MLI-84

MLI-84
MLI-84M on the Romanian National Day parade at the Triumph Arch in Bucharest, 1 December 2008.
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Romania
Service history
In service	1985–present
Used by	Socialist Republic of Romania
Wars	none
Production history
Designed	1982–1985
Produced	1985–1991 (MLI-84) 1995–present (MLI-84M)
No. built	178
Variants	See Variants
Specifications (MLI-84M )
Weight	17.6 tonnes
Length	7.335 m
Width	3.3 m
Height	2.942 m
Crew	3 (commander, driver and gunner) + 8 troops
Armor	Protects against 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun fire
Main armament	MLI-84: 73 mm 2A28 Grom cannon MLI-84M: 25 mm Oerlikon KBA
Secondary armament	MLI-84: 9S415 ATGM launcher 1 × 12.7×108mm DShK 1938/46 Heavy machine gun MLI-84M: 9M14-2T "Maljutka-2T" or Spike ATGM
Engine	MLI-84:Romanian 8-cylinder-1240-DT-S MLI-84M:Caterpillar C9 MLI-84:355 hp (265 kW) MLI-84M: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
Fuel capacity	620 l
Operational range	550–600 km
Speed	65 km/h

The MLI-84 is a tracked Romanian armored personnel carrier currently in service with the Romanian Land Forces. It was derived from the chassis of the Soviet BMP-1 but possessed a lengthened hull and a 12.7×108mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the troop compartment.

In 1982 Romania purchased a license to produce 178 BMP-1 IFVs from USSR. At the same time it received permission to modify the construction in order to adapt it to its industry.

The decision of improving the old Soviet IFVs came in 1995. As a result of Romanian-Israeli cooperation project the new modernized MLI-84M variant was created. Since then, the Romanian Ministry of Defense spent over US$ 155 million to upgrade 99 vehicles.

The most important improvement in the MLI-84 was the replacement of the UTD-20 (a 6-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped airless-injection water-cooled multifuel 15.8-litre diesel engine) with the 8V-1240-DT-S 8-cylinder 4-stroke V-shaped liquid-cooled diesel engine developed in Romania. The new engine is more powerful as it develops 355 hp (265 kW) but it is heavier and bigger and because of that the engine compartment had to be rebuilt in order to fit the new engine. The fuel capacity was increased to 600 liters. Because of these modifications the length of the hull of the vehicle was increased by 60 cm (7.335 m) 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.

The armament wasn't modified but a 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 anti-aircraft 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.

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.

MLI-84 production began in 1985 and 178 vehicles were produced until 1991.

MLI-84M1 at National Day Parade, 2009

MLI-84M1 at National Day Parade, 2010