IDENTIFICATION OF BMD M-1981-2 ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82T00709R000200650001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-
imagery analysis report,
Identification of BMD M-1981/2
Armored Personnel Carriers
in Afghanistan (S)`
Secret
secret
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SECRET
IDENTIFICATION OF BMD M-1981/2 ARMORED
PERSONNEL CARRIERS IN AFGHANISTAN (S)
1. (S/WN) BMD M-1981/2 airborne amphibious armored personnel carriers (APCs) have
been identified in Afghanistan with airborne forces at Kabul International Airfield 25X1
and Bagram Airfield Figure 1) on imagery of This new BMD APC 25X1
variant was first identified in the USSR at Riga Training Area 1 in March 1981.1 The 25X1
only other identified deployment of the BMD M-1981/2 is with the air assault brigade at Vladimir
Volynskiy Headquarters Guards Motorized Rifle Division/Army Barracks AL-1/TA-1 25X1
in the Soviet Carpathian Military District. The BMD M-1981/2 was first identified at Vladi- 25X1
mir Volynskiy in June 1981.
2. (S/WN) Eighteen canvas-covered BMD M-1981/2s were parked in three groups of six in
the 103rd Airborne Division Artillery Regiment2 park at Kabul International Airfield (Figure 2).
Also, two of the groups each contained two BMD M-1979 probable command variants (also a
variant of the standard BMD),3 and the third group contained five BMD M-1979 probable com-
mand variants. The equipment was surrounded by a small earthen berm and a visual screen. By[:] 25X1
the canvas had been removed from most of the vehicles (Figure 3). At Bagram Airfield 25X1
(Figure 4), six BMD M-1981/2s and one BMD M-1979 probable command variant were parked in
the airborne regiment area and were also surrounded by a visual screen. The BMD M-1981/2s
have been at Kabul and Bagram since at least respectively. 25X1
3. (S/WN) The BMD M-1981/2 APC is a variant of the standard BMD APC used by Soviet
airborne forces. Although similar in appearance to the standard BMD, it differs in several ways:
the BMD M-1981/2 has six road wheels on each side of the chassis instead of five; it has an
approximately diameter, two-man turret instead of a diameter, one-man tur- 25X1
ret; and the chassis is approximately longer than the standard BMD. 25X1
The turret is circular, centered on the chassis, and has two parallel hatches. The main weapon is
longer and appears to be wider than the 73mm smooth-bore gun mounted on the standard BMD
and the BMP APC. The gun barrel extends approximately from the front of the turret 25X1
to the muzzle, compared to the _long, 73mm smooth-bore gun on the standard BMD. 25X1
Imagery Analysts Comments
4. (S/WN) The number and groupings of the BMD M-1981/2s in the airborne artillery
regiment vehicle park at Kabul and the larger gun barrel on the BMD M-1981/2 suggest that the
vehicle may be used in an artillery role in Afghanistan. Because the BMD M-1981/2 has been
surrounded by a visual barrier, and the vehicle has not been seen widely in the USSR, it is
probably in Afghanistan for testing and evaluation. Additional evidence supporting its use in an
artillery role is the identification of a BMD M-1981/2 in the USSR at Krasnoarmeysk Ordnance
Research and Development Facility in May 1981, where it was seen on the firing 25X1
line used for artillery testing. In addition, BMD M-1979s and/or standard BMDs were identified
for the first time at Perm Armament and Missile and Research and Development Plant 172 (BE
in early 1981. This plant is a major producer of Soviet medium- and large-caliber 25X1
artillery tubes. However, the possibility that the BMD M-1981/2 is in Afghanistan for testing and
evaluation as an advanced airborne APC, as opposed to an airborne artillery piece, cannot be
overlooked.
WNINTEL
Z-14565/82
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IMAGERY
(S/WN) All applicable satellite imagery acquired from
the preparation of this report.
DOCUMENTS
1. NPIC. Z-20075/81, IAR-A094/81, Airborne Activity at Riga, USSR (S), May 81 (SECRET
2. DIA. DDB-1100-UR-79, Ground Order of Battle (GOB)-USSR (U), Aug 79 (SECRET)
3. US Army. RAC-24/8002/80, ATC-II-1120-088-80. BMD-M1979 Airborne Associated General Purpose
(S) Comments and queries regarding this report are welcome. They may be directed to
Third World Forces Division, Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC,
Z-14565/82 SECRET
IAR-0048/82
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