The Soviet Army introduced the BMP-1, an infantry fighting vehicle, in 1966. It provided mechanized infantry squads the ...

introduced in the 1980s as a modernized version of the BMP-1, remains a common vehicle on both sides of the conflict, though it is considered outdated compared to Western armored vehicles.

The BMP-1 was the Soviets’ solution to these requirements. Syrian and Egyptian forces were able to test out the tank IFV system against Israeli main battle tanks (MBTs) in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.