Russian Special Machine-building Design Bureau (SKBM) unveiled BMP-3 Manul IFV at the Army-2020 International Military-Technical Forum.
The Manul demonstrates the possibility of developing an infantry fighting vehicle with a front-located engine compartment (with UTD-32 engine of increased power up to 660 Hp) and an unmanned combat module. Moving the engine to the front of the vehicle significantly increased its protection against a frontal attack.
The Manul is fitted with the TKB-945 unmanned combat module which is already installed on the medium tracked and wheeled platforms Kurganets-25 and Boomerang. The turret is armed with 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon, a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun, and the Kornet anti-tank system capable of destroying all existing tanks. According to the developers, the degree of commonality of Manul with existing BMP-3s is in the order of 50%.
Given the front location of the engine, the troopers are located at the rear and exit through a folding ramp. The troop compartment can now accommodate eight fully armed troopers.
The declared characteristics: maximum speed on the highway -70 km/h, on a dirt road – 55 km/h and 9.5 km/h afloat.
Experts familiar with SKBM explained to media representatives that the new IFV is mainly focused on deliveries to export customers.
