Russia transfers modernized BRDM-2 to Ukraine
Russia has deployed modernized Soviet-era BRDM-2MS armored scout cars to Ukraine. Until recently, such combat vehicles were rarely used by the Russian invasion forces. During the year since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russians have lost a few units of armored vehicles of this type.
According to preliminary data, BRDM-2MS are going to enter service with Russian airborne units. According to The Military Balance, as of 2021, there were about 1,000 BRDM-2/BRDM-2A vehicles in the army of the Russian Federation and up to 1,000 BRDM-2 at storage bases.
Modernized BRDM-2MS weren't common in Russia and were supplied exclusively to its satellites as military assistance. E.g., in May 2021, Serbia received 30 such vehicles under an agreement on military cooperation with Russia. Tajikistan received an unnamed amount of such vehicles free of charge to reinforce troops on the borders with Afghanistan in 2021.
However, heavy losses in armored vehicles during the Russo-Ukrainian war made the Russian military leadership to bring such vehicles back into service. Thus, the 103rd Armored Repair Plant near Chita received a contract for the repair and improvement of about 800 T-62 tanks and BRDM-2 scout vehicles for a period of three years.
BRDM-2MS on 103rd Armored Repair Plant
BRDM-2MS
B-Arms LLC developed a modernization project of the Soviet-era scout vehicle to the BRDM-2MS level in 2016. The facility specialized in such vehicles' modernization is the 103rd Armored Repair Plant, located near Chita on Transbaikalia.
During the modernization, pump-jets, two pairs of wheels (designed to overcome trenches), and four hydraulic lifts that provided their extension were removed from the BRDM-2. Instead, additional armor panels with a thickness of 6 mm were installed. They provide protection against 7.62mm and 12.7mm bullets in all projections.
Frontal armor protects against bullets from KPV 14.5mm machine guns at distances of 300 meters. The scout vehicle also would have increased mine protection - its bottom is reinforced with additional armor plate, and the crew would receive new seating. The vehicle received a new diesel engine with a capacity of 150 hp and is able to speed up to 100 km/h along the highway, and up to 50 km/h on rough terrain.
Despite the dismantling of pump-jets, the machine retained the ability to swim due to the movement of the wheels. Such modernization did not increase the BRDM-2MS weight. On the contrary, it was possible to reduce it by 100 kg due to dismantled wheels and pump-jets, so the weight of the vehicle is 6900 kilograms.
The armament has not changed - this is one KPVT 14.5mm machine gun and a PKTM 7.62mm machine gun paired with it. The sight allows it to detect targets at distances of up to 2700 meters in daylight hours and up to 1500 meters at night.
The vehicle also received a stabilized three-channel panoramic commander's sight, that, according to the manufacturer, can spot the enemy up to 5 km during the day and up to 3.5 km at night. Six TV cameras are mounted for all-round views, allowing five crew members to conduct round-the-clock surveillance of the area. To do this, they have four multifunctional panels.
It is stated that the cost of upgrading the BRDM-2 to the BRDM-2MS level at 2021 prices is 7 million rubles.
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