The BMD-1 has extremely cramped interior space, which is much smaller than that found in the BMP-1 and BMP-2 IFVs.

Two airborne regiments of each airborne division were equipped with BMD-1 IFVs.

Overall each division operated 220 BMD-1 IFVs.

Since 1977 a number of Soviet BMD-1 IFVs underwent a modernization to BMD-1P standard.

BMD-1 IFVs were not suited for fighting in mountain regions of hot Afghanistan as they were originally developed to provide airborne units with an IFV to give them a chance in engagements with enemy armour and allow them to operate in Nuclear-Biological-Chemical ( NBC ) warfare conditions.

Many BMD-1 IFVs fell victim to Mujahideen attacks and, especially, antitank landmines like quite many Soviet light AFVs sent there.

In 1990, BMD-1 IFVs were used by the Iraqi Army during first Gulf War.

BMD-1 and BMD-1PK IFVs are used by Russian airborne units of KFOR.

99th Internal Troops division from Rostov, Persianovka which is a part of the North Caucasus Military District ( 4 BMD-1 and 33 BMD-1 IFVs in the Cherkmen regiment ).

When the Soviet war in Afghanistan broke out the Soviet forces operated BMP-1 IFVs and BMD-1 airborne IFVs.

Although a light infantry force, the paratroops were the recipients of several pieces of specifically designed equipment, such as the AKS-74 rifle, the ASU-85 self-propelled gun, and the BMD-1.

The BMD-1 was used as an IFV by the Soviet Army's airborne divisions.

As of now BMD-1 and vehicles based on it are used by the following units of Russian Army or are stationed in following bases ( this list does not include BTR-D APCs and BTR-D variants ):

The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle, which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970.

*** BMD-1P – BMD-1 modernization with its 9S428 ATGM launcher replaced by pintle-mounted 9P135M-1 ATGM launcher capable of firing 9M113 " Konkurs " ( AT-5 Spandrel ), 9M113M " Konkurs-M " ( AT-5B Spandrel B ), 9M111 " Fagot " ( AT-4 Spigot ) and 9M111-2 " Fagot " ( AT-4B Spigot B ) ATGMs.

*** BMD-1 with its 73 mm 2A28 " Grom " main gun replaced by 30 mm autocannon.

*** BMD-1 with its 73 mm 2A28 " Grom " main gun replaced by 30 mm AGS-17 " Plamya " automatic grenade launcher.

* BMD-1 modernization fitted with TKB-799 " Kliver " one-man weapons station developed by Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau ( KBP ).

The first one was supposed to satisfy the immediate need of a new airborne IFV by modifying the BMD-1 / BMP-1 turret, arming it with the same armament as the one on the BMP-2 and then fitting it onto the BMD-1 hull.

The BMD-2's crew is the same as the one in BMD-1 with slight changes like the fact that the commander no longer operates the left bow-mounted 7. 62 mm PKT tank machine gun which was removed because the trials proved that he is too consumed by his primary duties to accurately fire it.

The MBTs are of Russian type T-72, T-62, and T-55, and AFVs are of Russian type MT-LB, BMP-2, BMP-1, and the BMD-1, and Russian type trucks are the GAZ-66 and the KAMAZ-6560.

Due to the transport load restrictions of helicopters, air assault forces are usually light infantry, though some armored fighting vehicles, like the Russian BMD-1 are designed to fit most heavy lift helicopters, which enable assaulting forces to combine air mobility with a certain degree of ground mechanization.

In 2007 the Land Forces consisted of 29, 600 soldiers ( 6th Guards Mechanised Brigade ( Grodno ), 11th Guards Mechanised Brigade ( Slonim, the former 11th Guards Tank Division ) the 120th Guards Mechanised Brigade ( Minsk ), 38th and 103rd Mobile Brigades ( organized similarly to Soviet airborne regiments, not all of them are equipped with BMD-1 ), 5th Separate Spetznaz Brigade ( Maryina Horka ), five artillery brigades and four regiments, two MRL regiments, 15th, 29th, 115th, 120th and 302nd SAM Brigades, two SSM brigades, two brigades and one regiment of engineers, 8th NBC independent brigade, two signals brigades, 40th independent NBC battalion.

The BMD-1 also provided a basis for the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked APC.

A lengthened chassis of BMD-1 served as a basis for the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked APC which itself served as a basis for many specialized airborne vehicles.

The BMD-1 can be thought of as a BMP intended for airborne troops.

In 1973 the BMD-1 completely replaced the ASU-57 airborne assault guns in the Soviet airborne forces, increasing the firepower and maneuverability of the airborne division.

76th airborne ( CDO ) division from Pskov which is part of Leningrad Military District ( 210 BMD vehicles as of 2000 ), the subunits of this division include 104nd airborne regiment from Pskov ( 51 BMD-1 ) and 234th airborne regiment from Pskov ( 98 BMD-1 ).

98th airborne division from Ivanovo ( 220 BMD vehicles as of 2000 ), the subunits of this division include 217th airborne regiment from Ivanovo ( 109 BMD-1 ) and 331nd airborne regiment from Kostroma ( 102 BMD-1 ).

Equipment included 44 BMD-1 AIFV, and 266 APCs, including 91 TAB-71s, as well as 227 artillery pieces.

The first of these was the BMD-1, which had the same firepower as the BMP-1, but which could be carried in or even parachuted from the standard Soviet transport aircraft.

The Soviets developed the BMD-1 and BMD-3 fighting vehicles.

A BMD-1 in Kabul, Afghanistan, 1986.

An improved variant of BMD-1 was developed, the BMD-2.

BMD-1 three-view graphic.

BMD-1 has an unconventional layout for an IFV.

The BMD-1 has the same turret as the BMP-1.

The BMD-1 has a maximum road speed of 80 kilometers per hour, reducing to around 45 kilometers per hour off-road and 10 kilometers per hour while swimming.

The BMD-1 can climb 0. 8 meter high vertical obstacles, cross 1. 6 meter wide trenches and 30 % side slopes.

The BMD-1 has a ground pressure of 0. 57 kg / cm².

The BMD-1 is fully amphibious, it can swim after switching on the two electric bilge pumps, erecting the two piece trim vane which improves vehicle's stability and displacement in water and prevents the water from flooding the bow of the tank and switching the driver's periscope for a swimming periscope that enables the driver to see over the trim vane.

BMD-1 entered serial production in 1968.