When Communism took control of Russia after about four decades of evil capitalism, the Soviet Leaders used the weak state of the Russian Military as a platform to strengthen their hold on power. Instead of designing new vehicles, the leaders promoted simply refitting the old designs with new armor and new ammunition types. While this made for poor quality equipment in most cases, it was a good way for the government leaders to make their military look strong. Most other governments, such as the United States and Europe, decided to develop new designs using their older vehicles as a basis but fully upgrading the designs with new materials. While most Soviet generals did not like the idea of simply refitting old vehicles but their were overruled by the Soviet Field Marshals. These Field Marshals were more interested in politics than anything else and as a result the Soviet army was actually much weaker than it appeared. To deal with the problem, Soviet Generals requested supplements to their combat forces and they used the old designs as a basis for the new design to cut procurement cost. The reality is that the new designs more commonly replaced the old design but it was a legal fiction which appeased the political leadership. Other examples are the TU-212UM1 and the BMP-5 designs. Like them, the BMD-6 Airborne Combat Vehicle was promoted as a redesign of the BMD-3 Airborne Combat Vehicle. There were never enough of the new airborne combat vehicles to completely replace the BMD-3 but most airborne and naval units were outfitted with at least some of the new design and they would form the initial wave in any assault. These new vehicles were vastly preferred by crews to the old vehicles. Eventually a new design, in the form of the BMD-9 combat vehicle was introduced and most of the old BMD-3 vehicles were put into storage or sold off outside the Soviet Union. Eventually the BMD-9 design replaced many of the BMD-6 airborne combat vehicles in service but some remained in service to the coming of the Rifts. Some of the surplus BMD-6 airborne combat vehicles were sold to Soviet allies and others were put in storage. The ones sold could be found scattered around the globe. When the coming of the Rifts destroyed most of the world, most of the vehicles both inside and outside of the Soviet Union were destroyed but many did survive. Mercenaries, both in Russian and around the world, operate these combat vehicles although many have been heavily modified. As well, some are operated by the New Sovietskiy and others have found their way into the hands of Warlords. Some of the vehicles have been found in military caches within the Pre-Rifts Soviet borders. Even though the design is well liked by most who operate it, it is rarely operated in the Airborne role it was designed for.

In outward appearance, the BMD-6 is quite similar to the BMD-3 but is fully constructed from high strength alloys and composites. This has the advantages of reduced maintenance and the ability to withstand greater damage. This vastly increased the chances for crew survival and was greatly preferred by her crews over the previous design. A major concern as an Airborne Combat Vehicle was always weight and a major effort was to keep the vehicle as light as possible. The BMD-6 uses an upgraded version of the same diesel engine as the BMD-3. The diesel engine did not have the range of fuel cell system used by American designs used and produced far more heat and pollution. While pollution was never a concern by the Soviet leaders, it did cause environmental problems both within and outside the borders. In later years, nuclear designs were vastly preferred due to having unlimited range and as such not needing fuel support. Due to this, many vehicles surviving beyond the coming of the Rifts have been converted to fusion power normally using the reactors from trucks. Maximum road speed is about the same as the BMD-3 and is 70 kilometers per hour on the road and 45 kilometers per hour off road. The vehicle can be dropped with a full crew and a hydropneumatic suspension with allows the crew to vary the ground clearance from 15 cm to 53 cm. The vehicle can also operate on the water at about 10 kilometers per hour using two water-jets mounted at the rear of the hull. Like the BMD-3, the BMD-6 can operate in up to Sea State Six. The vehicle is considered to have a crew of two but the commander usually dismounts with the troops. The layout of the BMD-6 is similar to the BMD-3 with a soldier on either side of the driver and one on either side of the turret. The commander rides in the turret. An addition soldiers can ride in the back of the turret with the turret hatches open. Electronics are generally similar to those carried on the refitted older airborne combat vehicles.

