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Russia’s ‘flying’ fighting vehicle BMD-4M lands with crew
Russia & India Report ^ | 29 February 2016 | TATYANA RUSAKOVA

Posted on 02/29/2016 5:26:50 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki

Rigorous testing of the new Bakhcha-U parachute system, the modernized airborne infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) has seen it dropped from an Il-76 strategic airlifter 11 times since November 2015. This, incidentally, is also the number of main parachutes the Bakhcha-U system has: 11 giant domes each 350 sq m; the size of a large house. The technology used in these huge parachutes makes it possible to reduce the load on the crew in the vehicle during landing. Once the IFV has landed, the parachutes automatically detach, and the vehicle is immediately ready for battle.

For landing troops far behind enemy lines, without the support of tanks or artillery, the vehicle is a boon. The modern BMD-4 has an excellent operating range (500 km (300 miles) without refueling), a high top speed (around 70 kph (40-45 mph), reinforced armour and enhanced firepower. These qualities enable an airborne infantry group to rapidly destroy the enemy on its territory while avoiding losses itself.

All that remains is to bring the IFV directly to the battlefield and drop it from the aircraft safely for the people sitting inside it. The vehicle and its crew should not be separated. Troops lose valuable time after landing getting to the vehicle and getting it ready for combat; lost time in battle inevitably means more casualties. This is why the IFV's crew remain inside it during the airdrop.

The BMD-4M's increased weight (13.5 tonnes, is 5 tonnes heavier than its predecessor, the BMD-3), because of ts modernized weaponry and increased ammunition, makes airdropping it safely for its crew without compromising combat qualities a very difficult challenge.

The Bakhcha-U parachute airdrop system testing at the end of last year showed that the BMD-4M can be dropped from an aircraft with its crew inside safely for them, on a precise spot.

Russia is the only country to airdrop a vehicle together with its crew. The French tried to develop a similar system, but abandoned the project after a fatality in testing. Other European nations have decided against airdropping vehicles with people on board.

The Bakhcha-U parachute airdrop system testing has not been completed and will continue until the end of 2016, a spokesperson for the developers, Technodinamika, told RIR. The system will start being supplied to the armed forces in 2017.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: bmd4; ifv; russia
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Like its predecessor, the BMD-3, the BMD-4M not only drives and flies but also swims. In the water, it can reach speeds of 10 kph (6 mph), and water obstacles are no problem for it. This versatility is a mandatory requirement from Russia's military for armoured assault and infantry vehicles
1 posted on 02/29/2016 5:26:51 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

2 posted on 02/29/2016 5:27:32 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: cva66snipe

Where is our building, of great tanks or any other military, arm’s build up doesn’t our government realize that Russia, and.China along with it’s proxies seek Empire.?


3 posted on 02/29/2016 5:32:14 AM PST by StoneWall Brigade (Vote Tom Hoefling of America's Party for President the only person to restore the Republic)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

Private: Comrad, Seargent, where are our parachutes?
Sergeant: You don’t need parachutes. You ride the vehicle to the ground.
Private: ............................................................................................................................


4 posted on 02/29/2016 5:33:36 AM PST by ryan71 (Bibles, Beans and Bullets)
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To: StoneWall Brigade

Mother russia is frail and sick. She is unable to build an empire.


5 posted on 02/29/2016 5:34:13 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;+12, 73, ....carson is the kinder gentler trump.)
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To: bert

But she still has teeth and claws, Bert.

L


6 posted on 02/29/2016 5:35:07 AM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Lurker

What you see and perceive as a projection of teeth and claws is Putin Salesmanship.

Aside from oil and a few other natural resources, Russia has no manufacturing worth a damn other than weapons. The sabre rattling and the foray into Syria is a live sales demonstration of his wares.


7 posted on 02/29/2016 5:37:58 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;+12, 73, ....carson is the kinder gentler trump.)
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To: StoneWall Brigade

Our military build up is proceeding at a sane a safe rate ... we are blessed with a wonderful Great Leader who envisions war without deaths, so he has Commanded his appointed minions who order such things to create planes that won’t fly and ships that won’t float at all costs and to do so in such a manner as to consume most of their budgets in the process.


8 posted on 02/29/2016 5:38:51 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: StoneWall Brigade
Russia, and.China along with it’s proxies seek Empire.

Well, at least they'd exterminate the murdering rapists.

9 posted on 02/29/2016 5:42:14 AM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republicans Freed the Slaves Month")
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Russia is about to become an Empire again.


10 posted on 02/29/2016 5:44:25 AM PST by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll Onward! Ride to the sound of the guns!)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

To an f-15 that would be considered a floating Pinata!


11 posted on 02/29/2016 5:45:19 AM PST by Dusty Road (")
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To: bert

“Mother russia is frail and sick. She is unable to build an empire.”

this statement may qualify for the “famous last words” category.


12 posted on 02/29/2016 5:51:25 AM PST by elpadre (AfganistaMr Obama said the goal was to "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-hereQaeda" and its allies.)
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To: ryan71

Reminds me of the Cheech and Chong skit about the Kamikaze pilots.


13 posted on 02/29/2016 5:57:36 AM PST by Dusty Road (")
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To: PIF
Whew! I feel so much better.

And, after all, it is all about how we feel is it not?

14 posted on 02/29/2016 6:01:26 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Why do we give our hearts to the past? And why must we grow up so fast?)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

It is not easy to make a tank swim. In order to be buoyant, it must displace a volume of water (specific gravity 1.0) equal to the weight of the armor (specific gravity 8.0). That means there must be 8 times more air in the tank then there is iron. Since the whole idea of a tank is armor, reducing the armor so it can swim defeats the whole purpose of the tank. Remember the Bradley fighting vehicle? It sank more than it swam, and finally swimming was eliminated as a function.


15 posted on 02/29/2016 6:01:26 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

That’s it? It looks like a tank.


16 posted on 02/29/2016 6:08:25 AM PST by ichabod1 (Spriiingtime for islam, and tyranny. Winter for US and frieeends. . .)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

Yes indeed!! Us folk out here in the boonies love Our Great Leader when He flies over us because we know that He is looking down on us, seeing our wisdom and patriotic love, making Him feel at home almost like living in the paradise that is Indonesia. We feel!! Could anything be more glorious? Perhaps, She in her magnitude will fill the void His departure will leave, drying our tears and filling our hearts with joy at the melodious sound of Her voice. Rejoice!


17 posted on 02/29/2016 6:08:30 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
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To: PIF

She of the cankles and dulcet tones!


18 posted on 02/29/2016 6:14:27 AM PST by null and void (This is "They live", and most people would rather fight you than put on the glasses...)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

I member when Bush used to say that his job was to make the ‘murican people FEEL safe. Ah was always like, the hell with FEELING safe, I wanna BE safe.


19 posted on 02/29/2016 6:26:41 AM PST by ichabod1 (Spriiingtime for islam, and tyranny. Winter for US and frieeends. . .)
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To: sukhoi-30mki

That thing is as obsolete as horse cavalry on the modern battlefield.


20 posted on 02/29/2016 6:34:30 AM PST by DJ Taylor (Once again our country is at war, and once again the Democrats have sided with our enemy.)
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