OREANDA-NEWS. February 05, 2007. Upgraded model of airborne combat vehicle will be produced at the Kurganmashzavod in the end of February, reported the press-centre of Kurganmashzavod.

As has been said in the press-service of the plant, it is planned that new machine, perhaps, will be output on 29 of February. Meanwhile, to see prototype of the model and to discuss questions concerning production, Kurgan has been visited by the delegation of command staff of airborne forces of Russia headed by commander of airborne forces Valerij Evtukhovich.

“In 2008 at the Kurganmashzavod have to be produced prototypes of upgraded airborne combat vehicles BMD-4 and have to be carried out tests aiming the unification of BMD-4 with BMP-3 that are in the field of Russian army, - said representative of press-service. - The main special feature of these machines: specific power block and running gear are changed on batch ones used in BMP-3. This will allow to significantly reduce costs of service maintenance of airborne combat vehicles in the army, besides, will reduce their purchase cost within the frames of state defense order of Defense Ministry of Russia. In the February of this year it is planned to finish manufacture of prototypes, and from the March tests of upgraded BMD-4 will begin”.

Commander of Airborne forces and his deputies on weapons got acquainted with conducted works. They have made an excursion to the plant of fabricated structures, press and assembling plant, and assembling and acceptance workshop. But the most interesting they saw in the pilot production, where assembly of first sample of airborne combat vehicle is carrying out. Commander factually blessed the machine, pointed at the Kurgan plant.

“Of course, Kurganmashzavod - is a leader of military-industrial complex of Russia in the field of manufacture of light armor equipment for ground forces, - said Valerij Evtukhovich. - I’m sure that new direction - defense high technologic complexes for airborne forces - your enterprises will master perfectly. Equipage of airborne forces with modern machines will allow to significantly increase fighting power and fair opportunities of our army. Upgraded BMD-4 - is our future. We liked very much workers at your plant, management staff, which, as we can see, with great responsibility regard to the increase of defense capacity of the country. We’re thankful to all employees of the plant for their work for benefit of Russia”.

From 2009 it is planned to begin batch production of upgraded BMD-4 for airborne forces at the Kurganmashzavod. Besides upgraded BMD-4, the same works are carrying out in the field of development of universal armored infantry vehicle BTR-MD. According to the State weapons program to 2015 “Kurganmashzavod” JSC, besides BMP-3, will produce and deliver for needs of Ministry of defense upgraded BMD-4 and BTR-MD.