MLI-84

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MLI-84
MLI-84M during a training mission
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Romania
Production history
Number built	400
Variants	See Variants
Specifications (MLI-84M)
Weight	17,6 tonnes
Crew	4

Armor	Protects against 14,5mm caliber heavy machine gun fire
Primary armament	Oerlikon KBA 25mm autocannon
Secondary armament	9M14-2T Maljutka-2T or Spike anti-tank guided missiles
Engine	Caterpillar C9 396 hp (295 kW)
Power/weight	22.5 hp/tonne (16.8 kW/tonne)
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	700 km
Speed	90 km/h

The MLI-84 is a native-made Romanian infantry fighting vehicle currently in service with the Romanian Land Forces. It is basically a stock BMP-1 with a lengthened hull, and a 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the troop compartment.

1 History
2 Varriants
3 Operators
4 Features
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The decision of improving the old Soviet IFVs came in 1995. Since then, the Romanian Ministry of Defense spent over US$ 155 million for 99 vehicles.

[edit] Varriants

MLI-84 - Basic copy of BMP-1.^[1]
- MLI-84 Punct de Comanda Batalion - MLI-84 converted into a Battalion command vehicle with a large superstructure instead of the turret.^[1]
- MLI-84 Tractor Pentru Evacuare Tehnica - MLI-84 converted into an ARV with it's turret replaced by a large three-section hydraulic crane controlled from outside the vehicle, winching frame mounted on the rear of the top of the hull, stowage box on the left hand side of the rear of the top of the hull and two stowage boxes on the right hand side of the top of the hull.^[1]
- MLI-84 Vehicul de Evacuare Medicala - MLI-84 converted into an armoured ambulance.^[1]
- MLI-84M - Improved MLI-84 with a new overhead mount turret mounting 25 mm Oerlikon KBA autocannon, as well as two banks of four smoke grenade launchers. It also has a more powerful 396 hp (295 kW) Caterpillar C9 engine, which is the same engine as the one found in recently acquired MOWAG Piranha III IFVs by the Romanian Land Forces.^[1] The 9S415 ATGM launcher capable of firing 9M14 Malyutka and 9M14M Malyutka-M also has been replaced and there are two different ATGM launchers replacing it:
  - MLI-84M armed with ATGM launcher capable of firing Yugoslavian 9M14-2T Maljutka-2T antitank guided missiles instead of the 9M14 Malyutka.^[1]
  - MLI-84M armed with ATGM launcher capable of firing Israeli Spike antitank guided missiles instead of the 9M14 Malyutka.^[1]

[edit] Operators

Romania - Romanian Ground Forces operate 400 MLI-84 IFVs of which 99 were upgraded to MLI-84M standard. Those 99 vehicles are operated by the 282nd Mechanized Brigade.