{
  "id": "bmd-3",
  "name": "BMD-3",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Airborne amphibious infantry fighting vehicle",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1990,
  "operators": [
    "AGO",
    "CHN",
    "RUS"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 4,
  "summary": "The BMD-3 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta, Russian \"Боевая Машина Десанта\", literally \"Combat Vehicle of the Airborne\") is an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) originating from the former Soviet Union. The BMD-3 was designed to address the flaws in the BMD-1 and BMD-2 designs.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Volgograd tractor factory",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.134,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.17,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 13.2,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2V-06 (Some models have been replaced with the BMD-4M Engine",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 450,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 71,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 40,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_swim_kmh",
      "v": 10,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Amphibious",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "200-300 rds/min; 550-800 rds/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Maximum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "+75 deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Minumum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "-5 deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, 1PZ-3 with a TNP-165A designator",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, BPK-1-42 with a TNPT-1 designator and a TKN-3B binocular sight",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, 2E36-5",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The protection offered is thought to be sufficient to stop up to 12.7 mm rounds fired at the front of the hull and at least 7.62 mm rounds fired at the sides.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, three 81 mm electrically-operated smoke grenade dischargers. The BMD-3 ACV can lay its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "1 x AGS-17 Plamya, 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher, 1 × turret-mounted 30 mm 2A42 Autocannon, 30 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "1 x PKT 7.62mm (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun) General-Purpose Machine Gun; The 7.62 PKT can be controlled remotely and is slaved to the main gun,",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 4,
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "HEI",
      "role": "30 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "960 m/s",
        "Projectile weight": "389 g"
      },
      "qty": "860 Rounds"
    },
    {
      "name": "APFSDS-T",
      "role": "30 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,260 m/s",
        "Projectile weight": "235 g"
      },
      "qty": "860 Rounds"
    },
    {
      "name": "APDS",
      "role": "30 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,120 m/s",
        "Projectile weight": "304 g"
      },
      "qty": "860 Rounds"
    },
    {
      "name": "30mm Grenade",
      "role": "ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "185 m/s",
        "Warhead": "High explosive fragmentation warhead."
      },
      "qty": "40 ea"
    },
    {
      "name": "30mm Grenade",
      "role": "ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "185 m/s"
      },
      "qty": "40 ea"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "BMD-3K",
      "text": "The commander variant of the BMD-3 adopted by the Russian Army in 1996. Mass production of this vehicle was never initiated.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "2S25 Sprut-SD (Object 952)",
      "text": "A self-propelled anti-tank gun that entered service in 2005. This vehicle has the chassis of the BMD-3 and is operated by a crew of three. The main armament is the 125 mm 2A75 smoothbore gun which is a variant of the 2A4",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-MD “Rakushka” (Object 955)",
      "text": "A multi-role transport vehicle with bigger hull and no turret. This type can be used to transport troops, fuel, ammunition and wounded personnel. It also serves as the basis for a new range of specialised vehicles for th",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-MDM",
      "text": "A modernized version with the same improvements as the BMD-4M.",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "RKhM-5 (Object 958)",
      "text": "A chemical reconnaissance vehicle introduced in 2011 and is fitted with the same specialized equipment as the BTR-80 version known as the RKhM-4. The turret has been removed; the RKhM-5 has a fixed superstructure with a ",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BMD-4 (Object 960)",
      "text": "Originally designated as the BMD-3M, this vehicle has a modified chassis with new turret known as the \"Bakhcha-U\". The weaponry bears greater similarity to the BMP-3. This new armament consists of: a 100 mm 2A70 rifled m",
      "src": [
        "weg-bmd-3"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "ifv",
  "image": {
    "file": "bmd-3.jpg",
    "thumb": "bmd-3-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Mike1979 Russia",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BMD-3_Army-2022_2022-08-20_2657.jpg",
    "title": "File:BMD-3 Army-2022 2022-08-20 2657.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/bmd-3.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-bmd-3": {
      "title": "BMD-3 Russian Airborne Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/BMD-3_Russian_Airborne_Amphibious_Infantry_Fighting_Vehicle",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}