| MLI-84 | |
|---|---|
MLI-84M at Smârdan during exercise Justice Eagle 2021
| |
| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin | Romania |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985–present[1] |
| Used by | Romania |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1982–1985[1] |
| Produced | 1985–1991 (MLI-84)[2] 1995–present (MLI-84M) |
| No. built | 178 |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications (MLI-84M[4]) | |
| Mass | 17.6 tonnes |
| Length | 7.335 m |
| Width | 3.3 m[3] |
| Height | 2.942 m[3] |
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver and gunner) + 8 troops[3] |
| Armor | Protects against 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun fire |
Main | MLI-84: 73 mm2A28 Grom low-pressure smoothbore cannon MLI-84M1: 25 mmOerlikon KBA autocannon |
Secondary | MLI-84: 9S415 launcher for 9M14 Malyutka ATGM[1] 1 × 12.7×108mm DShK 1938/46 Heavy machine gun MLI-84M1: 9M14-2T "Maljutka-2T" or Spike ATGM |
| Engine | MLI-84: Romanian 8-cylinder-1240-DT-S MLI-84M1: Caterpillar C9 MLI-84: 355 hp (265 kW) MLI-84M1: 400 hp at 2,200 rpm |
| Power/weight | 23.4 hp/tonne (16.8 kW/tonne) |
| Suspension | individual torsion bar with hydraulic shock absorbers on the 1st and 6th road wheels |
| Ground clearance | 400 mm[3] |
| Fuel capacity | 620 l |
Operational | 550–600 km |
| Maximum speed | 65 km/h |
The MLI-84 is a tracked Romanian infantry fighting vehicle currently in service with the Romanian Land Forces. It was derived from the chassis of the Soviet BMP-1 but possessing a lengthened hull, a 12.7×108mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the troop compartment and MLI-84M having Oerlikon KBA autocannon and new ATGMs.[5]
In 1982 Romania purchased a license to produce 178 BMP-1 IFVs from the Soviet Union. At the same time, it received permission to modify the construction in order to adapt it to its industry.[1][6]
The decision of improving the old Soviet IFVs came in 1995. As a result of a Romanian-Israeli cooperation project, the new modernized MLI-84M variant was created. Since then, the Romanian Ministry of Defense spent around US$ 155 million to upgrade 99 vehicles for equipping three battalions.[7][8]
The most important improvement in the MLI-84 was the replacement of the Soviet UTD-20 (a 4-stroke airless-injection water-cooled multifuel 15.8-litre diesel V6 engine) with the domestically-produced 8V-1240-DT-S 4-stroke liquid-cooled diesel V8 engine. The new engine develops a more powerful 355 horsepower (265 kW), but is larger and heavier and thus required modification of the engine compartment to accommodate it. The fuel capacity was increased to 600 liters. Because of these modifications the length of the hull of the vehicle was increased by 60 centimeters to 7.335 meters, which in turn resulted in wider gaps between the roadwheels. The vehicle is also wider (3.15 m) and higher (2.11 m). The ground clearance has increased from 370 mm to 400 mm. The new engine has increased vehicle's maximal road speed to 70 km/h.[1][3]
The armament wasn't modified but a 12.7 mmDShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun was placed on a rotatable mount fitted on the left rear troop compartment roof hatch. It is operated by the trooper sitting next to the left rear door of the troop compartment which makes operating it while the infantry is dismounting impossible.[1][3]
Because of the mentioned modifications and additions, the weight of the vehicle increased to 16.6 tonnes and although the vehicle can still travel across water with little preparation, the amphibious ability was weakened.[1][3]
MLI-84 production began in 1985 and 178 vehicles were produced until 1991.
Romania – Romanian Land Forces operate around 142 MLI-84 IFVs of which 101 are upgraded to the MLI-84M standard.[11] The first modernized vehicles entered service with the 282nd Mechanized Brigade in 2005.[12] Initially, the modernization program aimed at upgrading a total of 180 vehicles.[13]
