Russian paratroopers of the Kostroma Guards Airborne Regiment conducted a tactical exercise at the Pesochnoe range in the Yaroslavl Region with live firing from the BMD-2M airborne infantry fighting vehicle in the daytime and during the night. During the exercise, paratroopers practiced the employment of combat vehicles of airborne platoons, the actions of crews on command of the unit and combat vehicle commanders, as well as the actions of gunners on target detection.
For better training performance, real combat conditions were created, which enabled firing from all types of weapons, both at ground and air targets. Paratroopers wore individual protection means and fired through firing ports of the BMD-2M. During the night, the fire was conducted using night vision sights. Hand grenades were thrown at both static and moving targets. In total, about 200 servicemen and more than 20 pieces of military and special equipment were involved in the drill.
The BMD-2 is a Soviet airborne infantry fighting vehicle, introduced in 1985. It is a variant of BMD-1 with a new turret and some changes done to the hull. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta (Airborne Combat Vehicle). It was developed as a replacement of BMD-1 but it failed to replace it completely because of the downfall of Soviet economy in 1980s. The vehicle is armed with stabilized 30 mm 2A42 multi-purpose autocannon and 7.62 mm PKT coaxial tank machine gun. The vehicle carries 300 rounds for the main gun (180 AP and 120 HE) and 2,940 rounds for the machine gun.
BMD-2M is an upgrade of the basic version with a number of improvements including smoke grenade launchers to the side of the turret. The vehicle can be transported by An-12, An-22, Il-76, An-124 airplanes and Mi-6 and Mi-26 helicopters. The BMD-2M is fully amphibious, it can swim after switching on the two electric bilge pumps, erecting the two piece trim vane which improves vehicle’s stability and displacement in water and prevents the water from flooding the bow of the tank and switching the driver’s periscope for a swimming periscope that enables the driver to see over the trim vane.
