БМД-2: Модернизация советской боевой машины десанта.

The BMD 2 is a Soviet airborne infantry fighting vehicle, introduced in 1985. It is a variant of BMD 1 with a new turret and changes to the hull. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta (Боевая Машина Десанта, which literally translates to "Airborne Combat Vehicle"). It was developed as a replacement for the BMD 1 but did not supersede it entirely in Soviet service. Its NATO designation is BMD M1981/1.

When the Soviet–Afghan War broke out, the Soviet forces operated BMP 1 IFVs and BMD 1 airborne IFVs. They were both armed with a 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure smoothbore short recoil semi automatic gun, a 9S428 ATGM launcher capable of firing the 9M14 Malyutka, the 9M14M Malyutka M and the 9M14P Malyutka P ATGMs and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. This armament was effective against soft targets such as unarmoured vehicles, infantry, and lightly fortified positions, but was not effective in the anti tank role, and suffered in mountainous terrain due to the low elevation angle of the main gun. In 1981 the units fighting in Afghanistan started receiving new BMP 2 IFVs. Its 30 mm 2A42 multi purpose autocannon with two belt loading system and high elevation angle addressed the drawbacks of the 73 mm 2A28 gun. The 9S428 ATGM launcher was replaced by a pintle mounted 9P135M 1 ATGM launcher with semi automatic control. It was now capable of firing the SACLOS guided 9M113 Konkurs, the 9M113M Konkurs M, the 9M111 Fagot and the 9M111 2 Fagot ATGMs, which proved to be much more effective and reliable than the older missiles. The Soviet airborne forces command decided to arm their units with similar vehicles. In the beginning it became obvious that the hull of BMD 1 was too small for the BMP 2 turret. Therefore, it was decided to design two vehicles. The first was supposed to satisfy the immediate need for a new airborne IFV by modifying the BMD 1/BMP 1 turret, arming it with the same armament as the one on the BMP 2 and then fitting it onto the BMD 1 hull. The second vehicle was intended to be much bigger to allow fitting of the BMP 2 turret and later became the BMD 3. The modernised variant of the BMD 1 was developed in 1983 and incorporated the new B 30 turret armed with a 30 mm 2A42 multi purpose autocannon, a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun and a pintle mounted 9P135M ATGM launcher. It entered production in 1985.

The BMD 2 has a slightly modernized BMD 1 hull and a new turret.

The crew of the BMD 2 is the same as that in the BMD 1. The commander received the R 123M radio set for communication. The new turret seats the gunner on the left hand side of the main gun. On top of the turret there is one single piece circular hatch opening to the front. Located in front of the hatch is the gunner's sight which is the same one as the one used in BMP 2. Another gunner's sight is located on the left hand side of the main gun and moves in vertical planes along with it. It is a high angle of fire sight used when the gunner is aiming at air targets. The vehicle has additional periscopes that provide it with vision on the sides. A white searchlight is mounted in front of the turret.

The B 30 turret is a modified version of the BMP 1/BMD 1 turret.

The vehicle is armed with a stabilized 30 mm 2A42 multi purpose autocannon and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun. To use the parachute, the BMD is first packed onto a special pallet before takeoff. To drop the BMD, a drogue chute is released that initially drags the BMD out of the Il 76 transport plane. Once clear of the plane a single large main chute opens. The deployment of the main chute triggers the deployment of four long rods which hang beneath the pallet. As soon as the rods touch the ground a retrorocket fires, slowing the BMD to a descending speed between 6 m/s and 7 m/s and giving it a relatively soft landing. Like the BMD 1, the BMD 2 has an extremely cramped interior space. It is much smaller than the BMP 1 and BMP 2 IFV's. It can carry five infantrymen, including the vehicle commander, bow machine gunner and three soldiers seated behind the turret. It is equipped with periscope vision blocks on the sides and rear of the vehicle. There are three firing ports, two on each side of the hull and one in the rear. and others separatist BMD 2’s were recorded in action.

The BMD 2 has been used by Russian airborne forces in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of 16 December 2023, the open source intelligence site, Oryx has visually confirmed the loss of 250 Russian BMD 2s (178 destroyed, 7 damaged, 9 abandoned and 56 captured).

BMD 2 (Ob'yekt 916) – Basic model. BMD 2K (K stands for komandirskaya – command) – Command variant fitted with an additional antennae. BMD 2K AU – BMD 2K modernisation, with new communication and command equipment. BMD 2M – BMD 2 modernisation, with the original turret replaced by the Bereg combat module. The main armament is similar to that of the non upgraded BMD 2, with a 2A42 cannon with 300 rounds, and a PKTM machine gun. However, the original missile system is replaced by two launchers for 9M133 Kornet missiles. A new fire control system is installed, with a new sight including a thermal channel, a laser rangefinder, a new ballistic computer coupled with a meteorological sensor and with automatic target tracking, and a new stabiliser. A new radio is installed, and three smoke grenade launchers are added. In service as of 2023. UKR63 in 1995 and 78 in 2000 and 2005.

USSRPassed on to successor states.