Hello everyone.
Currently, the Finnish BMP-2MD is one of the weakest light vehicles at its Battle Rating (8.7) due to its highly inadequate firepower and very limited ammunition options for its primary weapon.
My Suggestion: I propose adding the modern M929 APFSDS-T round (manufactured by Mecar, Belgium) to the BMP-2MD’s modifications.
What is the M929 round and why is it historically relevant?
The M929 is a fin-stabilized armor-piercing discarding sabot (APFSDS) round designed specifically for Soviet 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons by the Belgian company Mecar S.A. The projectile wasn’t built from scratch; it utilized Western technologies originally developed for the 25mm rounds found on the M2 Bradley.
Why was it created? After the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, several nations (Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, etc.) joined NATO while retaining vast fleets of Soviet armor, including the BMP-2. Purchasing modern ammunition from Russia was no longer politically viable. Since NATO’s focus was countering Soviet/Russian armor, Mecar filled this niche by creating a Western-tech APFSDS round encased in a Soviet 30x165mm shell, completely solving the firepower issue for NATO nations operating legacy BMP-2s.
Arguments in favor of adding this round:
- BR 8.7 Matchmaking Realities: At this BR, the BMP-2MD constantly faces heavily armored opponents (Soviet MBTs, T-10M, M60, Centurions, Vickers, etc.) which feature substantial side armor profiles. Trying to engage these targets with the current 3UBR8 APDS round is incredibly difficult, and frontally, the chances of dealing damage are close to zero. Flanking at a perfect 90-degree angle is rarely viable in fast-paced matches, and an APFSDS round would drastically improve the vehicle’s capability to reliably penetrate vulnerable zones even at slight angles.
- The NATO Connection: Finland is a NATO member. The M929 round is produced by Mecar in Belgium—a founding NATO member state. Therefore, it is entirely logical and historically plausible that Finland has full logistical access to procurement of these modern Western rounds.
- In-game Precedent (Technical Capability): The Soviet BMP-2M in-game already fires an APFSDS round (3UBR11). Even though it wasn’t widely issued in reality, Gaijin added it based on the vehicle’s “technical platform capability.” The Finnish BMP-2MD features the exact same 2A42 ballistic system (with barrels upgraded by Slovakian firm ZTS). Technically, the Finnish platform is 100% capable of firing the M929 APFSDS.
- Complete Absence of ATGMs: During the real-world modernization process, the “Konkurs” ATGM launcher was completely removed from the BMP-2MD, stripping the vehicle of its primary anti-tank tool.
- Comparison with Competitors: The Soviet BMP-2 sits at 8.3 and compensates for its weak gun with a hard-hitting ATGM. The M3 Bradley, Marder 1A3, and Type 89 at 8.7/9.0 all feature highly effective missile systems to back up their primary weapons. The BMP-2MD has nothing but its gun. While the high-quality thermal imager is nice, it adds absolutely zero actual firepower in direct engagements. As the community saying goes: “You can give a tank four thermals, but it won’t help if the shell can’t punch through the armor.” The APFSDS is urgently needed as a balancing counterweight.
Will this cause an imbalance at BR 8.7?
Absolutely not. A 30mm APFSDS at 8.7 will merely raise the BMP-2MD’s combat potential to match its peers, allowing for reliable flanking damage and precise shots into weak spots. The frontal armor of most MBTs will still remain completely immune to this 30mm caliber. Furthermore, it will not make shooting down helicopters or jets any easier, as the BMP-2MD lacks an automatic target tracker and proximity-fused shells.
Conclusion:
Adding the Mecar M929 round will not create an overpowered monster. However, it will finally allow the Finnish BMP-2MD to perform adequately at its current Battle Rating, ensuring rewarding flanking gameplay and a fair fighting chance against 8.7-9.7 opponents.