The main gun of the BMD-6 is similar to the BMD-3 and is a 30 mm auto-cannon in a turret although upgraded with a newer cannon. The designers wanted to mount a 14.5 mm heavy machine gun coaxial but the heavy machine gun simply could not be fitted. Instead a 7.62 machinegun was fitted. This was considered too light by most crews and was rarely used. Mini-missile launchers replaced the anti-tank missile launcher and had a vastly increased payload. As well, the missile launchers have an automatic reloading system. While the mini-missiles are shorter ranged, they have a higher rate of fire and a greater payload and are preferred by most crews. In the hull, a 14.5 mm machine-gun was fitted on the right side of the hull with an automatic grenade launcher being fitted on the left side. In later service, the machine-guns replaced by rail guns although the grenade launcher was retained. The vehicle has a firing port on each side but does not have e-clip recharging equipment.

Model Type: BMD-6
Vehicle Type: Airborne Combat Vehicle
Crew: Two (Driver and Gunner).
Troop Carrying Capacity: Five soldiers in full gear (Can carry two additional in turret opened up)

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Tractor Treads (2):	50 each
	Weapons Turret:	80
	30-mm 2A72 Automatic Cannon (Turret):	50
	Mini-Missile Launchers (2, sides of turret):	30 each
	[2] Co-axial 7.62 mm Machine Gun (Turret, Early Model):	10
	[2] Co-axial 5-mm Rail-Gun (Replaces Medium Machine-gun):	25
	[2] Bow Automatic Grenade Launcher (Front of APC):	40
	[2] 14.5 mm Bow Mounted heavy machine-gun (Early Models):	30
	[2] 10 mm Bow Mounted Heavy Rail-Gun (Later Models):	50
	Multi-Option Jammers (2):	25
	[2] Headlights (2):	10 each
	Reinforced Crew / Troop Compartment:	80
	[3] Main Body:	220

Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of a tread will immobilize the tank until it is replaced. Replacing a tread will take 1D6x10 minutes by a trained crew (2 replacements are carried on board) or three times as long by the inexperienced. Changing the tread is only advisable when the vehicle is not under attack.
[2] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a "called shot," but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.
[3] If all the M.D.C. of the main body is depleted, the vehicle is completely shut down and is unsalvageable.

Speed:
Ground: Maximum speed on land is 43.5 mph (70 kph) on roads and 28.0 mph (45 kph) off road maximum. The vehicle is designed to traverse virtually all terrain and can climb at up to a 60% grade although at a much slower speed (About 10% of maximum road speed). It can also climb barriers and ford trenches. The vehicle can also handle side slopes of up to 30%.
Water Capabilities: Uses water jets to propel tank over the surface of the water but is not designed for deep water use. Using the tracks, the BMD-6 can travel on the surface of water at 6.2 mph (10 kph/5.4 knots).
Maximum Range: 403.9 miles (650 km)

Statistical Data:
Height: 7.1 feet (2.16 meters)
Width: 10.3 feet (3.14 meters)
Length: 20.0 feet (6.1 meters)
Weight: 14.6 tons (13.25 metric tons).
Power Source: Conventional, Diesel
Cargo Capacity: Minimal storage space in pilots compartment; about three feet (0.9 m) in side dimensions for extra clothing, weapons, and personal items. Two carbines and one hand-held missile launcher with three each are stored in a compartment in the crew compartment. Without troops, can carry up to 1.2 tons in troop compartment.
Black Market Cost: 2.4 million credits was the production price originally; Remaining Armored Vehicle sells for double that (4.8 million credits). Many of these combat vehicles remain in service with the New Sovietski and a few are in the hands of Russian Warlords.

