The best military armored personnel carrier in the world. The best combat vehicles of the world: a collection. The best combat vehicles in the world: M1114

The infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is designed to transport personnel to the place of the assigned combat mission, increase its mobility, armament and security on the battlefield in the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons and joint actions with tanks in battle. Which infantry fighting vehicles are considered the best in the world?

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BMP "Puma" of German production first appeared in the Bundeswehr in 2010. It is currently the most protected IFV due to its modular armor. In the maximum protection variant, the Puma even outperforms the T-72 main battle tank and can withstand a 125-mm projectile hitting the frontal armor. It also withstands the impact of mine explosions with a capacity of up to 10 kg of TNT. The armament of the Puma consists of a 30 mm cannon and a coaxial 5.56 mm machine gun.

K-21

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Production of the new South Korean K-21 infantry fighting vehicles began in 2008. To date, 900 units have already been produced. At a cost, they are two times cheaper than the American M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles. Until now, the composition of the K-21 armor has been kept secret. There are suggestions that it is a layer cake made of fiberglass, ceramics and aluminum alloy. It is known that the frontal armor can withstand 30-mm armor-piercing rounds. The side armor is twice as thin. K-21 can be equipped with an active protection system, which is installed on the MBT South Korea « Black Panther". The South Korean vehicle is armed with a 40 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun and anti-tank missiles. This machine is able to overcome water obstacles by swimming.

CV-90

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This infantry fighting vehicle was developed in Sweden in the mid-1980s and entered service with the Swedish army in 1993. The machine has also been exported to Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland. The welded steel armor of the CV-90 can withstand 30 mm armor-piercing cartridges in the forehead and 14.5 mm in the sides and stern. Mines with a capacity of up to 10 kg in TNT equivalent will not harm this infantry fighting vehicle. Initially, the vehicle was armed with a 40 mm cannon, but the export version was fitted with a 30 mm cannon. A feature of the CV-90 is the presence of heat-absorbing filters that make it almost invisible in the infrared range used in night vision devices.

M2 "Bradley"

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Among all the vehicles listed in this review, the American BMP M2 Bradley is a veteran, since it has been in service for 35 years. Frontal armor"Bradley" protects against 30-mm armor-piercing cartridges. Armament of the M2 Bradley consists of a 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon located in a double turret, a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun, a TOW ATGM launcher and 6 fixed 5.56 mm M231 FPW assault rifles. The buoyancy of this machine is not very good: it can overcome small water obstacles at a speed of 7.2 km / h.

"Kurganets-25"

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The Russian BMP "Kurganets-25" is the latest development, first presented to the general public at the parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Victory. Until now, the most important characteristics of this machine are secret, but something is known. Armor "Kurganets" is made of a special aluminum alloy. Additionally, you can install active protection systems. This new infantry fighting vehicle is armed with a remote-controlled universal combat module "Boomerang-BM", armed with a 30-mm automatic cannon 2A42 with selective ammunition (500 rounds of ammunition), a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun (ammunition of 2,000 rounds), two dual launchers ATGM "Cornet". In addition, this BMP has a computerized machine control system. "Kurganets" is an amphibian.

As you can see, Russia has the latest BMP, but it has just been put into production. The German "Puma" cannot boast of the innovations that are on the "Kurganets", but it has already gone into series. The American "Bradley" visited many US military operations and was very fond of the soldiers, but by now it is clearly outdated.

MOSCOW, November 18 - RIA Novosti, Andrey Stanavov. Horses have been the main means of transportation for soldiers since time immemorial. And if the first world war they still somehow survived, then the Second - with its planes, tanks and guns - "wrote off" the cavalry completely. The horses were eventually left to the police and honor guards, and the soldiers were transferred to armored personnel carriers and combat vehicles infantry. The advantages of the latter are high speed and maneuverability, the ability to "swim" across rivers and operate under the conditions of the use of weapons mass destruction including nuclear. Unlike armored personnel carriers, they can not only deliver infantry to the battlefield, but also support it with powerful rocket and cannon fire. RIA Novosti publishes a selection of the most popular infantry fighting vehicles of the armies of the countries of the world.

Soviet "two"

One of the most massive and well-deserved combat vehicles - the BMP-2 - is the "workhorse" of Soviet motorized rifles. Structurally simple and unpretentious in maintenance, the floating BMP-2 more than once rescued its crew and troops in hot bindings Afghan war and other conflicts.

Mechanic driver of the BMP-2 during the tactical exercise "West-2017"

In 1981 chief designer BMP-2 Blagonravov with a group of specialists came to Afghanistan to see how his new car is being tested in combat conditions. In the troops he was greeted with enthusiasm. “We have a new infantry fighting vehicle with a thirty. This vehicle is what we need: spooks are afraid of it and call it “shaitan-arba,” one of the officers said at a meeting with the designer. It is believed that the command has finally decided to adopt the BMP-2 into service just after this episode.

The crew of the BMP-2 during the individual race of BMP crews as part of the all-army competition "Tank Biathlon-2017" in the Khabarovsk Territory

The main feature of the BMP-2 is the weapon stabilization system in two planes. This favorably distinguished the "two" from foreign counterparts and made it possible to conduct aimed fire on the move. It is armed with a rapid-firing 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon with a two-ribbon selective feed, a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun paired with it, and a Konkurs or Fagot anti-tank guided missile launcher.

