BMP-3

Syrian airborne squad with BMP-3M for support, 2008

BMP-3 stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 3 (БМП-3, Боевая Машина Пехоты 3), meaning Infantry Fighting Vehicle 3. It is a successor the the aging BMP-1 and BMP-2 designs. The primary weapon is 100 mm cannon mounted in the turret and it is very effective against infantry and hardened positions. BMP-3 is also armed with AT-10 "Arkan" missile system and 30 mm autocannon next to the 100 mm cannon. Finally there are three 7.62 mm machine guns, so a single BMP-3 packs a punch. It is one of the most modern IFV's in the world. Bradley IFV's still have the upper hand when engaged 1-on-1, but LAV-25's should be used carefully when encountering BMP-3s. The IFV can be found in the games Combat Mission: Shock Force Marines and Combat Mission: Black Sea.

Technical information

Russian BMP-3M (Arena) dismounting infantry in Ukraine, 2017

• 100 mm 2A70 cannon
• AT-10 "Arkan" GLATGM
• 30 mm 2A72 autocannon
• Three 7.62 mm PKT machine guns
• Excellent fire control system
• Lightly armored
• Diesel engine, 331 kW, 500 hp (660 hp on BMP-3M)
• Weighs 19 tons
• Power/weight ratio: 26.7 hp/t (34.7 hp/t on BMP-3M)
• Ground pressure: 0.60 kg/cm²
• Amphibious

• Ammo:

  

  9P157-2 Khrizantema-S in Ukraine, 2017

  • 100 mm HE (40 rounds), in CMBS - ABHE
  • 30 mm HE-I (305 rounds)
  • 30 mm APDS (195 rounds), in CMBS - APFSDS
  • 7.62 mm (1k rounds for PKT, 5k for passengers)
  • AT-10 Stabber (9K116-3 Basnya) T-HEAT (8 missiles)
• Crew: 2 (gunner, driver)
• Passengers: 10 (BMP-3) / 8 (BMP-3K)

Variants in the game

Marines module (CMSF):

BRM-3K conducting recon in Ukraine, 2017

• BMP-3M: The modernized model of BMP-3. A great IFV and can overcome any other Syrian light armored vehicle easily. Probably has upper hand on the older Syrian tanks as well.

Base game (CMBS):

• BMP-3: The base model.
• BMP-3K: Command version.
• BMP-3M: Modernized version.
• BMP-3M (Arena): Russian Arena-system is the successor of the Soviet Drozd-system. It can destroy enemy rockets and missiles that are heading towards it. (Active Protection System, hard-kill.)
• BMP-3M (ERA): Can't swim.
• BMP-3M (Shtora): Active Protection System, soft-kill
• 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S: Russian tank destroyer with AT-15 ATGM.
• BRM-3K: Reconnaissance version of BMP-3.

Sources

• CMSF Marines game manual v1.10
• Combat Mission: Black Sea game manual
• Wikipedia