The BMP-2 is an infantry combat vehicle vari-ant of the BMP-1 that incorporates a major arma-ment change.

It has an enlarged two-man turret which mounts a 30-mm automatic gun, model 2A42, with a long, thin tube and a double-baffle muzzle brake, along with a 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun on its front. On top of the turret is an ATGM launcher. This launcher can employ either AT-4 SPIGOT or AT-5 SPANDREL missiles.

The AT-5 SPANDREL canister is normally seen mounted. The engine is an upgraded 300-hp, V-6 diesel. The vehicle commander now sits in the two-man turret, along with the gunner. Because of the enlarged turret, there is room for only two roof hatches in the rear fighting compartment, rather than the four of the BMP-1. The BMP-2 can accommodate one less passenger than the BMP-1; there also is one less firing port for an assault rifle on each side.

However, a new machine-gun-type firing port on the left side of the hull, forward of the turret, indicates that an infantryman now occupies the BMP-1 vehicle commander's position. The torsion bar suspension either side consists of six road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and track-return rollers. The upper part of the track has a sheet metal cover deeper than that of the BMP-1 which is filled with a buoyancy aid.

Main armament comprises a 30-mm cannon model 2A42. The gunner can select single shots or one of two automatic rates of fire, low at 200 to 300 rds/min or high at 500 rds/min. The 30-mm cannon has dual feed, one for HE-T and the other for AP-T; both with a muzzle velocity of 970 m/s. The 30-mm cannon is fully stabilized and has an effective range against ground targets of 1000 m although it is sighted to 4000 m. Its high elevation allows it to be used against aircraft and helicopters. A total of 500 rounds of 30-mm ammunition is carried. A 7.62-mm PKT machine gun is mounted to the left of the main armament and 2000 rounds are carried for this weapon. An infra-red searchlight is mounted coaxial to the right of the 30-mm cannon and the commander also has a roof-mounted infra-red searchlight model OU-3GA2.

Mounted on the turret roof between the gunner's and commander's hatches is a launcher for either an AT-4 SPIGOT or AT-5 SPANDREL ATGM.

A ground mount is carried to allow the ATGMs to be launched away from the vehicle. Most BMP-2s have a bank of three electrically operated 81-mm smoke dischargers firing forwards. The smoke grenade launcher system is designated the 902V. In addition, the BMP-2 can lay its own smoke-screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust outlet on the right side of the hull.

This system is called the TDA and can only be used when the engine is warm and the vehicle moving. To the turret rear is the infantry compartment which has only two roof hatches compared to the BMP-1's four. It carries six infantrymen who sit down either side of the vehicle back-to-back. In either side of the rear troop compartment are three firing ports; each of which has an associated roof-mounted periscope angled to the front of the vehicle.

The infantry normally enter and leave the vehicle via the two doors in the hull rear. Each of these doors has an integral fuel tank and periscope in the upper part of the door. The left door also has a firing port.

The engine and transmission are to the right of the driver's compartment with the air-inlet and air-outlet louvers on top of the hull. The BMP-2 is powered by a UTD-20 four-stroke, six-cylinder model UTD-20 supercharged diesel engine developing 285/300 hp at 2600 rpm. The engine is coupled to a manual transmission with five forward and one reverse gears.

The BMP-2 is fully amphibious. Standard equipment on the BMP-2 includes a full range of night vision equipment for commander, gunner and driver, fire extinguishing system, GPK-59 gyro-compass system, PAZ overpressure NBC system, engine pre-heater and turret extractor fan.

VARIANTS:

Improved BMP-2 A number of product improvements were made to the BMP-2 in the late 1980's. These improvements included modifications to the gun stabilization system, improved internal communications, improved rubber-bushed tracks, and the spare tracks have been moved from the rear exit doors to the left and right upper side walls of the troop compartment. This vehicle also includes a special mat for the transport of the seriously wounded and six slings for the slightly wounded.

BMP-2D Late production version of the BMP-2, this vehicle includes appliqu? armor on the turret, provision for mounting mine clearing system under the nose of the vehicle, and applique armor of the spaced type fitted along either side of the hull.

BMP-2K This is the command version of the BMP-2 and has additional communications equipment.

BVP-2 This is the designation for the Czechoslovakian produced BMP-2.

BMP-2 (Product Improved) This modified BMP-2 includes several improvements: a new track which doubles the track-life; 30-mm cannon is stabilized in two planes, and elevation increased to 70?; it is fitted with air conditioning for desert operations; a AG-17 30-mm grenade launcher is mounted on the left side of the turret; and the gunner is equipped with a thermal sight, which replaces the active IR system.