had a crew of three. The turret developed for the Ob'yekt 769 was later slightly improved and installed on the BMP-2. The prototype is preserved at the Kubinka Tank Museum.
• * Ob'yekt 680 was an experimental IFV utilizing parts of the BMP-1. It was developed and built in 1972. It weighed 13 tonnes and had a crew of 3. It was armed with a 30 mm 2A38 autocannon and a PKT machine gun fitted into a completely new turret. A second PKT machine gun was installed on top of the commander's hatch. It carried 500 rounds for the main gun and 4000 rounds for the machine guns. This prototype is preserved at the Kubinka Tank Museum.
• * Ob'yekt 675 was an experimental IFV that had enhanced combat characteristics and utilized parts of the BMP-1; it was tested in 1974. The two-man turret was armed with a 30 mm 2A42 autocannon with a two-plane stabilization system and one 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun. A second machine gun was fitted on top of the commander's hatch. The vehicle carried 500 rounds for the main gun and 2000 rounds for the machine guns. It was also armed with a pintle-mounted 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher capable of firing a SACLOS guided 9M113 "Konkurs" and a 9M113M "Konkurs-M" as well as a 9M111 "Fagot" ATGM and a 9M111-2 "Fagot" ATGM. The vehicle could carry either four "Konkurs" ATGMs or six "Fagot" ATGMs. ATGM guidance equipment is located on the top of the turret and is separated from the ATGM launcher. The IFV weighed 13.6 tonnes and had a crew of 3.
• * Ob'yekt 681 – An experimental IFV also utilizing parts of the BMP-1 IFV – it was developed and built in 1977. It weighed 13.6 tonnes and had a crew of 3. It was armed with a 73 mm "Zarnitsa" semi-automatic smooth-bore gun with a two-plane stabilization system, a 12.7 mm NVST coaxial heavy machine gun, a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and a 9P135M ATGM launcher. It carried 40 rounds for the main gun, 500 rounds for the coaxial machine gun and 2400 rounds for the machine gun.
• * BMP-2 – An IFV with enhanced fighting qualities based on the BMP-1 and fitted with a new two-man turret armed with a 30 mm 2A42 autocannon.