Infantry Fighting Vehicle
BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet infantry fighting vehicle, in service since 1966 and built at Kurganmashzavod. As the world’s first mass-produced IFV, it carries eight troops and a 73 mm gun and is still used in conflicts including Syria and Ukraine.
Russia|KurganmashzavodOverview
The BMP-1 entered Soviet service in 1966 after design work in Chelyabinsk and production at Kurganmashzavod. It combines a 73 mm 2A28 Grom low-pressure gun, a 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) missile launcher and a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, with a crew of three and eight troops. A UTD-20 diesel of about 300 hp moves its 13.2 t at roughly 65 km/h, with a range near 500 km, and it swims at about 7 km/h. Its design influenced Germany’s Marder and America’s Bradley.
About 20,000 were built in the USSR, plus licensed production in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, India, Iraq, Egypt and China, with total estimates above 30,000 (sources vary). Variants include the BMP-1P with Konkurs missiles and the BMP-1AM Basurmanin with a 30 mm gun. Operators number about 20–30 countries, among them Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Yemen and India. It has seen action from 1973 onward, with a reputation for thin armour and ammunition risks. Second-hand units sell for tens of thousands of USD (hedged).
Key Specifications
Variants
The BMP-1 is the original 1966 infantry fighting vehicle with a 73 mm gun and Sagger missile.
The BMP-1P replaces the Sagger with the Konkurs anti-tank missile.
The BMP-1AM Basurmanin is the Russian modernisation with a 30 mm gun.
Operators
Russia
Ukraine
Syria
Iraq
Egypt
Algeria
Morocco
Libya
Iran
Yemen
India
KenyaFrequently Asked Questions
What is the BMP-1?
The BMP-1 is a Soviet tracked infantry fighting vehicle, introduced in 1966 and regarded as the world’s first mass-produced IFV. It carries three crew and eight troops, armed with a 73 mm gun and a Sagger missile.
How fast is the BMP-1?
The BMP-1 has a top road speed of about 65 km/h and swims at about 7 km/h. Its range is roughly 500 km, powered by a UTD-20 diesel of about 300 hp.
Which countries use the BMP-1?
The BMP-1 is used by about 20–30 countries, including Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Yemen and India. Russia now holds many in storage.
BMP-1 vs BMP-2: what is the difference?
The BMP-1 has a 73 mm low-pressure gun, while the BMP-2 replaced it with a 30 mm autocannon that fires at longer range. The BMP-2 is the successor, and the BMP-1 remains in use in many countries.
How many BMP-1s were built?
About 20,000 BMP-1s were built in the USSR, and total production including licensed lines exceeds 30,000 (sources vary). Production also took place in Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, India, Iraq, Egypt and China.
Does Türkiye use the BMP-1?
No. Türkiye does not operate the BMP-1 and uses its own ACV-15 and Tulpar instead. Among Arab states, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Yemen have used it.