Soviet BMP-1 IFV. TRUMPETER 05555

Assembly plastic kit of a Soviet BMP-1 IFV. The kit contains over 460 pieces, including individual tracks links, photo etched parts and metal gun barrel.

The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). It was a revolutionary design combining the properties of an armored personnel carrier (APC) and a light tank. The Soviet military leadership saw any future wars as being conducted with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, where unprotected infantry would soon be either killed or incapacitated by radiation or chemical and biological agents. A vehicle like the BMP would allow infantry to operate from the relative safety of its armored, radiation shielded interior in contaminated areas and to fight alongside it in uncontaminated areas. It would increase infantry squad mobility, provide fire support to them, and also be able to fight alongside main battle tanks.