Ria Novosti: the new BMD-4

RIA Novosti--Cadets at the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School tested the new Bakhcha-U fire support vehicle during an exercise held at the range of the 76th Airborne Assault Division near Pskov.

Before this, they studied to operate the fourth-generation airborne combat vehicle for two years. The vehicle has cutting-edge command, navigation and nigh-vision equipment.

Compared to the previous models, it also has more powerful weapons. The cadets taking part in the trials say the BMD-4 is easy to operate and takes only three minutes to fire the first shot, which is nearly twice as fast as the T-90 tank.

The automatic firing control system makes the necessary calculations for the gunner and the operator, who only need to select a target, point the gun at it and push the button. The BMD-4 was put in service in the Airborne Forces in 2005.

With its 100mm gun and speed , it is reminiscent of a US Hellcat tank destroyer in World War 2. 

Weighing 13.6 tons, it has a crew of three and carries five troops as passengers. It is armed with a 100mm low velocity cannon (with a range of 7,000 meters), a 30mm autocannon (range 4,000 meters) and a twin 7.62mm machine-guns.

The 100mm gun also fires the 9M117M1-3 anti-tank guided missile. Four of these missiles are normally carried, along with 34 100mm high explosive shells.

The BMD4 is basically the body of the BMP3 or BMD3 with a new turret. The vehicle includes thermal sights, is amphibious and can be air dropped by parachute.

Top speed on roads is 70 kilometers an hour on land, and 10 kilometers an hour in water.

Experts say the new vehicle has no analogues in the world. The Stryker Light Armored Vehicle III vehicle is the closest US analogue.

source: http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/4088.html

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