Weapon Systems:

1. One 30-mm 2A72 Automatic Cannon: Mounted in the turret as the main gun and the turret can rotate 360 degrees and can elevate up to 80 degrees and depress down 6 degrees. Cannon can be used against low flying aircraft as well as other ground vehicles. The standard ammunition has been replaced by high density ramjet ammunition which inflicts heavy damage and enables the BMD-6 to hold its own against other armored vehicle's weapons.
   Maximum Effective Range: 6,560 feet (2,000 meters / 2 kilometers).
   Mega Damage: 1D6x10 for a short burst of 10 round burst and 2D6x10 for a long burst of 20 round burst, 3D6 for each round.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: 1000 rounds (100 short bursts or 50 long bursts)
2. Coaxial Light Secondary Mount (1):Weapon is Co-axially mounted with the 30-mm main gun. The original 7.62 long Russian round, while longer and more powerful than the standard Soviet 7.62 Kalishikov round was still considered under powered by most crews. Eventually, the weapon was replaced by a medium rail gun but many crews still preferred a heavy rail gun.
   1. 7.62 mm PKT Medium Machine-guns (1): Carried on the original BMD-3 Airborne Combat Vehicle and while underpowered was not replaced until a 5 mm rail gun was developed in the second half of the twenty first century. The American Bradley quickly replaced their medium machine-guns with liquid propellant weapons. While special ammunition was developed, the crews of the armored vehicle still greatly disliked this weapon.
      Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters)
      Mega Damage: One round does 1 M.D.C. to M.D.C. targets or 3D6x10 S.D.C. to soft targets. Twenty round bursts do 2D4 M.D.C.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Carries 2,000 rounds (100 bursts) for the Coaxial mount
   2. 5 millimeter GSR-05 Medium Railgun: Finally developed as a replacement for the medium machine-gun. It was much preferred by vehicle's crews but was still considered underpowered compared to other tank mounts.
      Maximum Effective Range: 2,000 feet (609.6 meters)
      Mega Damage: One round does 1D4 M.D.C. to M.D.C. targets or 6D6x10 S.D.C. to soft targets. Twenty round bursts do 4D6 M.D.C.; Forty round full bursts do 1D4x10
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: Carries 4,000 rounds total (100 full bursts or 200 half-bursts) for the Coaxial mount.
3. Bow Secondary Mount: Instead of having a light machine gun like the BMD-3, the BMD-6 carriers a heavy weapon in the gun mount on the right side. Initially, a 14.5-mm heavy machine-gun was mounted but it was replaced on most models with a 10-mm heavy rail gun. Payload of ammunition is less than the co-axial mount. Weapon mount is generally controlled by the driver.
   1. 14.5 millimeter KPVT Heavy Machine-gun: While the Soviet military was able to replace the armor of the tank with stronger materials, initially there were no suitable heavy secondary weapons developed for the tank. As solution, the heavy 14.5 machine-gun, which is virtually a cannon, was adopted with new ammunition. Still, heavy rail guns were found to be more effective when it became available and the heavy machine-gun was replaced by a 10-mm heavy rail gun.
      Maximum Effective Range: 4,500 feet (1371.6 meters)
      Mega-Damage: Single shot does 1D6 and 40 round burst does 1D4x10.
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner (commander).
      Payload: 600 rounds (15 bursts).
   2. 10 millimeter GSR-10 Heavy Railgun: The Soviet military was unable to make an effective liquid propellant weapon and instead developed, some say stole, a rail gun design for their existing vehicles.
      Maximum Effective Range: 4,920 feet (1,500 meters)
      Mega Damage: Single shot does 2D4 and 20 round burst does 1D6x10+10
      Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner
      Payload: 1,000 rounds (50 bursts).
4. Bow Mounted ATR-50 Automatic Grenade Launcher: Weapon is very similar to the WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher produced by Wellington Industries and the American Automatic Grenade Launcher operated around the same time but uses a larger grenade and is heavier in design. Weapon was used in vehicles as well as being used in tripod mounts and used by power armors. Weapon can fire single shot or bursts of ten rounds and can inflict heavy damage when burst fired. Unlike the American design, the Soviet automatic grenade launcher only used belts. The Armored Vehicle normally mounted three belts together to increase number of rounds to 600 rounds. Weapon is mounted in the bow of the armored vehicle. Weapon is controlled from inside the vehicle.
   Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
   Mega-Damage: 3D6 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 12 ft and 5D6 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 3 ft, burst of 10 rounds does 2D4x10 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 40 ft and 2D6x10 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 8 ft. Other special rounds are available.
   Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of gunner (Driver) - Single Shot or Ten round bursts.
   Payload: 600 Round Triple Belt.
5. Firing Ports (2): The BMD-6 has two firing ports that allow soldiers in the troop bay to fire their guns out of the vehicle with one on either side. Firing ports can be closed in order to make the vehicle a sealed environment. Firing ports are fairly small and grenade launchers and missile launchers cannot be fired from firing ports.
6. Turret Mounted Mini-missile Launcher (2): Mounted on the turret on of the Airborne Combat Vehicle are mini missile launchers. These launchers are designed for rapid fire use to engage heavy tanks and giant robots. These weapons are designed to be able to destroy enemy vehicles quickly. Smoke warheads are often carried for special purpose uses. Weapon is mainly controlled by the tanks gunner but the pilot also has controls.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini-missile type; Usually armor piercing or fragmentation are carried (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega Damage: Varies with mini-missile type; Usually armor piercing or fragmentation are carried (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time, or in volleys of 2 or 4.
   Payload: Each launcher carries 8 mini-missiles for a total of 16 Mini-missiles.
7. Multi-Option "Shtora-8" Jammers (2): These are multi-purpose jamming devices designed to stop incoming missiles and confuse an enemy targeting the BMD-6.
   Effect: Each firing launches two Chaff rockets, two Flare rockets, and the tank begins emitting a large cloud of smoke, both standard and Anti-Laser Prismatic aerosol ; The Chaff rockets detonate and spread Chaff over the area, the flare rockets floating down by parachute; Effects last for one minute (4 Melee rounds.) The Chaff rockets have a 20% chance of interfering with the course of enemy missiles each (40%, total) that are radar guided so that they miss the tank. The flares have the same percentages, except with IR-guided missiles. The Anti-Laser prismatic aerosol reduces damage by half for any laser beam striking the tank (With the exception of X-ray lasers but not variable frequency lasers; X-Ray lasers suffer no damage modifiers, and variable frequency lasers simply cannot compensate for the variables involved), and adds a +4 difficulty to targeting the tank with a laser guidance system or visually.
   Rate of Fire: Usually once every four melee rounds; Effects are not cumulative.
   Maximum Effective Range: Around tank only; Rough distance of 80 ft (24 m) around tank.
   Payload: Sufficient for ten firings; One of each type of jamming option from each side of the vehicle.