The hull is welded from rolled sheets of durable steel armor, processed by a thermomechanical method. The six-cylinder diesel engine inherited from the BMP-1 accelerates the 14-ton vehicle to 65 kilometers per hour on the highway.

Infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-2)

Inside fit seven paratroopers and three crew members. The powder gas suction system saves fighters from poisoning when firing from machine guns through loopholes. To prevent radioactive dust or gases from entering the machine, a filter-ventilation unit is provided that creates excess pressure inside. The BMP-2 and its numerous modernized versions are still in service with the armies of dozens of countries around the world.

From the creators of Tiger

The German BMP "Marder" is one of the most successful examples of post-war armored vehicles. Western Europe. Since the late 1960s, the German industry has produced more than two thousand such machines for the Bundeswehr. A strong steel hull made of rolled armor sheets welded at certain angles reliably covers three crew members and seven paratroopers from bullets and shrapnel. The BMP was developed by the Reinstahl-Henschel company, known for its Tiger tank.

In the first modifications, a Daimler-Benz multi-fuel turbocharged diesel engine with a capacity of 600 horsepower was installed. This was quite enough to accelerate the tracked vehicle on the highway to 75 kilometers per hour. The upgraded infantry fighting vehicles are already equipped with a 1000-horsepower unit.

German infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) "Marder"

The Marder's main weapon is a 20mm Mk20DM5 Rh202 automatic cannon with a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute. High-explosive fragmentation shells are used to fire at infantry and vehicles, and armor-piercing sub-caliber shells are used to combat enemy infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The latter, at a distance of up to one and a half kilometers, confidently pierce armor two fingers thick at an angle. To combat enemy manpower, there are two 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns: one is paired with a cannon, and the second is mounted on the stern.

German infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) "Marder"

"Marders" have been modernized many times. To increase their firepower, they were equipped with Milan anti-tank guided missile systems, and additional hinged armor and anti-mine screens were installed to enhance protection. The BMP received its baptism of fire in Afghanistan. To replace the Marder, the Puma has been developed - a new combat vehicle that is already being supplied to the Bundeswehr.

Puff "Bradley"

Heavy infantry fighting vehicle M2 "Bradley" entered service american army in 1981 and immediately gained popularity among the infantry. First of all, because of its unprecedentedly high armor protection for this type of vehicle. Its feature is spaced apart screens made of steel of different hardness. Such a "layer cake" confidently "holds" hits from 30-mm armor-piercing shells. To protect against cumulative RPG grenades, dynamic protection can be installed. The upgraded vehicles are additionally finished with Kevlar on the inside, which protects the crew of three and six paratroopers from armor fragments in battle.

At the same time, "Bradley" is quite "nimble" - thanks to a powerful turbodiesel, a 22-ton car "runs" along the highway at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour. An impressive set of weapons includes a 25 mm M242 cannon, a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun, a TOW anti-tank missile system and six M231 machine guns on ball-mounted mounts in the troop compartment. Thus, in combat, the BMP instantly turns into a mobile checkpoint bristling with trunks. The TOW complex "works out" tanks at a distance of up to three kilometers.

US Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) M2 Bradley

The landing group can leave the Bradley through the top hatch or, which is valuable in battle, through the rear ramp, hiding from enemy fire with the body of the vehicle. In total, the Americans managed to "stamp" about seven thousand of these infantry fighting vehicles. They were successfully used in the Iraq war and other armed conflicts.

US M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle (IFV)

English "Warrior"

The British infantry fighting vehicle MCV-80 Warrior is a real knight in heavy armor made of rolled aluminum-magnesium-zinc alloy sheets. Combined protection covers the crew and troops from heavy machine-gun bullets and shrapnel. Reinforced "belly" withstands the explosion of a 10-kilogram anti-tank mine, on the sides - anti-cumulative screens. However, this massive body kit does not prevent the BMP from accelerating to 75 kilometers per hour.

By analogy with the later versions of the American Bradleys, the habitable internal compartments of the Warrior are covered with a special material that holds fragments of armor flying off when hit. He was not deprived of weapons either: he is equipped with a 30-mm L21A1 automatic cannon, a coaxial machine gun, and a 94-mm LAW-80 grenade launcher. The BMP can accommodate three crew members and seven paratroopers.

British infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) "Warrior"

For british army V total more than a thousand "Warriors" were released, many of them managed to take part in local armed conflicts. The car proved to be exceptionally indestructible. There is a case when she withstood the hit of a dozen and a half anti-tank grenades.

french character

The floating "Frenchwoman" AMX10P is one of the lightest infantry fighting vehicles in the world. Developed in the 1970s, the vehicle is welded from sheets of aluminum armor and is similar in layout to the Marder and the Soviet "two". The sheets withstand the hit of large-caliber machine-gun bullets, but most likely, the crew will not be saved from cannon armor-piercing shells and cumulative grenades.

French infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) AMX-10P

The remote turret installation includes a 20 mm M693 automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun coaxial with it. The gun fires 700 fragmentation or armor-piercing shells per minute and is effective at a distance of up to one and a half kilometers. Some infantry fighting vehicles in service with the French army are equipped with Milan anti-tank guided missiles. A searchlight is installed to illuminate targets at night.

