Russia upgrades BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles with drone protection
The Russian holding company High-Precision Complexes has delivered the first batch of modernised BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles to the Russian Ministry of Defence in 2026.
January deliveries exceeded planned targets by 40%, indicating the aggressor’s attempt to quickly compensate for armoured vehicle shortages at the front.
The new batch includes significant upgrades aimed at improving battlefield survivability. Each vehicle is now standardly equipped with advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems to suppress Ukrainian FPV drones, as well as reinforced underbody protection.
Despite these improvements, the BMP-3 remains a vulnerable target. Military analysts note that “the vehicle has many shortcomings, including very poor protection by modern standards,” comparing the Soviet-era design to the American M2 Bradley, which demonstrates technological superiority in direct engagements.
It should be recalled that over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders reportedly eliminated 820 enemy troops. Since the start of the war, Russian forces have also killed at least 423 civilians in their own cities.
