Prototype of heavy armored vehicle based on T-55 discovered in Ukraine with reinforced protection

English Posted on  —by Carro e motos

Prototype of heavy armored vehicle based on T-55 discovered in Ukraine with reinforced protectionPrototype of heavy armored vehicle based on T-55 discovered in Ukraine with reinforced protection (X @ArmoredWar)

A prototype of an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) based on the T-55 tank was found in Ukraine.

The vehicle, named BMP-55, appears to be stored at one of the storage facilities of the Kharkiv Machine Design Bureau (KMDB). Although the turret has been removed, it still has tracks, mortars, and remnants of an anti-tank missile launcher. Some components, such as the headlights and the engine, have also been dismantled.

The BMP-55 is an experimental adaptation of the T-55, aimed at converting old tanks into armored vehicles for troop transport. The top of the vehicle was modified to accommodate a combat module and air-transported hatches, while the internal layout was altered by moving the engine to the front and reorganizing the crew and troop compartments. The armor, retained from the T-55, provides superior protection compared to the BMP-1 and BMP-2 models.

With 270 mm of frontal armor, the BMP-55 offers level 5 protection, capable of resisting RPG-7 shots, and 81 mm of reinforced side armor. The rear is protected by 40 mm against 14.5 mm armor-piercing bullets, and the bottom armor was designed to resist anti-tank mines.

With these features, the vehicle meets NATO protection standards, providing a robust solution for combat and infantry transport.

Source: Militarnyi | Photo: X @ArmoredWar | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team

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