Sensors:

• Anti-Aircraft Radar: Range of 10 miles (16 km); Capable of tracking up to 10 targets simultaneously, this radar serves to guide the top weapon mount in engaging aircraft (+2 to targeting aircraft and missiles with the top weapon mount), and providing early warning of incoming aircraft and missile attacks; The radar can be programmed to shut off immediately if it detects an aircraft firing a missile, incase the missile is a radar-homing HARM type. The radar is highly ineffective against ground targets (-60% to sensor rolls.)
• Data-interlink transmitters: For using targeting data from scout vehicles for firing the Anti-Tank missiles or Sabot rounds. Bonus varies on the quality of the data being provided, but all data would allow the tank to fire over obstacles if the scout vehicle is in the right position. The normal effective battlefield range is 5 miles (8 km).
• Full Infrared viewing mode: range of 2 miles (3.2 km), with IR searchlight (+3 to detecting targets with IR when in use, however, +3 to detecting the BMD-6 with IR equipment when in use, as well.).
• Two Periscopes: Has up to x100 magnification for commander and driver to view out of while maneuvering the vehicle. Visual targeting sight with same magnification possible for gunner.
• Laser targeting system for main gun: range of 2,000 meters.

The armored vehicle is fully NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protected, and all equipment is hardened against EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse).

[New Navy, New Sovietskiy, and TRIAX are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]
[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

Initial Concepts by Marina O'Leary (LusankyaN@aol.com ).

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

Copyright 2003, Kitsune. All rights reserved.