BMP-3 Soviet infantry machine, export version 1/35 UM 234

BMP-3 Soviet infantry machine, export version 
1/35 WWII  scale plastic model kit
Unimodels UM 234

Manufacturer: UM (Ukraine)
Scale: 1/35
Material: Plastic
Paint: Unpainted, Unassembled, Kit do not contain paints and glue.
Condition: New in Box

Number of parts: 48parts + 10 photo-etched parts

The BMP-3 is a Soviet amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, successor to theBMP-1 and BMP-2. The abbreviation BMP stands for Boevaya Mashina Pehoty(Боевая Машина Пехоты, literally "Infantry Combat Vehicle").The design of the BMP-3 or Obyekt 688M can be traced back to the Obyekt685 light tank prototype with 100mm gun 2A48-1 from 1975. This vehicle did not enter series production but the chassis, with a new engine, was used for the next-generation infantry combat vehicle Obyekt 688 from A. Blagonravov's design bureau. The Ob. 688 weapons configuration—an externally-mounted 30 mm gun and twin Konkurs ATGM launcher—was rejected; instead the new 2K23 armament system was selected. The resulting BMP-3 was developed in the early 1980s and entered service with the Soviet Army officially in 1987. It was shown for the first time in public during the 1990May Day parade and was given the NATO code IFV M1990/1.The BMP-3 is one of the most heavily armed infantry combat vehicles in service, fitted with a low-velocity 2A70 100mm rifled gun, which can fire conventional shells or 9M117 ATGMs (AT-10 Stabber). 40 100mm-rounds and 8 ATGMs are carried. A 2A72 30mm dual feed autocannon with 500 (300 HEI and 200 APT) rounds and a rate of fire of 350 to 400 RPM, and a 7.62mm PKTmachine gun with 2,000 rounds, all mounted coaxially in the turret. The main gun elevates from −5° to +60°. There are also two 7.62mm PKT bow machine guns, again with 2,000 rounds each. The BMP-3 is capable of engaging targets out to 5,000–6,000 meters with its ATGM weapon system 9K116-3 "Basnya". The minimum engagement distance, flight time and vulnerability of launcher are typical of command-guided, rather than fire-and-forget, ATGM systems. With conventional ammunition, such as the HE-Frag shell 3OF32, the 2A70 gun has a range of 4,000 meters. The 3BM25 APFSDS round can also be used.The hull and turret are made of aluminium, with the front being provided with a layer of spaced armour. Over the frontal 60 degree arc, the vehicle is protected against 30 mm armour-piercing rounds of 2A42 gun at a range of 300 m. In an effort to improve battlefield survivability, the fuel tanks are also located in the floor of the vehicle.

The BMP-3 can lay its own smoke screen by injecting fuel into the exhaust. A chemical agent detector, an FVU filtration system, an automatic fire extinguisher and six 902V "Tucha-2" 81mm smoke grenade launchers are standard.

An explosive reactive armour kit is currently available, providing increased protection. However, using ERA on an IFV is considered problematic by some experts, since in the event of the malfunction of the ERA, it can possibly pose a threat to friendly troops located in the vicinity of the vehicle.

The BMP-3 also has the ability to carry a Shtora electro-optical jammer that disrupts semiautomatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) antitank guided missiles, laser rangefinders and target designators. Shtora is a soft-kill, or passive-countermeasure system.