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Upgraded BRDM-2MS armoured scout vehicles have been spotted for the first time ever with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
The vehicles appeared in several photos released by the Syrian Arab News Agency on the occasion of the Evacuation Day. The national holiday commemorates the evacuation of the last French soldier at the end of the French mandate of Syria on 17 April 1946 after the country proclamation of full independence in 1941.
More than 900 Soviet-made BRDM-2 vehicles were in service with the SAA before the war broke out more than eleven years ago. However, none of them were upgraded.
The BRDM-2MS is a deeply upgraded BRDM-2. As a part of the of the upgrade, the vehicle was equipped with a new hinged armor that can withstand 14.5 mm ammunition. Mine resistance was also improved. Despite this, the total weight of the vehicle was reduced to 6,900 kg.
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The vehicle was also equipped with a new engine with 150 hp. The engine allows a maximum speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour on roads and up to 50 kilometers per hour off road. The cruising range of the vehicle was increased to 1,500 kilometers.
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The BRDM-2MS retained its original armament, which consisted of a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun with 500 rounds and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial general-purpose machine gun with 2,000 rounds. However, it received a new fire control system which has a stabilized three-channel panoramic commander sight that can spot an enemy up to 5 kilometers away during the day and up to 3,5 kilometers away at night.
For the all-round view, six cameras are mounted on the vehicle, allowing round-the-clock monitoring of the terrain on four multifunctional panels.
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It’s unclear when exactly the SAA received the upgraded BRDM-2MS vehicles from Russia, or how many were delivered.
Russia remains the main support of Syria’s war on terrorism. In the last few years, the Russian military stepped up its support to the SAA on all levels.
