Changes ahead. Russian new vehicles stand out from prior models

Fundamental changes in the latest batch of BMP-3 vehicles include incorporating an electronic warfare system. This technology is designed to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), making communication between the UAV and its operator difficult or impossible.

This implementation is seen as a strategic response to the ongoing war in Ukraine. For several months, inexpensive drones and circulating ammunition have posed significant threats on both sides of the conflict. There have been numerous instances where high-value military machines, costing millions, have been neutralized by low-cost drones.

Recently, Ukraine's defenders presented a similar technology aimed at protecting their machines. Named the Piranha AVD 360, this tool generates a "dome" around the vehicle, causing the drone operator to lose control, resulting in the UAV's quick and helpless fall or forced landing, neutralizing the threat. It is speculated that Russia's BMP-3 might feature a similar tool.

Russia aims to increase the survivability of combat vehicles by not only equipping BMP-3 with a system to disrupt opposing UAVs but also physically reinforcing the machines with additional armor plates on the sides of the hull.

However, additional armor is not deemed as crucial on the front compared to integrating jammers. This is partly because similar reinforcing activities have been undertaken by Russia several times before by mounting different types of supporting armor on their vehicles. According to Defense Express, the exact number of vehicles that will go to the frontline remains unknown, as well as the capabilities of the mentioned electronic warfare system and its possible similarity to Ukraine's Piranha AVD 360.

It's worth mentioning that, as of early 2023, the Russian army maintained around 400 BMP-3 units, according to the Military Balance report. Approximately 100 vehicles were slated for manufacture in the first quarter, aiming at a total production of over 400 BMP-3 combat vehicles throughout the year.

Introduced to the army in 1990, the BMP-3, the successor of the BMP-1 and BMP-2, did not become the primary infantry vehicle for the Russian army despite its modern design. It has a 100mm 2A70 rifled cannon capable of firing ten shots per minute and holds 22 rounds in the carousel. The BMP-3 can engage targets using fragmentation rounds and guided anti-tank missiles such as Bastion, Kan, and Arkan. Due to these features, the vehicle can threaten adversaries with armor up to approximately 29.5 inches thick.