"The Russian Kurganets-25 BMP" Topic

"The Kurganets is a new platform designed and developed by the Russian Defense Company Kurgan Machine-Building Plant to create a new family of light tracked armoured vehicle. The Kurganets-25 BMP is the IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) variant of the Kurganets family. There is also a Kurganets-25 BTR (Armored Personnel carriere and Kurganets-25 ARV (Armored Recovery Vehicle).

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Amicalement
Armand

What role does the Kurganets-25 fill given the existence of the T-15 Armata heavy IFV? If *this* is the BMP-2/3's replacement, where does the T-15 fit in a brigade TO&E?

Good question!.

Amicalement
Armand

I have a hunch that the Kurganets and T-15 are in competition for the same role. The Kurganets is designed and manufactured by Kurganmashzavod, which has been the designer and builder of the BMPs since they were first introduced. The Armata platform, on the other hand, was designed and built by Uralvagonzavod, which has made all of Russia's main battle tanks since WWII.

Ultimately, I think one will win out and the other will be retired to the panoply of unfinished "Objekts" of Russian history. My bet would be on the Kurganets winning the competition, because it weighs 25 tons vs. 40 tons for the T-15; that 40 ton weight seriously limits airlift capabilities, increases fuel consumption, and might even limit the T-15's ability to travel on certain roads and over certain lighter bridges.

Also, that would leave a perfect opening for Uralvagonzavod to adapt the T-15 to fill the role currently being filled by the T72-based BMPT "Terminator" urban combat vehicle. Since Uralvagonzavod makes both the Armata platform and the BMPT, I'm sure it wouldn't take much effort to adapt the BMPT turret to the Armata chassis.