Slovak company STV Machinery has started production of hulls for Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. This was reported by the manufacturer's press service.
STV Machinery has signed a contract for the serial production of armored capsules for 2026–2027 with an unnamed customer.
The project development began last year. The company relies on the experience of upgrading armored vehicles and new solutions obtained during the production of Zuzana self-propelled howitzers.
The main difference from the original BMP-1 hulls is the use of modern armor steel, which is used in Western-made vehicles. In the future, STV Machinery intends to produce one hundred BMP-1s per year.
It should be noted that the standard armor of the "kopeyka" can only protect the crew from small arms bullets and shrapnel.
In Russia, they came up with a new use for the Soviet BMP-1s. They remove the gun from them and turn them into a light armored personnel carrier for transporting troops.