BMP‑2 clash in Ukraine: Modern warfare with cold war relics
The war in Ukraine is abundant with astonishing events. Among the many intriguing incidents is the armoured duel between BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). Here, we delve into the background of this clash and the performance of these machines.
In the video below, two BMP-2 IFVs encounter each other at a crossroads; one belongs to the Ukrainians and the other to the Russians. Most likely, with the help of a reconnaissance drone, the Ukrainian vehicle fired at the Russian one first.
From the distinct flashes, it can be assumed that the first shots were made using a belt of 3UOF8 high-explosive incendiary ammunition, each shell containing 2 ounces of explosive-incendiary mixture. Subsequently, it appears that the Russians, in panic, abandoned their shot-up BMP-2, which the Ukrainians later seized. The vehicle seems not to have suffered critical damage.
BMP-2 - an outdated relic of the Cold War
The BMP-2 is one of the most popular infantry fighting vehicles globally, and it has been produced since the 1980s. It was developed as a modernisation of the BMP-1, which used a 73 mm cannon. Instead, the BMP-2 is equipped with a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon, much better suited for combatting infantry or lightly armoured vehicles.
Like its predecessor, the BMP-2 can overcome water obstacles. However, the weight requirements (approximately 15 tons) did not leave much room for armour. This puts it at a significant disadvantage compared to Western IFVs, which often weigh nearly 40 tons. Only the front steel plate of the BMP-2 is designed to withstand 23 mm anti-armour rounds, while the sides can be penetrated by an FN FAL rifle loaded with tungsten-core armour-piercing ammunition.
In practice, the Ukrainians have mentioned that 20 mm armour-piercing ammunition from the Marder 1A3 or 25 mm ammunition from the M2A2 Bradley turns the BMP-2 into proverbial Swiss cheese. An advantage of the BMP-2 is its relatively strong armament. However, due to the lack of passive night vision or thermal sight, the ability to fight in adverse weather conditions or at night is very limited.
The BMP-2 crew consists of three soldiers, with seven additional soldiers in the transport compartment. It is not a vehicle designed for modern warfare but is a preferable option to a pick-up truck.
