Indonesia is eyeing a second batch of up to 79 Russian BT-3F tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) worth up to $289 million for the Indonesian Navy’s (TNI-AL’s) Korps Marinir (KORMAR, or Marine Corps).
Indonesian Navy
KORMAR is already operating 21 BT-3F APCs, which are derived from the BMP-3 IFV, acquired at a cost of $67.2 million from state-owned defence exporter JSC Rosoboronexport in April 2019. Indonesia is also the first international customer of the BT-3F.
The BT-3F is manufactured by Tractor Plants Concern and is optimised for naval infantry operations. According to company specifications, the vehicle measures seven metres long and over three metres wide with a combat weight of 18.5 tonnes. It is operated by a three-person crew and can accommodate to 14 fully-equipped troops sat on blast mitigation seats.
BT-3F Specifications
A 500-horsepower engine enables it to attain a road speed of 70km/h and a swimming speed of 5.4 knots (10km/h) out to an unrefuelled range of 600km, and can be protected to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4 standards which provides the crew and troops ballistic protection from 12.7mm calibre heavy machine gun rounds.
The BT-3F can be fitted with the DPV-T remote weapon station (RWS) and armed with a range of weapons including the 7.62×54mm PKTM Kalashnikov, 12.7mm 6P49 Kord and 14.5mm KPVT machine guns, as well as the 30mm AG-17A and 40mm AG-40 automatic grenade launchers. The vehicle can also be equipped with smoke grenades launchers, combat management system, and a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protection system.
Other countries such as Cyprus, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed interest in acquiring the BT-3F.
BMP-3F
KORMAR also operates the earlier BMP-3F amphibious IFV manufactured by the Kurganmashzavod Joint Stock Company, which is armed with a 100mm main gun, 30mm coaxial gun and 7.62mm machine gun. It has a crew complement of three and can carry seven troops.
by Jr Ng
