Tankopedia
Late Cold WarLightIFVSoviet Union

BMD-1

In service 1969 - In service

Airborne infantry fighting vehicle, not a tank: the first parachute-droppable tracked fighting vehicle in any army.

Built byVolgograd Tractor Plant

BMD-1
Unknown photographer · Public domain

Development history

The BMD-1 gave Soviet airborne divisions the firepower of the BMP-1 in a hull light enough to be dropped by parachute platform from An-12 and Il-76 transports, with hydropneumatic suspension that could squat for loading. It was central to the 1979 seizure of Kabul airport and served throughout the Afghan war, though its thin armour made it very vulnerable to mines and heavy machine guns.

Variants

One canonical record, 3 recorded variants.

  1. BMD-1K

    1971

    Airborne command version with additional radios

  2. BMD-1P

    1979

    Malyutka missile replaced by the Fagot/Konkurs launcher

  3. BTR-D

    1974

    Stretched, turretless armoured carrier derivative of the same chassis

Notable actions

  • Soviet-Afghan War
  • Chechen wars