As promised in the Russian Defense Ministry, our ground units in Tajikistan are reinforced with modern armored vehicles. "A batch of 17 modernized BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicles has entered service at the 201st Russian military base stationed in Tajikistan. The new combat vehicles are designed to replace outdated models of equipment of motorized rifle units," the press service of the Central Military District reported yesterday.
The armored vehicles arrived at the right time. In a few days, joint anti-terrorist exercises of local, Uzbek and our military will begin in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan. Russia will be represented there by units of the 201st base. So the new equipment has a chance to immediately pass the run-in battle.
So far, it is educational. But who knows how events will unfold in war-torn Afghanistan. If the detachments of the "Taliban" banned in the Russian Federation risk crossing the border with neighboring Tajikistan, the Russian military may well be involved in the protection of a friendly country. In any case, this is exactly the scenario that will be played out at joint exercises in the Khatlon region.
It is known from open sources that the BMP-2, designed to deliver military personnel to the front line, cover and support infantry in battle, was modernized for a specific purpose. It was important for the command of the Ground Forces to increase the firepower and security of the equipment of motorized rifle units. The improved BMP-2M generally meets these requirements.
An automatic fire control system was installed on the armored vehicle, allowing the commander and the gunner to act as a single unit. Both received modern panoramic aiming and observation devices.
Thanks to this, the BMP-2M weapons can be effectively used at any time of the day. The crew was also equipped with a new radio station R-168 "Aqueduct", capable of stable operation in conditions of active radio-electronic interference.
Along with the standard 30-mm 2A42 cannon and a paired 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun, it is planned to install an automatic 30-mm grenade launcher with 300 rounds of ammunition on this machine. As well as the anti-tank missile system "Kornet" with laser control. It can destroy well-protected targets at a range of up to 8000 meters and burn through up to 1300 mm of armor with a cumulative jet. The anti-tank "Cornet" also has missiles with a high-explosive warhead.
Yuri Gavrilov