The BMP-1UMD is equipped with the German-made Deutz engine / Photo from ukroboronprom.com.ua
State-owned Zhytomyr Armored Plant, which is part of Ukraine's state-run military-industrial concern Ukroboronprom, has completed a full cycle of factory acceptance tests of the BMP-1UMD armored infantry vehicle, according to Ukroboronprom's press service.
"The BMP-1UMD has successfully passed all running, fire and other operational tests, proving its high performance, which has greatly expanded the combat capabilities of the vehicle," it said.
Ukroboronprom says the combat vehicle, which is a thoroughly retrofitted model of the BMP-1, is equipped with a modern combat module, a digital fire control system, the German-made Deutz engine, and other advanced devices.
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"Such a set of weapons ensures destruction not only of manpower and lightly armored equipment, but also enemy tanks at a distance of up to 5 km. And firing precision is guaranteed by the Track-M targeting system together with the SVU-500-3Ts weapon stabilizing system," it said.
During the work on the BMP-1UMD, special attention was paid to the crew members' safety. In addition to installing additional protection elements, a whole raft of features was introduced to make the BMP-1UMD less infrared-invisible.
The BMP-1UMD also boasts a new digital secure communications system, advanced navigation equipment, as well as other features that have improved the ergonomic and functional characteristics of the vehicle.
"Despite such profound changes, the weight of the BMP-1UMD is 14 tonnes, which is only one tonne more than that of a BMP-1 vehicle. But the use of the German TCD2013 L64V engine, which replaced the Soviet UTD-20, significantly improved the running characteristics of the combat vehicle. A 4-stroke, 6-cylinder engine with turbocharging and an electronic control unit has a power of 330 hp, with the possibility of software power increase to 390 hp. At the same time, the UTD-20 engine has a power of only 300 hp," the concern said.
Now specialists of Zhytomyr Armored Plant are waiting for a decision on comprehensive testing by the Ukrainian military.