- Disclaimer: Some images are placeholders until more are released of this vehicle. Due to ongoing conflict, active duty personnel have been blurred out.
A BMP-3 4S24 NKDZ with a Sodema Gunner’s Sight, Karkas-II ERA, and rear cage armor.
- Description:
- The BMP-3 is a highly capable and versatile infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) that has been in service with the Russian military and various export customers since the early 1990’s. Developed as an improvement over the earlier BMP-1 and BMP-2 models, the BMP-3 began development in the early 1980’s and went through state tests in 1985. When compared to the other BMP’s, the BMP-3 incorporates a significant number of advanced features and capabilities. At the heart of the vehicle is a potent armament package housed in the 2K33 Complex, including a 100mm 2A70 smoothbore gun that can fire a variety of ammunition including anti-tank guided missiles, a 30mm 2A72 dual-feed automatic cannon, and a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun. This firepower, combined with the vehicle’s armor protection and mobility, makes the BMP-3 a formidable opponent on the modern battlefield. The BMP-3 has had multiple variants developed which has included new combat modules, armor testing, different propulsion systems and more.
The older BMP-3 prototype with Karkas-I or 4S20 inserts. - This BMP-3, the BMP-3 4S24 NKDZ, is a modern vehicle equipped with the Karkas-II Dynamic Protection, incorrectly known as Kactus, providing the vehicle additional kinetic armor protection up to 30mm AP-rounds and 500mm of penetration from HEAT-shaped charges while retaining its ability to traverse on water. This Dynamic Protection package had its origins in the late-90’s, with a prototype completed in 2000 that had used 4S20 inserts, or inserts from Kontact-1 dynamic protection. This type of ERA was known as Karkas-I. Additionally, cage armor was installed around the rear of the vehicle near the engine compartment. The Karkas-I ERA Kit had not been in use beyond prototype status until the year 2023, when late-production BMP-3’s started receiving them utilizing 4S24 (Relikt) inserts which received the designation ‘Karkas-II’, albeit in small batches. This switch from the original 4S20 to 4S24 inserts significantly increased protection for the crew and overall survivability compared to the original Karkas-I. Karkas-II is expected to enter wider production in 2024 with some vehicles already having been utilized by the RGF. The BMP-3 obr. 2019’s and onward models have the mounting equipment factory installed on the vehicle to mount the Karkas-II kit. The BMP-3 4S24 NKDZ, like all other standard BMP-3’s, can carry several fully equipped infantry troops in addition to its 3-man crew of commander, gunner, and driver. Propulsion is provided by a 500 horsepower UTD-29M diesel engine, allowing the BMP-3 to achieve road speeds of up to 70 km/h and swim at up to 7 km/h. The BMP-3 has undergone several changes over the years to include its advanced electronics suite, which includes a Sodema thermal imaging sight, passive-IR for the Commander and Driver, a sophisticated fire control system, PL-1 Laser Pulse Beamer which acts as the Laser Rangefinder, and advanced communications gear. This allows the vehicle to engage targets day or night and in adverse weather conditions. The BMP-3 has seen action in numerous conflicts worldwide and continues to be an integral component of the Russian Ground Forces and several other nations. The BMP-3 4S24 NKDZ has already seen service, with at least two knocked out.
- Special thanks to @ZVO_12_INCH for his help in the suggestion.
- The BMP-3 is a highly capable and versatile infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) that has been in service with the Russian military and various export customers since the early 1990’s. Developed as an improvement over the earlier BMP-1 and BMP-2 models, the BMP-3 began development in the early 1980’s and went through state tests in 1985. When compared to the other BMP’s, the BMP-3 incorporates a significant number of advanced features and capabilities. At the heart of the vehicle is a potent armament package housed in the 2K33 Complex, including a 100mm 2A70 smoothbore gun that can fire a variety of ammunition including anti-tank guided missiles, a 30mm 2A72 dual-feed automatic cannon, and a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun. This firepower, combined with the vehicle’s armor protection and mobility, makes the BMP-3 a formidable opponent on the modern battlefield. The BMP-3 has had multiple variants developed which has included new combat modules, armor testing, different propulsion systems and more.
4S24 inserts that are found in Karkas-II.
