The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta. It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller. The BMD-1 was used as an IFV by the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV). An improved variant of the BMD-1 was developed, the BMD-2. The BMD-1 also provided a basis for the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked APC.
BMD-1 in Russian service, 2011.
BMD-1 three-view graphic.
BMD-1 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine being rigged up for parachute drop before being loaded onto an Il-76 transport aircraft, 2006.
Soldiers ride on top of a BMD-1 in Kabul, Afghanistan, 25 March 1986.
Infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe defines an infantry fighting vehicle as "an armoured combat vehicle which is designed and equipped primarily to transport a combat infantry squad, and which is armed with an integral or organic cannon of at least 20 millimeters calibre and sometimes an antitank missile launcher". IFVs often serve both as the principal weapons system and as the mode of transport for a mechanized infantry unit.
A M2 Bradley tracked infantry fighting vehicle in US service during the Second Battle of Fallujah (2004)
A Russian BMP-3 with embarked infantry
West German troops aboard a Schützenpanzer Lang HS.30, the world's first IFV. (1965)
An East German BMP-1 with eight passengers (1988)