MOSCOW, 18 Nov— RIA Novosti, Andrey Stanavov. Horses have been the main means of transportation for soldiers since time immemorial. And if they somehow survived the First World War, then the Second - with its planes, tanks and cannons - "wrote off" the cavalry completely. The horses were eventually left to the police and guards of honor, and the soldiers were transferred to armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. The advantages of the latter are high speed and cross-country ability, the ability to "float" across rivers and operate under the conditions of the use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. Unlike armored personnel carriers, they can not only deliver infantry to the battlefield, but also support it with powerful rocket and cannon fire. RIA Novosti publishes a selection of the most popular infantry fighting vehicles of the armies of the countries of the world.

One of the most massive and well-deserved combat vehicles - the BMP-2 - is the "workhorse" of Soviet motorized rifles. Structurally simple and unpretentious in maintenance, the floating BMP-2 rescued its crew and troops more than once in the hot binds of the Afghan war and other conflicts.

In 1981, the chief designer of the BMP-2 Blagonravov, with a group of specialists, came to Afghanistan to see how his new car was being tested in combat conditions. In the troops he was greeted with enthusiasm. “We have a new infantry fighting vehicle with a thirty. This vehicle is what we need: spooks are afraid of it and call it “shaitan-arba,” one of the officers said at a meeting with the designer. It is believed that the command has finally decided to adopt the BMP-2 into service just after this episode.

The main feature of the BMP-2 is the weapon stabilization system in two planes. This favorably distinguished the "two" from foreign counterparts and made it possible to conduct aimed fire on the move. Armed with a rapid-fire 30-mm 2A42 automatic cannon with dual-belt selective power, a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun paired with it, and a Konkurs or Fagot anti-tank guided missile launcher.
The hull is welded from rolled sheets of durable steel armor, processed by a thermomechanical method. The six-cylinder diesel engine inherited from the BMP-1 accelerates the 14-ton vehicle to 65 kilometers per hour on the highway.

Inside fit seven paratroopers and three crew members. The powder gas suction system saves fighters from poisoning when firing from machine guns through loopholes. To prevent radioactive dust or gases from entering the machine, a filter-ventilation unit is provided that creates excess pressure inside. The BMP-2 and its numerous modernized versions are still in service with the armies of dozens of countries around the world.

From the creators of Tiger

The German BMP "Marder" is one of the most successful examples of armored vehicles in post-war Western Europe. Since the late 1960s, the German industry has produced more than two thousand such machines for the Bundeswehr. A strong steel hull made of rolled armor sheets welded at certain angles reliably covers three crew members and seven paratroopers from bullets and shrapnel. The BMP was developed by the Reinstahl-Henschel company, known for its Tiger tank.

In the first modifications, a Daimler-Benz multi-fuel turbocharged diesel engine with a capacity of 600 horsepower was installed. This was quite enough to accelerate the tracked vehicle on the highway to 75 kilometers per hour. The upgraded infantry fighting vehicles are already equipped with a 1000-horsepower unit.

The Marder's main weapon is a 20mm Mk20DM5 Rh202 automatic cannon with a rate of fire of up to 1,000 rounds per minute. High-explosive fragmentation shells are used to fire at infantry and vehicles, and armor-piercing sub-caliber shells are used to combat enemy infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The latter, at a distance of up to one and a half kilometers, confidently pierce armor two fingers thick at an angle. To combat enemy manpower, there are two 7.62 mm MG3A1 machine guns: one is paired with a cannon, and the second is mounted on the stern.

"Marders" have been modernized many times. To increase their firepower, they were equipped with Milan anti-tank guided missile systems, and additional hinged armor and anti-mine screens were installed to enhance protection. The BMP received its baptism of fire in Afghanistan. The Puma, a new combat vehicle, has been developed to replace the Marder, which is already being supplied to the Bundeswehr.

Puff "Bradley"

The heavy infantry fighting vehicle M2 "Bradley" entered service with the US Army in 1981 and immediately gained popularity with the infantry. First of all, because of its unprecedentedly high armor protection for this type of vehicle. Its feature is spaced apart screens made of steel of different hardness. Such a "layer cake" confidently "holds" hits from 30-mm armor-piercing shells. To protect against cumulative RPG grenades, dynamic protection can be installed. The upgraded vehicles are additionally finished with Kevlar on the inside, which protects the crew of three and six paratroopers from armor fragments in battle.

At the same time, "Bradley" is quite "nimble" - thanks to a powerful turbodiesel, a 22-ton car "runs" along the highway at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour. An impressive set of weapons includes a 25 mm M242 cannon, a 7.62 mm M240C machine gun, a TOW anti-tank missile system and six M231 machine guns on ball-mounted mounts in the troop compartment. Thus, in combat, the BMP instantly turns into a mobile checkpoint bristling with trunks. The TOW complex "works out" tanks at a distance of up to three kilometers.

The landing group can leave the Bradley through the top hatch or, which is valuable in battle, through the rear ramp, hiding from enemy fire with the body of the vehicle. In total, the Americans managed to "stamp" about seven thousand of these infantry fighting vehicles. They were successfully used in the Iraq war and other armed conflicts.

English "Warrior"

The British infantry fighting vehicle MCV-80 Warrior is a real knight in heavy armor made of rolled aluminum-magnesium-zinc alloy sheets. Combined protection covers the crew and troops from heavy machine-gun bullets and shrapnel. Reinforced "belly" can withstand the explosion of a 10-kilogram anti-tank mine, on the sides - anti-cumulative screens. However, this massive body kit does not prevent the BMP from accelerating to 75 kilometers per hour.

