Additional protection kits on infantry fighting vehicles — BMP-3, almost do not affect the vehicle's ability to overcome water obstacles. This was stated by the chief designer of JSC "Special Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering" Sergei Abdulov.
As part of the improvement, the BMP-3 received anti-cumulative grilles and armored screens, which significantly increased their combat survivability. Despite the increased protection, the vehicles can still overcome water obstacles with a slight decrease in buoyancy characteristics.
In order not to have to sacrifice, for example, the ability to overcome water obstacles or increase security, we are just making additional protection kits to increase the security of the product. And often these kits do not even interfere with overcoming water obstacles, only slightly reduce the characteristics of water performance.
The troops are equipped with improved BMP-3s, developed in the second half of the 1980s and manufactured at Kurganmashzavod. The vehicles accommodate three crew members and up to seven paratroopers, armed with a 100 mm cannon and three machine guns. They have been in service with the Russian troops since 1987.
It should be noted that the BMP-3F is a modification of the BMP-3, created to increase the mobility, firepower and protection of marine infantry units, coast guard and special forces when performing combat missions in the coastal zone and on the water.
The marine assault vehicle is equipped with powerful weapons: a 100-millimeter gun-launcher, a 30-millimeter automatic cannon and a 7.62-millimeter machine gun, which are combined into a single unit. In the bow, two machine guns installed in autonomous installations are retained. The sighting system of this vehicle is similar to the BMP-3.
For effective use on the water, the marine assault vehicle has a number of features:
- additional visors on the turret;
- lightweight wave-reflecting shield of improved design;
- elongated air intake pipe.
Thanks to these improvements, the Russian BMP-3F can move afloat in sea conditions up to 3 points and fire at ground and surface targets in conditions up to 2 points. In addition, it can leave the landing ship and return to it directly at sea without having to approach the shore.
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