It’s Alive: T-55-based IFV prototype BMP-55 found in Ukraine

A prototype of a heavy infantry fighting vehicle based on a T-55 tank has been found in Ukraine.

The photos were published by Defence Blog and the Vodohrai Telegram channel.

The combat vehicle with the index BMP-55 is probably stored in one of the storage facilities of the Kharkiv Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB).

It still has tracks, mortars for setting up smoke screens, and the remains of an anti-tank missile launcher.

Headlights and elements of the upper frontal part of the hull were dismantled from the vehicle. Presumably, the engine was also removed.

The upper part of the hull is covered with a layer of snow, so it is difficult to determine whether the triplexes are still intact.

T-55 tanks were converted into heavy infantry fighting vehicles not only in Ukraine, but also in Israel, where the Ahzarit heavy IFV was created on the basis of trophy tanks captured from Arab armies.

BMP-55

The BMP-55 is an experimental heavy infantry fighting vehicle created in Ukraine. It’s based on the Soviet T-55 medium tank and was developed by KMDB.

The main idea was to convert outdated tanks that no longer met the requirements of the modern battlefield into armored vehicles for infantry transportation.

The turret of the BMP-55 was removed.  Instead, airborne hatches were mounted on the hull along with a new combat module.

The vehicle retained the armor from the T-55, which provided better protection than the existing BMP-1 and BMP-2.

Inside the vehicle, the layout was redesigned to accommodate the airborne compartment: the engine moved to the front, followed by the compartments for the crew and the troops.

The front of the vehicle is equipped with 270 mm thick armor, which provides the highest level of protection under STANAG 4569.

The onboard armor is 81 mm thick and is additionally reinforced with 20 mm thick anti-cumulative screens.

As a result, the vehicle meets the fifth level of protection according to NATO classification and is capable of withstanding a hit from an RPG-7 grenade launcher, including a PG-7VM grenade.

The rear of the hull has 40 mm of armor that provides protection against 14.5 mm armor-piercing bullets, which corresponds to the fourth level of protection. There is also a stern ramp.

The vehicle’s bottom armor is made of a combined scheme of several layers and is designed to withstand the detonation of a TM-57 anti-tank mine under the bottom. According to NATO standards, it also meets the fifth level of protection.