By analogy with the later versions of the American Bradleys, the habitable internal compartments of the Warrior are covered with a special material that holds fragments of armor flying off when hit. He was not deprived of weapons either: he is equipped with a 30-mm L21A1 automatic cannon, a coaxial machine gun, and a 94-mm LAW-80 grenade launcher. The BMP can accommodate three crew members and seven paratroopers.

For the British army, a total of more than a thousand "Warriors" were issued, many of them managed to take part in local armed conflicts. The car proved to be exceptionally indestructible. There is a case when she withstood the hit of a dozen and a half anti-tank grenades.

french character

Floating "Frenchwoman" AMX10P is one of the lightest infantry fighting vehicles in the world. Developed in the 1970s, the vehicle is welded from sheets of aluminum armor and is similar in layout to the Marder and the Soviet "two". The sheets withstand the hit of large-caliber machine-gun bullets, but most likely, the crew will not be saved from cannon armor-piercing shells and cumulative grenades.

The remote turret installation includes a 20 mm M693 automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun coaxial with it. The gun fires 700 fragmentation or armor-piercing shells per minute and is effective at a distance of up to one and a half kilometers. Some infantry fighting vehicles in service with the French army are equipped with Milan anti-tank guided missiles. A searchlight is installed to illuminate targets at night.

Interestingly, the French did not cut through the loopholes in the sides, limiting themselves to seven periscope viewing blocks. The "heart" of the car - an eight-cylinder diesel engine HS-115 - does not differ in power and develops only 300 horsepower. However, it is enough to accelerate a 14-ton car to 65 kilometers per hour. Combat experience BMP AMX10R received in the early 1990s, during the war in the Persian Gulf. In total, about two thousand units were produced.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the completion of tests of the new BMP-3M Dragoon infantry fighting vehicle. This means that the model, which has undergone a deep modernization to the state of an almost new development, will soon be put into mass production.

According to the military press, the Americans have already included this infantry fighting vehicle in the list of the most powerful infantry vehicles, because the specific power of its engine is the largest in the world.

The most powerful in the world? Yes. And the best

Strictly speaking, American analysts from the "think tank" of the US military-industrial complex - RAND - included the Dragoon in the list of the four most powerful infantry fighting vehicles in the world. But in fact, there is nothing behind this, except for the pathetic barbaric manner of hiding US defeats under a pile of camouflage nets. Here, too, the American BMP M2 Bradley with engines from 500 to 660 horsepower, the French BMP VBCI with an engine of 550 hp were stuck to the Russian BMP. and the Italian BMP VCC-80 Dardo - with 512 hp.

The BMP-3M "Dragoon" is equipped with a multi-fuel supercharged gas turbine engine UTD-32 with a power (albeit at the stand, but this does not fundamentally change the picture) of 816 hp.

That is already - not one of the four, but the first of the most powerful.

In the same way, "Dragoon" wins the correspondence competition in terms of specific engine power (that is, power per unit mass) - 38 hp. per ton. Accordingly, the notorious American M2 Bradley with its ridiculous 19.74 hp/t is only in fourth place after the German "Puma" - 34.59 hp/t and the British FV510 "Warrior" - 23.5 hp. s./t.

This figure depends on the weight of the machine. The Dragoon has a chassis weight of 15.5 tons, that is, with all body kits - a maximum of 20 tons. Experts say about 19 tons in the basic modification. Colleague "Bradley" initially pulled 23 tons, and in the modern modification M2A3 SSS reached 34 tons.

Another consequence of this: the Dragoon BMP swims well: it can walk on water for 7 hours at a speed of 10 km / h. The "colleague" overcomes water obstacles more slowly - 6 - 7.2 km / h, while the buoyancy margin is extremely small and is enhanced only by deploying additional watercraft in the form of canvas casings. The speed, respectively, is 70 and 66 km / h, the cruising range is 600 and 480 km.

In general, the Bradley does not pull like a car even against a competitor.

Does it pull like a war machine?

The district stage of the all-army competition "Suvorov Onslaught-2017" in the Khabarovsk Territory. Photo: Yuri Smityuk/TASS

An infantry fighting vehicle is not a tank. But…

An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is similar to a small tank: caterpillars, armored hull, turret with a cannon. It differs from an armored personnel carrier (APC), which is on wheels, has a smaller gun, and a thinner turret. In general, an armored personnel carrier is a vehicle for transporting personnel, and an infantry fighting vehicle is for transporting and covering in battle. And even to break through the not too well-equipped enemy defenses.

Therefore, the BMP-3 became a good technical breakthrough 30 years ago, when it appeared in service. No wonder it was bought in a dozen countries. But the BMP-M3 "Dragoon" has become, one might say, a breakthrough in the square.

First, protection. Rolled aluminum armor spaced with steel screens. It can be reinforced with additional multi-layer armor, a dynamic protection complex, armor screens and gratings from shaped charges. This, of course, increases the mass and weight of the vehicle, but it even holds anti-tank grenades of the PG-7VL type. So it’s quite a tank, which, if it had been near Prokhorovka in 1943, a regiment of German Tigers would have done it alone. Bring only shells ...

