The result of the modernization of the BVP M-80A infantry fighting vehicle was demonstrated at the Military Technical Institute on 15 May, after which the working team in charge of carrying out the project of “Modernization of the BVP M-80A infantry fighting vehicle” held a meeting about further stages of modernization. Today’s activities were attended by the Acting Assistant Minister of Defence for Material Resources Nenad Miloradović, PhD, the Head of the Department for Defence Technologies, Major General Mladen Vuruna and the Head of the Working Team, Commander of the Second Army Brigade, Brigadier General Željko Kuzmanović.
After the initial testing of the improved running gear and armoured body of the vehicle, the Serbian Armed Forces made a request for a certain redesign, primarily in order to allow for a more comfortable landing. Hydraulic sliding doors have been installed, and the interior has been completely redesigned so that it is more comfortable for the crew and in order to make more storage space for additional combat resources. The infantry is being rapidly equipped with a new generation of protective ballistic equipment and small arms, so all modifications should enable a more efficient use of the new generation of weapons.
When it comes to the configuration of the infantry fighting vehicle and its mobility in the field, the running gear is much more stable and better, which gives stability to the fighting vehicle when moving and stability and comfort of the crew inside the vehicle. The fighting vehicle is more comfortable compared to the basic version, and the hydraulic ramp, which was installed at the suggestion of the Team, significantly reduces the time of entry and exit of the members of the Mechanized Section. Also, we saw that the ballistic characteristics are significantly better, compared to the basic version of the infantry fighting vehicle.
The BVP M-80, is a tracked Yugoslavian-made infantry fighting vehicle, produced from the 1980s until the country’s collapse in the 1990s. All M-80s are amphibious and are equipped with twin AT-3 launchers. The standard versions (BVP M-80 and M-80A) mounted a Hispano-Suiza HS.804 20mm autocannon that has an effective range of about 1500 meters and, depending on ammunition type, is able to penetrate around 20mm of RHAe (Rolled Homogeneous Armour equivalency). Crew consist of three, driver, commander and gun operator and in the after compartment there is space for six fully equipped infantrymen who can engage the enemy with personal armament through six gun slits on both vehicle sides and back doors and one squad leader who commands infantry upon exiting the vehicle.
