A Slovak factory has signed a contract to manufacture new BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle hulls.

【Wen / Observers Network, Shanmao】

On December 16 local time, the Czech defense company STV Group announced on its official website that its subsidiary, STV Machinery Company located in Slovakia, has signed a contract to mass-produce new BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle armored hulls. As one of the company's most important military contracts in recent years, these hulls are planned to be delivered between 2026 and 2027.

The BMP-1 hull produced at the production facilities of STV Machinery Company in Slovakia STV Group Corporation Official Website

STV Machinery Company stated that manufacturing complete combat vehicles is a "significant milestone" for the company. This batch production contract means that it can once again manufacture complete heavy combat equipment from components to final products. The message stated that the plan to develop and produce new BMP-1 hulls was initiated a year ago at the request of the parent company, the Czech STV Group. Based on the production technology accumulated from producing the "Zuzana" self-propelled artillery turret, and supported by many years of experience in the STV Group's military equipment maintenance and upgrade business, STV Machinery Company redesigned the new BMP-1 hull based on the BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicle chassis, following modern ergonomics and material requirements. It is said that the new hull is already being produced using modern armor materials similar to those used in current Western armored vehicles. The new production plant will use advanced equipment such as welding robots from Austria, modern laser material cutting machines, and CNC presses.

3D illustration of the Austrian IGM welding robot used in future production STV Group Corporation Official Website

The aforementioned BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicle is the licensed production version of the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle in Czechoslovakia, which was mass-produced between 1970 and 1989. During the Czechoslovak era, both factories responsible for producing the BVP-1 were located in Slovakia. One of them, the "Heavy Engineering Plant in Dubnica nad Váhom," was originally located at the current site of STV Machinery Company's production facilities. Therefore, STV Group stated that this project brings the production of combat equipment back to this region with a long industrial tradition.

A BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicle housed in the Military History Institute (VHU) in Prague, Czech Republic

STV Company stated that the final prototype vehicle has completed trial runs and "met all expectations." The successful manufacturing of the prototype attracted new "overseas strategic customers" and prepared for mass production. The planned annual production capacity is up to 100 units. Some Western social media users believe that the "overseas users" of this batch of BMP-1 are most likely Ukraine, followed by other former Soviet Union countries that exported BMP-1 weapons. Before this, Ukraine had produced various new types of warheads for the BMP-1, but the hulls were all made from Soviet-era stockpiled BMP-1s.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7585120653818069544/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.