With weapons - here General Rotmistrov would also give his soul for the same one that is on the Dragoon. These are two guns at once - 100 mm and 30 mm, as well as a machine gun of 7.62 caliber. All in one complex. The 100 mm gun can be replaced by a 125 mm gun. Let me remind you that the "Tiger" was a fierce enemy with an 88 mm cannon. The BMP has 40 rounds and 8 anti-tank missiles (ATGMs) for the big gun, 500 rounds different kind for 30 mm cannon, 2000 machine gun rounds. One of the ATGM modifications, the 9M117M1 Arkan missile with a tandem warhead, penetrates a homogeneous armor plate of 750 mm. That is, the same "Tigers" with their 100-mm armor, "Dragoons" with one shot could kill three at once. WITH modern tanks like the American M1A2 "Abrams", however, there is a different proportion: you need 2-3 "Arkan" to kill him. But in the ammunition of the BMP there are eight such missiles.

Sighting range - about two hundred armor-piercing tracer and armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles. The machine gun mows down the enemy's manpower at a speed of 800 rounds per minute at a distance of almost 2 kilometers, with about 2000 rounds of ammunition in the ammunition load. The maximum firing range, depending on the modifications, is up to 12 km, the aiming range (also depending on) is from 4.5 to 7 km.

And all this - against the backdrop of a developed fire control system (FCS) "Vityaz" - with a weapon stabilizer, a range finder, a ballistic computer, sensors for roll, speed and heading angle, a sight-guidance device and other devices. For example, for aiming a projectile along a laser beam or a radio beam. Vertical aiming angles from minus 6 to plus 60 degrees make it possible to hit targets on the upper floors of buildings and in the mountains, and even fire at low-flying low-flying air targets.

But the most interesting "chip" in this case is that fighting compartment Dragoon... lifeless. However, this, of course, is said for a beautiful word, but in fact it is really not populated. Unmanned module, officially speaking. And the crew of 3 people sits in the hull, protected not only by armor, but also by the engine moved forward, like a normal car. He receives combat information on displays, shoots almost from the keyboard - in a sense modern warfare still began to resemble old computer games ...

And "Armata"?

Yes, but after all, vehicles on the Armata platform have really begun to enter the troops - not only the T-14 tank, which has become famous, but also the T-15 infantry fighting vehicle. Is squandering repeated? Soviet Union, which produced a lot of types and types of weapons duplicating each other?

Military experts confidently answer: no. These machines have different purposes, different field fight. The heavy T-15 is intended more for combat as part of tank formations. This is a vehicle for transporting tank troops - on armor, as in the Great Patriotic War fighters in modern combat you don't ride. But the BMP-3M is lighter, it is a medium-class machine in terms of characteristics. This means that it is more maneuverable and, accordingly, more suitable for supporting attacks by infantry units.

In total, the car provides space for 6 paratroopers, who will drive in almost automobile conditions. Even with air conditioning.

But the main thing remains, of course, not to ride well, but to fight well, to carry out combat mission. And in this sense, we can say with confidence: Russian designers have made good car, which will help fighters perform it much more efficiently than their potential opponents. Because it turns out the BMP-3M is not only the most powerful, but also the best combat vehicle in the world.

Among foreigners, of course.

Continuing the Discovery Channel Top 10 list, I would like to draw your attention to another funny selection. This time, the attention of the experts was "Armored Personal Carriers" - a general designation for all types of armored vehicles designed to transport personnel. The review included both light armored personnel carriers weighing 5 tons and heavy infantry fighting vehicles. Despite the seeming absurdity, this is quite logical - all this equipment, tracked or wheeled, regardless of its size, performs the same task - transporting people and goods in military conflicts, protecting them with its armor. For example, there are no strict differences between, for example, an armored personnel carrier or an infantry fighting vehicle. The only thing that distinguished them in theory was that the infantry fighting vehicle was able to support the infantry in battle, when the armored personnel carrier only delivered them to the battlefield. With the disappearance of a clearly defined front line, and this is exactly what is observed in all local conflicts of the last quarter of the twentieth century, an armored personnel carrier and an infantry fighting vehicle now perform the same functions. Modern armored vehicles, regardless of their mass, often carry the same weapons, and serve as a platform for creating a specialized military equipment- from command and staff and ambulances, to self-propelled howitzers and reactive systems salvo fire.

Unlike the controversial and controversial rating "10 best tanks according to the Military Channel, the rating of “10 best armored vehicles”, in my opinion, is very adequate and generally correct: it contains really worthy vehicles. It would be useful to add that you should not take such ratings seriously - after all, this is an infotainment program. Therefore, dear readers, I recommend that you pay attention not so much to the places in the ranking as to the cars themselves. For example, I myself, not being an expert in the field of armored vehicles, did not suspect the existence of many of them. And yet, in this review there is a serious conclusion - the review shows the most promising areas for the development of armored vehicles, the right decisions and mistakes of designers. After all, if the landing party prefers to move ON the armor, and not UNDER the armor, then something is really wrong with the armored vehicles.

The comparison criteria, as always, will be technical excellence, innovative solutions for creating this sample, manufacturability and mass production, and of course, the main judge is experience. combat use.

Well, that's probably all I wanted to add from myself, this is the end of the prelude, let's move on to the rating. There are many worthy cars in the world, but exactly 10 fit into the top ten.

