UAE Drops 100 mm Cannons From BMP-3 Infantry Vehicles

The United Arab Emirates is replacing the main armament on its Russian-made BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, opting for lighter weaponry to reduce the risk posed by high-explosive 100 mm ammunition in lightly armored vehicles.

The upgraded vehicles were shown during a visit by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum to the headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Reserve Forces Command.

For the visit, the military showcased equipment from the 5th Mechanized Brigade, including a modified BMP-3 fitted with a new DVK-30 turret module produced by Slovak defense firm ZTS Špeciál.

The standard Russian Bakhcha-U turret, which combines a 100 mm cannon and a coaxial 30 mm gun, has been replaced with the Slovak-designed DVK-30. The new turret configuration signals a possible adoption of the upgraded platform by the UAE military.

The United Arab Emirates is the largest foreign operator of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, owning a fleet of more than 600 vehicles of this type in service with the army and the presidential guard. Therefore, the issue of their modernization is an important component in supporting the army.

Ukrainian Lessons

Like the original Russian system, the Slovak DVK-30 is a manned turret, operated by a gunner. It is equipped with a 2A42 automatic cannon that uses 30 mm Soviet-standard ammunition.

While the vehicle’s optics and onboard electronics have also been upgraded, the most notable change is the loss of the main 100 mm gun, significantly reducing the platform’s firepower.

The decision likely reflects a growing reassessment of arming lightly armored vehicles with high-caliber artillery. Hits from mines or shaped-charge weapons often detonate the 100 mm shells stored in the turret’s carousel, destroying the vehicle and killing both the crew and dismounted troops.

The BMP-3’s first-stage ammunition load includes 22 rounds, which, when using 2UOF19 shells, amounts to more than 50 kilograms of explosives. Additional 18 shells are typically stored in the rear troop compartment, directly between the soldiers.

Switching to a medium-caliber weapon reduces the risk of catastrophic ammunition detonation. The 2A42 cannon also offers an improved rate of fire and accuracy compared to the 2A72 used in the Bakhcha-U.

Russian designers have attempted to mitigate the BMP-3’s vulnerability by adding light reactive armor kits. However, only one such modified vehicle has been documented during the war in Ukraine.