- Armament:
- 2K23 Complex:
- Primary: 2A70 100mm Cannon
- Ammunition:
- 3OF17 HE
- 3OF19 HE
- 3OF19-1 HE
- 9M117 GL-ATGM
- 9M117M1 GL-ATGM
- 9M117M1-3 GL-ATGM
- Feed System:
- 22rd-Autoloader (48rds-total, including 8x GL-ATGM’s)
- Ammunition:
- Secondary: 2A72 30mm Autocannon
- Cartridge: 30x165
- Ammunition:
- 3UBR8 APDS-T
- 3UBR11 APFSDS-T
- 3UBR6 AP-T
- 3UOR6 HEF-I
- 3UOF8 F-T
- Ammunition:
- Feed System:
- Dual-belt Fed (500rds-total)
- Tertiary: 3x 7.62mm PKTM Machine Gun (2,000rds-total)
- Other specifications:
- Depression/Elevation: -5/+60 Degrees
- Stabilizer: 2E52-2 Electro-mechanical, Two-plane
- Primary: 2A70 100mm Cannon
- 2K23 Complex:
- Maneuverability:
- Engine: 500hp - UTD-29M Diesel Engine
- Auxiliary Power Unit (APU)
- Transmission: Hydromechanical Planetary-Type (8-Forward, 4-Reverse)
- Chassis: Tracked, Adjustable, Hydropneumatic
- Max Speed: 71km/h (9km/h on water)
- Engine: 500hp - UTD-29M Diesel Engine
- Dimensions:
- Length: 7.140m
- Width: 3.300m
- Height: 2.300m
- Weight: 18.7-22.7t (w/o and w/ ERA)
- Crew (3x):
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
- Features:
- 6x 81mm 902V ‘Tucha’ Rear-mounted Smoke Grenade Launchers
- ESS
- 2x PL-1 Laser Pulse Beamer/Laser Rangefinder
- Dozer-blade
- Optics (NVD-specific):
- Gunner: Sodema Thermal Imager
- Commander: TKN-AI Passive-IR Periscope
- Driver: TSE-1 Day/Night Passive-IR Periscope
- Amphibious
- Addon Armor:
- 4S24 Karkas-II Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA)/Dynamic Protection
- The ERA is in-game in the form of the Relikt on the sides and rear of the T-80BVM and T-72B3’s turret.
- Cage Armor around the engine compartment/dismount access.
- 4S24 Karkas-II Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA)/Dynamic Protection
- In-game :
- The BMP-3 4S24 NKDZ brings in extra firepower and the most modern-production variant of the BMP-3. It’s equipped with the 3UBR11 APFSDS-T rounds and the deadly new 9M117M1-3 GL-ATGM capable of extra range which can knock out targets across the map. It also can equip the Karkas ERA which is designed to protect against HEAT-shaped charges to prevent penetration of the fighting compartment. Overall the vehicle would provide a solid top-tank IFV with an analog to the vehicle being the Puma S1, and the M2A4 Bradley w/ BUSK-II.
- The 2A72 has no issues firing the 3UBR11 APFSDS-T rounds as that was a rumor.
- Estimated Battle Rating: 10.0-10.3
- Battle Rating is assessed based on the vehicles armament, equipped with APFSDS-T, an upgraded/long-range GL-ATGM, and 4S24 ERA capable of stopping 30mm rounds and up to 500mm of chemical-based munitions.
Images
- General Images:
Notice the lug mounts on the turrets for mounting Karkas ERA.
Karkas ERA being hit with a PG-9V grenade.
Breakdown of Karkas/4S24 ERA.
Model of the BMP-3 with the armor kit.
Karkas-II ERA during testing.
-
Older Prototype BMP-3’s with 4S20 Inserts:
-
Ammunition:
The 9M117M1-3 GL-ATGM, the most modern version of the round for the BMP-3.
3UBR11 APFSDS-T round compared to the 3UBR8 APDS round. -
Internal images of the vehicle:
-
Gunner’s Sight:
Sodema Gunner’s Sight.
- Sources:
- Tankograd: BMP-3
- Выстрел "Аркан" с управляемой ракетой 9М117М1-3 3УБК23-3 | Каталог Рособоронэкспорт
- https://en.kalashnikovgroup.ru/media/nii-stali/kompleks-dinamicheskoy-zashchity-novogo-pokoleniya-dlya-bmp-3
- BMP-3 ERA topic continuation
- ..
- Боевая машина пехоты БМП-3. Описание. Технические характеристики. Применяемые агрегаты производства АО ММЗ Знамя
- BMP-3. Long-awaited protection from... the past
- NII Stali 4S24 ERA showcase video
- Yes
- No