10th place - Marder

Bundeswehr infantry fighting vehicle, combat weight - 33 tons. Year of adoption - 1970. Crew - 3 people + 7 landing people.
It was created as a response to the Soviet BMP-1. The armament complex includes a 20 mm Rheinmetall-202 automatic cannon and an ATGM Milan. Speed ​​(up to 75 km / h on the highway), excellent security, German quality - what else is needed for a good BMP? The overall picture is slightly spoiled by the lack of Marder combat experience- with the exception of episodic participation in operations on the territory of Afghanistan, this armored vehicle almost never left the German autobahns.
In total, the Germans assembled 2,700 of their miracle infantry fighting vehicles, including a self-propelled air defense system based on them. A good car in every way. Tenth place.

9th place - M1114

American armored car. As you might have guessed from the pictures, this is the legendary Humvee with a set of armor. By the mid-90s, from the experience of the combat use of the M998 chassis, it became clear that the army needed a light armored personnel carrier based on it, having anti-fragmentation armor and, most importantly, resistant mine protection. M1114 possessed all these qualities, combining mobility, security and firepower with a gross weight of less than 5 tons. The set of detachable weapons for the M1114 includes everything from light machine guns on the roof, to remote-controlled 12.7 mm machine gun mounts, MANPADS and anti-tank missile systems.

From here you should make a short digression to the Humvee (aka the M998 HMMWV chassis). Adopted by the United States in 1981 as a "highly mobile multi-purpose wheeled vehicle," the Humvee has become one of the symbols of the American army, lit up in all conflicts of the past 30 years. According to General Motors, 200,000 of all Humvee variants have been produced to date. One of the most important properties of this half-Group-half-jeep was the versatility of the design. Here are just some of the cars based on it:

M998 - cargo open car,
M998 Avenger - variant with anti-aircraft missile system"Stinger"
M966 - armored jeep with TOW anti-tank system,
M1097 - two-seater pickup,
M997 - ambulance jeep with a four-seater cabin,
M1026 - variant with a fully enclosed four-seat body and winch,
M1035 - ambulance version with four-door cab,
M1114 - light armored personnel carrier, one of the most massive versions of the Humvee

The designers of General Motors were able to find the optimal balance between the carrying capacity, which allows it to perform all the functions of a universal army vehicle, mount a variety of weapons and armor protection, and, at the same time, did not unnecessarily overweight the car, while maintaining the dimensions of a large jeep. "Humvee" has become the standard in its class. Now army SUVs in all countries of the world are borrowing it technical solutions, layout and appearance.

A priori, military equipment cannot be successful in the civilian market in conditions of free competition. This axiom always proves the justification for exorbitant military spending: “If you don’t want to feed your own army, you will feed someone else’s,” etc. in the same spirit. In the case of the Hammer, we see the opposite - a stylish army vehicle, retaining the main components (including a 6 liter engine, transmission, suspension), became a successful commercial project - in 1992, its civilian version of the Hummer H1 went into production with minimal cosmetic changes, further developing into the iconic Hummer H2 luxury SUV with a luxury interior and automatic transmission.
The armored army version of the Humvee M1114 fought a lot around the world, often came under fire, burned, exploded, got stuck in the mud, but nevertheless, saved the lives of the soldiers sitting inside. What is required of a real military equipment.

8th place - The Universal Carrier

British multi-purpose armored personnel carrier-tractor - the main assistant to the British soldier. A plain-looking car with a crew of 5 people famously moved at speeds up to 50 km / h across the battlefields of the Second World War. The Universal Carrier fought on all fronts, from Europe and the Eastern Front to the Sahara and the jungles of Indonesia. Later he managed to take part in the war on the Korean Peninsula and ended his career gloriously in the 1960s.

With a mass of only 4 tons, The Universal Carrier had decent cross-country ability and was protected by 10 mm armor. The armament of the linear armored personnel carriers included a 14 mm anti-tank rifle and / or a 7.7 mm Bren machine gun. In addition to the basic version, the troops received the Wasp flamethrower and self-propelled guns with a 40 mm gun created on its platform.

In total, over the years of mass production from 1934 to 1960. in the UK, USA, Australia and Canada, 113,000 of these small but so useful machines were produced.

7th place - Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251

A formidable fighting vehicle that crushed the countries of Europe with its wheels and caterpillars, the sands North Africa and ice expanses of Russia.
The SdKfz 251 half-tracked armored personnel carrier fully corresponded to the Blitzkrieg strategy - a fast, roomy and well-protected vehicle with high cross-country ability. Crew - 2 people + 10 people landing, speed on the highway 50 km / h, wheeled-caterpillar mover, circular armor up to 15 mm thick. Like any German technology, the armored personnel carrier was equipped with a huge variety of options and equipment to perform any task. The German engineering genius was at full strength, here is the scale: SdKfz 251 was equipped with a variety of surveillance and communication devices, cranes and winches, radios of all types and frequencies, assault bridges, removable armor sets and a variety of weapons, among which there was even such exotic as jet systems salvo fire Wurframen 40 caliber 280 mm.
A great many specialized vehicles were created on the SdKfz 251 platform: in addition to the basic model, ambulances and command and staff vehicles, surveillance and communications vehicles, mobile telephone exchanges, artillery spotter posts, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns with automatic 20 mm guns MG 151/20, flamethrower vehicles were produced , mobile firing points with 37 mm and 75 mm anti-tank guns, engineer equipment ...
Among these designs were truly unique samples of armored vehicles, such as Schallaufnahmepanzerwagen - a noise direction finder for determining the position of enemy artillery positions out of sight or Infrarotscheinwerfer - a self-propelled infrared searchlight for illuminating the night sights of Panther tanks.
From myself I can add the following: lovers of revelations and followers of Vladimir Rezun's work, meticulously counting the number of German armored vehicles, somehow always forget to include 15,000 SdKfz 251 armored personnel carriers produced by the German industry in their lists, although these armored vehicles surpassed many tanks of that period in their capabilities .
By the way, the SdKfz 251 armored personnel carrier was so good that it was produced in Czechoslovakia until 1962.

