The powered turret holds the primary offensive hardware which is the 100mm main gun (ranged out to 7,000 meters). Augmenting this is a 30mm autocannon fitted as a coaxial gun mount giving the BMD-4 a powerful one-two punch against light-to-medium armored vehicles. The weapon combination is the same as featured in the dimensionally larger BMP-3. The fire control system is fully digital which adds automation to the action, requiring the crew simply to identify targets on the battlefield. As with other Soviet/Russian armed armored carriers, the BMD-4's main gun has the capability to fire a laser-guided anti-tank missile, in this case the "Bastion" series, providing the BMD-4 crew with an unparalleled "reach" on the modern battlefield (for a vehicle of this class) and a counter against Main Battle Tanks. The autocannon sports a true autoloading feature which is also designed to load the AT missiles as needed. The autoloader also reduces the expected crew of four to just three personnel as a dedicated loader is not required. In addition to the cannon armament, the BMD-4 is also fielded with a 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 "Spandrel") anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher which is identified along the hull roof. Beyond this, the BMD-4 crew also has access to a 40mm bow-mounted automatic grenade launcher, a 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun and a 5.45mm caliber machine gun for anti-infantry defense. Six smoke grenade dischargers are seated in two banks of three along the front turret sides.
The BMD-4 showcases three strong qualities about its design and include the aforementioned impressive armaments package. The other is the capability of being air dropped from low-flying aircraft via parachute and being made ready to fight within minutes of landing with the crew inside. Once landed, just three minutes are required to start the vehicle, manage the positions and arm all weapons. Still another quality is its amphibious capabilities which give the BMD-4 the capability of fording water sources and changing tactical approaches on-the-fly. All told, the BMD-4 fits extremely well in accepted Russian tank doctrine of the day - intended to overwhelm key enemy positions through speed and firepower.
Since its adoption into service, the has been improved in the new "BMD-4M" mark debuted in 2008. The BMD-4M brings about a refined fire control system and a new UTD-29 series diesel engine of 500 horsepower as well as other subtle changes to her internal functionality. Previous BMD-3s are being modernized to the BMD-4 standard as of this writing (2012). To date at least 60 BMD-4s have been delivered for active service with more on order. There are no known foreign operators of the BMD-4 series.
The "BMD" designation stems from the words "Boyevaya Mashina Desanta" to designate it as "Combat Vehicle of the Airborne". Production is handled out of the Volgograd Tractor Plant.
April 2017 - The Russians have debuted the latest, updated version of the BMD-4 in the BMD-4M2 model. Changes include the drivetrain of the BMP-3 IFV (to lower maintenance and repair times/costs) and installation of the "Sinica" series manned turret.
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