10 facts you need to know about the BMP-2 Sarath of the Indian Army
The following are the Top 10 facts you need to know about the India Army's primary infantry fighting vehicle, the 'BMP-2 Sarath'.
1. The BMP-2 was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1980s and is the improved version of the BMP-1. This is a fighting vehicle deployed in many wars. There is a two man turret in this BMP-2 and this has been provided a local name 'Sarath' by the Indian army.
2. A 2A42 30mm auto cannon is installed in the BMP-2 which is not present in the BMP-1. The turret is enlarged in the BMP-2 and there is a 9P135M launcher also installed in the BMP-2 which is capable of firing with the 9M111 as well as 9M113M. The BMP-2 has improved armoured plating compared to the BMP-1.
3. There is a welded steel turret in the center of the BMP-2 fighting vehicle and this is the place where the gunner sits along with the commander. There are periscopes installed which is used by the commander.
4. There are other additions as well such as the TNP-165A designator as well as TKN-3B binocular. This binocular is used for the magnified view of the enemy and that helps in targeting precisely. The periscopes are heated electrically.
5. The engine in the BMP-2 is much heavier as compared to that in the BMP-1 fighting vehicle. There are hydrodynamic fairings which are used in converting the momentum of the track to water jets when required.
6. Heavy armament and ammunition is installed in the BMP-2 fighting vehicle and the 30mm 2A42 auto cannon is the most significant among all the armaments. The auto cannon can fire 200 t0 550 rounds in every minute as per the requirement and then there is an AP-T ammunition as well as APDS-t tungsten ammunition as well which have penetration distances of 15 mm and 25 mm respectively.
7. There is a 7.62mm PKT machine gun installed on the vehicle and is mounted with ammunition of about 2000 rounds. This fighting machine is also equipped with surface to air missiles as well as air to air missiles.
8. One can also find an RPG launcher mounted over the top apart from the basic armaments. There is a system installed which has the capability of suppressing enemy fire.
9. The BMP-2 fighting vehicle has served many countries in different wars such as the Angolan Civil war as well as the Soviet war in the country of Afghanistan and also was one of the major combat vehicles in the Iran-Iraq war as well as in the first Persian Gulf war. Recently it has been used in the Syrian civil war and it was previously used in the civil wars of Tajikistan as well as in Yemen.
10. The BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle has been modified and thus been available in many variants and been operated in many countries around the globe such as Albania, Afghanistan, Belarus, Finland and many other countries. However the BMP-2 Sarath was developed by the Ordnance Factory Medak and is licensed under the Soviet Union.
Defence News - 10 facts you need to know about the BMP-2 Sarath of the Indian Army
they others have AK 47s and LMG