6th place - M1126 "Stryker"

The youngest recruit in the US Army. The Stryker family of wheeled fighting vehicles was created specifically for low-intensity conflicts and "colonial wars", when the use of heavy armored vehicles, Abrams tanks or Bradley infantry fighting vehicles is redundant, and light brigade combat teams are not effective enough. fighting on the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan confirmed the correctness of this decision.

The basic version of the M1126 became the first wheeled armored vehicle of this class in the US Army. Due to the exceptional smoothness of the ride, the armored personnel carrier received the nickname "Shadow" (Shadow) in the troops. When creating the M1126, special emphasis was placed on increasing the protective properties of the machine. Steel spaced armor is supplemented with mounted armor modules of the MEXAS type weighing 1700 kg. This type of armor contains a ceramic layer glued to a layer of high strength Kevlar fibers. The purpose of the aluminum oxide ceramic layer is to destroy the projectile and distribute the kinetic energy along larger area grounds. In terms of resistance, MEXAS, with the same mass as steel armor, surpasses it twice. Much attention was paid to mine protection - a double bottom of the car, shock absorption, additional booking of the most vulnerable places - all this, according to American designers, should reduce the likelihood of hitting the crew of an armored vehicle.
The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a high-tech weapon system, which includes a remotely controlled installation with a .50 caliber machine gun and a 40 mm Mark-19 automatic grenade launcher with an ammunition load of 448 grenades. The detection and target designation module includes a night sight and a laser rangefinder.

An 18-ton armored personnel carrier can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h on the highway, and the 8x8 wheel arrangement and tire pressure reduction system provide sufficient cross-country ability. A serious drawback for machines of this type is that the Stryker cannot swim.
The Styker family, in addition to the armored personnel carrier, includes
combat reconnaissance and patrol vehicle M1127, fire support vehicle M1128 with a 105 mm gun, 120 mm self-propelled mortar M1129, M1130 KShM, M1131 artillery correction post, M1132 engineering vehicle, M1133 armored medical evacuator, M1134 self-propelled anti-tank missile system with TOU-2 ATGM, and M1135 radiation, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle.
The Strykers have been serving in Iraq since 2003.

5th place - אכזרית‎ (Achzarit)

Heavy tracked armored personnel carrier of the Israel Defense Forces. It is the most protected armored vehicle of this class in the world.
200 mm armor Soviet tank(you won't believe it, but the Achzarit are captured Syrian T-54s and T-55s with their turrets removed) was reinforced with overhead perforated steel sheets with carbon fibers, and a set of dynamic protection was installed on top. The total weight of the additional booking was 17 tons, which, combined with the low silhouette of the car, made it possible to provide exceptional high level armored personnel carrier protection.

On the way to the border

The Soviet engine was replaced by a more compact 8-cylinder General Motors diesel engine, which made it possible to equip a corridor along the starboard side of the tank leading from the troop compartment to the aft armored door. When tilting the aft ramp, part of the roof is lifted hydraulically, making it easier to dismount the troops. In addition, the partially open aft door is used as a loophole.
Achzarit is equipped with a Rafael OWS (Overhead Weapon Station) remotely controlled machine gun mount. Three 7.62-mm machine guns are used as additional weapons: one - on the pivot installation of the commander's hatch and two - on the rear hatches.
As a result, the 44-ton monster is an excellent tool for fighting in urban areas, where an RPG grenade launcher can be in the opening of each window. Achzarit is not afraid of point-blank fire from all the means in service with Hezbollah and Hamas militants, reliably covering 10 crew members with its armor.
In fairness, it should be noted that the most protected armored personnel carrier in the world is still the Namer (weight more than 50 tons) on the chassis of the Merkava tank, only a symbolic number of Namers was produced - 60 units, unlike Achzarit, in which 500 T-54/55 tanks were converted.

4th place - BMP-1

The armored infantry vehicle (that's exactly what, according to American experts) significantly increased the offensive power of motorized rifle units. The ingenious concept of the BMP-1 was to increase the mobility and security of the infantry, acting in conjunction with the tanks. The car was demonstrated to the world community during the parade on Red Square in 1967.
The body of the BMP-1 was welded from armor plates with a thickness of 15 ... 20 mm, according to calculations, this was enough to provide all-round protection against bullets fired from a hand-held rifle, and at heading angles protection was provided even from small-caliber guns.
The 13-ton combat vehicle developed up to 65 km / h on the highway and up to 7 km / h afloat (even the track rollers were made hollow to increase buoyancy). Inside were placed 3 crew members and 8 paratroopers. The armament complex consisted of a 73 mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore grenade launcher, a PKT machine gun and an anti-tank missile system 9M14M "Baby". Separate loopholes were equipped for the paratroopers sitting inside. All this, in theory, turned the BMP-1 into a new generation universal vehicle.

