Ukraine manufactures IFVs

Ukraine manufactures infantry fighting vehicles on the tracked platform of the MT-LBu armored personnel carrier. The video of the vehicles was made public on social media. MT-LBu is a Soviet universal tracked platform developed by the Kharkiv Tractor Plant back in the 60s on the basis of the MT-LB armored tractor.

The vehicle was created as a chassis for installing special equipment, as well as an armored vehicle for transporting infantry and inventory. The published video shows the passage of two such tracked vehicles with the Ukrainian BM-7 Parus remote combat module installed. It is unknown where the components for production of combat modules for this equipment were purchased, because after the beginning of the invasion, the production chains were severed, and some of the key enterprises engaged in the production of components for BM-7 were destroyed. It can be assumed that a certain number of modules were taken from production stocks for the state contract for the production of BTR-4M, which was never completed due to the beginning of the invasion.

MT-LBu with BM-7 combat module, July 2023.

Photo credits: Twitter/GloOouD

In one of the published photos, you can also see the new IFV in more detail. The combat module does not have a launcher for Stugna-P anti-tank missiles, which may indicate that the module was manufactured in a simplified version without ATGM after the invasion began. In addition to the anti-tank missile system, the original BM-7 module is also equipped with an automatic ???-1 30mm gun, a PKT machine gun, and a KBA-117 automatic grenade launcher.

The control of the combat system is displayed on the control panel located in the squad compartment or in the place of the vehicle commander in the front of the hull. Previously, such modernization was showcased in 2018 at the Arms and Security fair. Then on the stand was shown an armored personnel carrier called "Plavets" (Swimmer - ed.) with the BM-3?

Shturm module. Nevertheless, this prototype did not receive development.

Plavets (Swimmer - ed.) combat vehicle, 2018

In addition to the fire power potential, combat vehicles seen in July, judging by the photo, had also undergone improvements in the armor. MT-LBu received a set of additional armor protection.

This solution should improve the scarce protection of 7 mm MT-LBu side armor, which could only protect against small arms fire and light debris.

Previously, similar equipment with another combat module was demonstrated in June 2023.

Then the military showed a convoy of six vehicles, presumably somewhere at the training ground.

Modernized Ukrainian MT-LBu armored personnel carriers, June 2023

An unknown remotely controlled combat module with a KPVT heavy machine gun was installed on the upgraded MT-LBu chassis.