New weapon for the Ukrainian BMP-1 has sunk into oblivion

Since the beginning of the nineties, Ukraine has tried several times to carry out a deep modernization of the existing BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. This was necessary to increase the tactical and technical characteristics of such equipment and its compliance with modern requirements for military operations. The main way to update was to replace the standard fighting compartment with new products of our own design.

One of the projects for the modernization of armored vehicles was the combat module "Spis" (Ukrainian "Spear"), developed in 2014-15. Kyiv research and production company "Tekhimpeks" together with the Zhytomyr armored plant. During this period, against the backdrop of the launched "anti-terrorist operation", Ukrainian enterprises again began to show interest in projects for the modernization of existing armored vehicles.

BM-5 "Spis" provided for the creation of a new fighting compartment with barrel and missile weapons, equipped with modern control electronics. This module was developed taking into account the requirements of the BMP-1 and BMP-2 and could be installed both on armored vehicles of basic modifications and on deeply modernized and rebuilt versions.

During the second half of the tenth years, the Spear module was tested in slightly different configurations. For this, a serial chassis was used. The infantry fighting vehicle with this combat module received the designation BMP-1TS and successfully passed all the tests. At the end of the decade, it was recommended for adoption and production. In addition, tests on other chassis were planned, but they were not completed.

Thus, the project for the modernization of infantry fighting vehicles BMP-1 using the combat module "Spis" was an important step for the Ukrainian army in increasing its combat capabilities and the modernity of its weapons. BM-5 "Spis" was an example of the use of own technologies and developments of Ukrainian enterprises in the field of the defense industry.

The project was also important for increasing economic efficiency and increasing the competitiveness of the Ukrainian defense industry in the global arms markets. BM-5 "Spis" could be used not only in the Ukrainian army, but also sold abroad.

However, due to the difficult political and economic situation in the country, the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle modernization project using the Spis combat module was not widely used and was not fully implemented. Nevertheless, it was an important experience for the Ukrainian defense industry and a potentially useful product for a modern army.

The combat module "Spis" is a single-seat fighting compartment with a variety of weapons, which is designed to be installed on a regular place of the BMP-1 turret. The product does not require additional modification of shoulder straps, power supplies, etc., and its turret part has the same dimensions and does not affect the layout of the machine.

The combat module "Spear" is built on the basis of a new welded turret made of armor plates of different thicknesses. The tower has a sloping front plate with a large embrasure, a developed aft niche and a pair of cylindrical casings for equipment on the sides. The combat module has NATO protection level 3, which means that the armor can withstand a 7,62 mm armor-piercing rifle bullet from any angle.

The combat module "Spis" is equipped with advanced barreled weapons. In the frontal embrasure, on a single swinging installation, a 30-mm ZTM-1 automatic cannon with a casing-frame, a 30-mm KBA-117 automatic grenade launcher (AGS-17 variant) and a PKT machine gun are placed. The tower provides circular horizontal guidance and vertical guidance in the range from -5 ° to + 45 °.

The module's ammunition load includes 300 rounds of 30x165 mm caliber, all ready for use. For the grenade launcher, 116 shots are provided, including 29 ammunition of the first stage. The machine gun can use 350 rounds, with a total set of 2100. Six 902V Khmara grenade launchers are fixed on the sides of the tower.

BM-5 "Spis" was created to re-equip the existing BMP-1 without their major restructuring. The project was implemented in the joint work of Techimpex and the Zhytomyr Armored Plant, and was named BMP-1TS. The BMP-1TS prototype has been tested and recommended for adoption and production.

In Zhytomyr, it was possible to establish small-scale production of new combat compartments and begin their installation on existing BMP-1s. The first results of these processes were demonstrated at the Independence Day parade in Kyiv, where 10 updated BMP-1TS passed. It is possible that all or most of the upgraded machines took part in the festivities.

In October 2021, the new carrier of the Spis module was demonstrated for the first time. NPO Praktika presented a deeply modernized BMP-1M combat vehicle, which featured a rebuilt hull and a number of other innovations. On the roof of this sample was the product "Spice-Synthesis". In the near future, the BMP-1M with a new combat module will also undergo all the necessary tests. In general, the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle modernization project using the Spis combat module has shown its effectiveness and is an important step for the Ukrainian defense industry in the production of modern combat vehicles.

The regular armament complex of the BMP-1 has its own characteristics and limitations, which has been criticized for a long time. There are numerous projects to replace this complex, and the Ukrainian project BM-5 "Spis" is one of them. In general, the creators of this project managed to solve the main technical problems and achieve advantages over the original BMP-1 weapon system. However, the project also has problems.

The main advantages of the BM-5 over the original BMP-1 complex are more effective cannon weapons, the availability of modern anti-tank missiles and a modern weapon control system with all the necessary functions. At the same time, most of the products used in the project are produced at Ukrainian enterprises.

However, the project also has disadvantages. First of all, this is the limited potential of new weapons, which is a problem against the backdrop of more modern technology. It is also worth noting that Ukrainian versions of Soviet/Russian guns are not always of high quality, which can create certain risks.

The combat module is single, which can cause some difficulties. One operator-gunner must perform the tasks of observation, search for targets and control of all weapons. The question is how effectively he will be able to perform all these tasks for a long time.

The combat module "Spear" was successfully produced in small series and installed on regular carriers, including BMP-1TS and BMP-1M. It was planned to release new modules and machines. However, the BM-5 project no longer has a future. As a result of the attacks on the Zhytomyr Armored Plant in 2022, production facilities were disabled, which makes it impossible to produce further Spice modules and install them on the chassis. It is also possible that already completed or under construction modules and chassis could be destroyed or damaged.

At the same time, the Ukrainian army continues to use the BMP-1TS in combat operations, and therefore their numbers will gradually decrease. One BMP-1TS, belonging to the 53rd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has already been destroyed in the battles for the city of Volnovakha, and it is possible that other BMP-1TS will be lost in battle. In light of what happened, new modules will no longer be produced, and the manufactured "Spices" may be destroyed in the near future.