Ukraine state enterprise “Zhytomyr Armored Plant”, which is a part of Ukroboronprom, delivers another batch of upgraded BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) to the Ukrainian Army. The works were performed ahead of schedule under limited funding. The BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles have undergone majorrepairs and received advanced capabilities, including new sighting and targeting devices, IR LED headlights, and a GPS navigator. Among other improvements are new tracks produced domestically in Ukraine, in particular by Zhytomyr Armored Plant. The full mission capable hardware was handed over under the state contract.
The BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty, literally “infantry combat vehicle”) is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s. In 2005 Ukrainian armed forces have a total of 1,434 BMP-2 IFVs. The main armament is a turret with a stabilized 30 mm 2A42 autocannon with dual ammunition feeds, which provide a choice of 3UBR6 AP-T and 3UOR6 HE-T / 3UOF8 HE-I ammunition and 9M113 Konkurs ATGM. In addition to the main weapons, it can carry a man-portable surface-to-air missile launcher and two missiles, and an RPG launcher and five rounds.
The Zhytomyr Armoured Plant is a specialises in the manufacturing, capital repairs and modernisation of armoured vehicles and equipment: BMP-1 and BMP-1M, BMP-2 and BMP-2K, BMD-1, BMD-2, GM-575, GM-568, GM-578, BREM-2, BTR-50PK, BTR-D, BRDM-2. The company is a leading Ukrainian enterprise engaged in the overhaul and deep modernisation of tracked military equipment and carries out licensed production of modern combat modules for the BMP. This year Zhytomyr Armored Plant has handed over more than 20 BMP-1 and about a dozen BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
