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Rare BMO-T Combat Vehicle Could Be Turned Into a Heavy APC, russian Media Suggest

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The BMO-T, a combat vehicle of russian army flamethrower operators / Open-source illustrative photo
The BMO-T, a combat vehicle of russian army flamethrower operators / Open-source illustrative photo

Although mass production of BMO-T started back in 2001, only a handful of them were actually made

The russian invasion forces field several combat vehicles that stand out for their rarity, such as the BMO-T heavy combat vehicle designed for flamethrower teams. Despite its introduction back in 2001, the vehicle saw only limited production, with open sources estimating that approximately 10 units were manufactured.

According to Oryx, a platform tracking visually confirmed losses, the russian military has already lost at least four BMO-T vehicles in Ukraine since February 2022. Of these, three were destroyed, and one was captured as a trophy by the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Read more: Very Rare BMO-T Recovery Vehicle Tows T-72 Tanks for Ukraine After It Got Snatched From russians

Recently, several russian media outlets have proposed to convert the BMO-T into a "heavy armored personnel carrier" through "minimal modifications." Suggested upgrades include slat armor, electronic warfare systems, smoke grenade launchers, and remotely controlled machine guns.

The justification hinges on the BMO-T’s capacity to carry up to seven passengers on top of the two crew members. Also, the vehicle can fit 30 RPO-A Shmel flamethrowers inside, each weighing 11 kg. The idea is to discard all these to free up space and weight for more useful equipment.

Defense Express reminds that this concept is not new, as russia has previously attempted to repurpose heavy vehicles for infantry use. In July 2024, a video surfaced online showing a prototype heavy APC built on the chassis of a T-72 or T-90 tank.

Illustrative photo: a russian ad hoc heavy APC based on the T-72 or T-90 tank chassis during testing, July 2024 / Defense Express / Rare BMO-T Combat Vehicle Could Be Turned Into a Heavy APC, russian Media Suggest
Illustrative photo: a russian ad hoc heavy APC based on the T-72 or T-90 tank chassis during testing, July 2024 / Photo credit: btvt.info

This vehicle was photographed during performance tests near the Uralvagonzavod armored machinery plant and, apparently, could be further converted into a heavy infantry fighting vehicle as an option. However, it remains unclear whether russia has enough spare tanks to turn such experiments into a practical solution to a shortage of IFVs on the frontline.

Ukraine has tried something similar, too. In 2023, the Ukrainian military shared pictures of an unusual heavy APC based on a T-64 tank chassis. The vehicle had its turret removed and hull expanded, reinforced with explosive reactive armor plates.

The Ukrainian armored carrier based on T-64 / Defense Express / Rare BMO-T Combat Vehicle Could Be Turned Into a Heavy APC, russian Media Suggest
The Ukrainian armored carrier based on T-64, photo published in April 2023 / Open-source photo

Later, it was revealed that the vehicle had been delivered like that straight from the factory and was in service with the 93rd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Designated the BTR-T, this Ukrainian heavy APC can accommodate eight troops with their personal equipment.

Read more: The BTR-50 First Appeared in 2023, and russia Still Deploys These Vehicles on the Battlefield