The Berezhok weapon system is an advanced combat module designed by the Russian defense company KBP Instrument Design Bureau to modernize aging Soviet-era infantry fighting vehicles, specifically the BMP-2. This system is a substantial upgrade to the vehicle’s firepower, situational awareness, and targeting capabilities.
Development Background:
The Berezhok system was developed in the early 2000s as part of Russia’s broader effort to improve the combat effectiveness of its existing armored vehicles without the need for completely new platforms. With the proliferation of advanced armored threats and the increasing complexity of modern warfare, there was a demand to enhance older vehicles like the BMP-2, which had been in service since the 1980s.
Features and Capabilities:
- Armament:
- The Berezhok system enhances the firepower of the BMP-2 by replacing the standard turret with a modernized combat module.
- The main armament includes an autocannon, typically a Shipunov 30mm 2A42, which allows for engaging both infantry and lightly armored vehicles.
- It adds an AG-30M automatic grenade launcher, providing enhanced close-combat capability.
- One of the major improvements is the inclusion of the Kornet-E ATGM system, which gives the vehicle the ability to engage heavily armored targets at long distances.
- Advanced Fire Control:
- The Berezhok system introduces a modern fire-control system (FCS), which includes a thermal imaging sight, laser rangefinder, and ballistic computer. This allows for improved target detection, tracking, and engagement in both day and night conditions.
- The FCS can track multiple targets and calculate firing solutions for the various weapons, greatly enhancing the vehicle’s lethality.
- Multi-Role Combat:
- The system’s versatility enables the vehicle to engage a wide range of targets, including infantry, light vehicles, main battle tanks, and even low-flying helicopters.
- The Kornet-E ATGM can penetrate modern composite and reactive armor, making the BMP-2 a serious threat on the battlefield even to advanced tanks.
Deployment and Usage
The Berezhok system has been offered for export and has seen interest from several countries looking to modernize their BMP-2 fleets. Nations such as Algeria have adopted the upgrade, allowing them to extend the operational life of their vehicles while increasing combat effectiveness in modern conflicts.
Conclusion:
The Berezhok weapon system is a prime example of modern upgrade packages designed to breathe new life into aging Soviet-era platforms. By integrating advanced weaponry, optics, and fire-control systems, the Berezhok module transforms the BMP-2 into a more capable, versatile, and lethal fighting vehicle, capable of engaging modern threats on the battlefield.
30mm 2A42 Autocannon
- Caliber: 30mm
- Rate of Fire:
- Low rate: 200-300 rounds per minute
- High rate: 550 rounds per minute
- Muzzle Velocity: 960 m/s (3,150 ft/s)
- Effective Range:
- Against ground targets: 2,500 m
- Against aerial targets: 4,500 m
- Ammunition Types: Armor-piercing, high-explosive incendiary, and fragmentation rounds
- Purpose: Designed to engage lightly armored vehicles, infantry, and low-flying aircraft or helicopters.
AG-30M Automatic Grenade Launcher
- Caliber: 30mm
- Rate of Fire: 400 rounds per minute
- Muzzle Velocity: 185 m/s (607 ft/s)
- Effective Range: 1,700 m
- Ammunition Types: High-explosive fragmentation grenades
- Purpose: Primarily for engaging infantry, light fortifications, and soft targets.
Kornet-E Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
- Caliber: 152mm
- Guidance System: Laser-beam riding
- Warhead Types: Tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead
- Effective Range: 100-5,500 m (day); up to 3,500 m (night)
- Penetration:
- Up to 1,200 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) after explosive reactive armor (ERA)
- Purpose: Designed to defeat modern main battle tanks, fortified positions, and low-flying helicopters.
7.62mm PKT Coaxial Machine Gun
- Caliber: 7.62mm
- Rate of Fire: 800 rounds per minute
- Muzzle Velocity: 855 m/s (2,805 ft/s)
- Effective Range: 1,000 m
- Ammunition Types: Ball, tracer, armor-piercing, incendiary rounds
- Purpose: Used against infantry and soft-skinned vehicles.
Key Enhancements:
- Fire-Control System (FCS): Includes thermal imaging, laser rangefinder, and ballistic computer for improved target acquisition and engagement in day and night conditions.
- Multi-Target Capability: The Kornet-E allows engagement of both heavily armored vehicles and low-flying aerial targets.
The Berezhok system is an all-around upgrade that provides the BMP-2 and various others with the firepower and precision necessary to contend with modern threats.