BRM-1 is a combat-reconnaissance vehicle. Developed on the basis of BMP-1 in KB “Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant” and was created as a replacement in reconnaissance units of the light floating PT-76 tank. Serially produced at the Kurgan Auto Plant.
Vadim Zadorozhny’s Museum of Equipment, Moscow
Years of production: 1972-1978
Country of origin: USSR
Issued: 1500 units
Weight: 13.2 t
Power: 300 hp
Speed: 65 km / h
Crew: 6 persons
BRM-1 (Ob’yekt 676) – At the end of the 1960s, the Soviet Army started looking for a reconnaissance vehicle suited to the modern battlefield that could be fitted with extensive electronic reconnaissance equipment. Existing reconnaissance vehicles in the Soviet Army, such as the PT-76 amphibious light tank and the BRDM-2 amphibious armored scout car, were only equipped with standard vision devices.
The BMP-1 was chosen as the platform for the new reconnaissance vehicle because it had an amphibious capability, good maneuverability, a powerful armament, a spacious hull and an NBC protection system. The development of the BMP-1-based reconnaissance vehicle began in the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant (ChTZ) in the 1960s and 1970s. It was later continued by the Kurgan Engineering Works (KMZ). As a result of that the new BRM-1 officially entered service with the Soviet Army in 1972, production began in 1973 when the first BRM-1s were passed to reconnaissance subunits.
It was fitted with an extra-wide, low-profile, two-man turret which was moved to the rear of the hull and without the M3 autoloader and the 9S428 ATGM launcher (although some vehicles did have the ATGM launcher). There were also two small roof hatches, instead of four in the rear part of the hull. A PSNR-5K (1RL-133-1) “Tall Mike” ground surveillance radar which can be extended over the roof of the turret from a rearward-opening hatch in the roof of the turret, (the BRM-1 of the first series did not have ground surveillance radar), a 1D8 laser rangefinder, a TNA-1 or TNA-3 gyroscopic navigation device with coordinates recorder and additional R-123M, R-130M, R-148 and R-014D radios are all fitted.
Radio range is up to 50 km with the use of a standard 4 m whip antenna and up to 300 km with the use of the radio mast transported on the rear of the hull. The PSNR-5K “Tall Mike” radar, which is operated by the commander, has two modes – terrain survey and target tracking. It can detect vehicles up to 7000 meters and personnel up to 2000 meters away and can be retracted into the turret when not in use.
The doppler radar for range calculations was installed from 1993 onwards. One vehicle was assigned to each recce company of a motorized rifle, tank or artillery unit. The crew was increased from 3 to 6 (commander and gunner who occupy the turret, driver and navigator who occupy the nose section of the hull and two observers who occupy the rear part of the hull). Some vehicles were fitted with a bank of 81 mm 902V “Tucha” smoke grenade launchers. NATO gave it the designations BMP-R and BMP M1976/1.