Alas, everything turned out to be more complicated. The Americans severely criticized the decisions of the Soviet designers, especially the design of the rear doors of the troop compartment (really, very dubious): “Probably this is thick armor that reliably protects the crew of the vehicle? No! Those are fuel tanks!” With the defeat of the machine, this arrangement turned the BMP into a fire trap.
Based on the results of the battles in the Middle East and Afghanistan, it quickly became clear that the designers had saved on armor in vain - the BMP was confidently hit by the DShK machine gun. Low protection against mines, small arms and grenade launchers has led to the fact that soldiers prefer to move around sitting on the armor, not daring to go down into the fighting compartment of the vehicle. The shortcomings of the weapons also made themselves felt - in the highlands, the Thunder turned out to be useless due to the low elevation angle.

Those same tanks in the aft hatches

Soviet designers made an attempt to correct errors in the next generation car. The new BMP-2 received an automatic 30 mm cannon with an elevation angle of 85 degrees. The next model, the BMP-3, despite the loud calls of the military to increase security, was the apotheosis of absurdity: having almost tank weapons, it still has "cardboard" armor.
And yet it is worth to pay tribute Soviet designers. The infantry fighting vehicle has become a fundamentally new class of armored vehicles. Despite its innovativeness, the BMP-1 has gone through more than a dozen military conflicts around the world. In addition, it was cheap and massive: a total of 20,000 machines of this type were produced.

3rd place - MCV-80 "Warrior"

British infantry fighting vehicle. There is more to her name than just "Warrior". Combat weight- 25 tons. Highway speed - 75 km / h. The armored body of the MCV-80 is welded from rolled sheets of aluminum-magnesium-zinc alloy and protects against 14.5-mm bullets and fragments of 155-mm high-explosive fragmentation shells, and the bottom - from 9 kg of anti-tank mines. boards and chassis covered with rubber anti-cumulative screens. The armored hull of the "Warrior" has an internal lining that protects the crew from armor fragments, which is also soundproofing. The space between the backs of the troop seats and the sides of the hull is used for stowage of spare parts and equipment of infantrymen, which creates additional protection for the troop compartment. Outside, the armor is reinforced with reactive armor. Armament: 30 mm L21A1 "Rarden" automatic cannon, coaxial machine gun, 94 mm LAW-80 grenade launcher. The crew of the car is 3 people. Landing - 7 people.

The British command had high hopes for its promising BMP. And the "Warrior" did not disappoint its creators - of the 300 vehicles that took part in the "Desert Storm" not one was lost in battle. A noteworthy incident occurred in El-Amar (Iraq) on May 1, 2004: 14 RPG grenades hit the Warrior patrol. The heavily damaged car managed to fight back and under its own power got out of the fire, saving the lives of the fighters inside it (the entire crew was burned and injured). BMP commander Johnson Gideon Biharry was awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 2011, the UK government allocated 1.6 billion pounds for the modernization of the MCV-80 under the WCSP program. In particular, it is reported that the BMP will receive new complex weapons with a 40 mm automatic gun.
Here is such an MCV-80 "Warrior" - a machine that soldiers trust.

2nd place - M2 "Bradley"

American infantry fighting vehicle. Combat weight - 30 tons. Speed ​​- 65 km / h on the highway, 7 km / h afloat. Crew - 3 people. Landing - 6 people.
Multi-layered armor made of steel and aluminum with a thickness of 50 mm provides all-round protection against small-caliber artillery shells. The hinged dynamic protection system serves as a reliable barrier to RPG rocket-propelled grenades. The body is lined with Kevlar inside, preventing the formation of fragments. On the latest modifications, 30 mm steel screens are additionally mounted on the sides.
Armament: 25 mm automatic gun M242 "Bushmaster" with a computerized fire control system, ATGM "TOW" and 6 machine guns M231 FPW. The equipment of the armored vehicle includes such excesses as the TACNAV tactical navigation system, the ELRF laser rangefinder, the infrared passive anti-tank defense system and the MRE (Meal, Ready-to-Eat) food ration heater.
At the time of its appearance, in 1981, the US military doubted the combat qualities of the new BMP. But in 1991, during Desert Storm, all doubts were dispelled: Bradleys, using shells with depleted uranium cores, destroyed more Iraqi tanks than M1 Abrams main battle tanks. And only 1 BMP was lost from enemy fire.
The well-deserved combat vehicle has become one of the most massive infantry fighting vehicles in the world - a total of 7000 M2 Bradleys were produced. On its basis, the following are also produced: combat reconnaissance vehicle M3, self-propelled air defense system M6 and a launcher for MLRS and tactical missiles M270MLRS.

1st place - M113

M113 Lithuanian Armed Forces on parade in Kaunas

Floating tracked vehicle weighing 11 tons. All-round protection is provided by 40 mm aluminum armor. Excellent capacity - 2 crew members and 11 paratroopers. Standard weapons - heavy machine gun M2. Fast (speed on the highway - up to 64 km / h), passable and easy to maintain, the car has become the most famous armored personnel carrier in the world. 85000 М113 of all modifications were in service with 50 countries of the world. M113 went through all conflicts from Vietnam War, before the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and as of today, is still in production and is the main armored personnel carrier of the US Army.
In addition to the armored personnel carrier, the M113 existed in the form of a command and control vehicle, a self-propelled 107 mm mortar, an anti-aircraft self-propelled gun (were armed with everything from the six-barreled Vulcan to the Chapperell air defense system), a repair and recovery vehicle, an ambulance, a tank destroyer with an ATGM "TOW" , radiation and chemical reconnaissance vehicles and a MLRS launcher.