Russian defense contractor Steel Research Institute upgraded the BMP-3 IFV TASS 42110152

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Defence & Security News - Russia
 
Russian defense contractor Steel Research Institute upgraded the BMP-3 IFV
Russian defense contractor Steel Research Institute (NII Stali, a subsidiary of Tractor Plants) has been developing mine protections for several years now. One of its latest products pertains to the upgrade the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) to Dragun standard in cooperation with other subsidiaries.
     
     
The institute’s staff told TASS at the Interpolitex 2015 show that NII Stali would outfit the Dragun with shock-absorbing blast-attenuating seats designed, along with other high-tech solutions, to increase the survivability of the vehicle and crew considerably on today’s battlefield.

"Mines and improvised explosive devices are turning into most dangerous weapons used against combat vehicles and their crews in local wars," the research institute told TASS. "In this connection, virtually all major powers are developing special highly-protected combat vehicles featuring MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected) reinforced mine protection.

The latter is provided by means of hull design, advanced armor materials and special shock-absorbing blast-attenuating seats in the first place."

NII Stali unveiled its special blast-attenuating seat for the Typhoon-U armored wheeled vehicle at the Interpolitex 2014 show. It proved to be a hit and was praised by both Russian and foreign experts.

A three-level energy absorption concept and a combination of ingenuous reusable and disposable shock-absorbing components proposed by NII Stali designers resulted in the unique operational, ergonomic and crew protection properties both in routine operation and in case of hitting a mine. Many military hardware designers, including MRAP-like wheeled vehicle developers, took an interest in the seat.

With the Typhoon-U taken care of, NII Stali has developed and adapted a seat to equip the latest Kurganets IFV. The seat’s philosophy and concept remain unchanged, but its design has been modified heavily.

It has become lighter and smaller, while retaining the prototype’s shock-absorbing blast-attenuating properties. It is being tested on the fighting vehicles in development with the Military Engineering Center and being adapted by a number of other defense contractors developing or upgrading combat vehicle’s.

The seat intended for the Dragun IFV is NII Stali’s another product in this field, the manufacturer said without going into detail on the advanced seat’s characteristics.
     
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