Uralvagonzavod confirms IMR-3M engineering vehicle deliveries to the Russian Ground Forces

Support assets often receive far less attention than the steady stream of kit heading to the Russian Ground Forces-especially tanks, armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. Even so, specialist vehicles for support roles remain crucial. That is underlined by one of Uralvagonzavod’s most recent shipments, in which the company confirmed the supply of new IMR-3M engineering vehicles.

IMR-3M engineering vehicles: role and platform

Like the earlier IMR-2, which was built on the T-72 chassis, the newer IMR-3 engineering vehicle is based on the T-90 tank platform. In a recent statement, Rostec set out its primary purpose as follows: ““… to clear a route through dense woodland, rocky formations and terrain covered in untouched snow. They are also able to create corridors through minefields, fill ditches, trenches and craters, fell trees and pull out stumps, dig out blocked exits from air-defence shelters, and carry out many other tasks””.

Engineering equipment fitted to the T-90-based chassis

To carry out these duties, the T-90 chassis has been specially modified and adapted to take a suite of engineering and combat-sapper equipment. This includes a universal dozer blade with hydraulic drive, as well as a telescopic boom fitted with a manipulator, a grab, a front shovel bucket and a backhoe bucket.

Adaptations for high-intensity combat, including drone protection

As has been observed, Russian engineering vehicles have also had to evolve for the high-intensity conflict in which they are employed in support of the Ground Forces. For that reason, the equipment described above has been supplemented with electronic warfare systems and additional protection against drones. Rostec did not, however, specify which particular systems were added.

Deliveries, orders and the 325th anniversary of Russia’s engineering troops

While the number of vehicles included in this early-year batch was not disclosed, it was stated that throughout 2025 the Russian Ground Forces received IMR-3M vehicles. The existence of orders for the current year was also confirmed, according to Russia’s Ministry of Defence.

These deliveries also carry clear symbolic weight, because Russia’s engineering troops are marking their 325th anniversary this year, tracing their origins back to the era of Peter I (Peter the Great).

““Russia’s engineering troops are celebrating their 325th anniversary this year. Even Peter I understood the importance of these units for achieving strategic success. Later, in the 19th century, they became established as an independent branch of the armed forces. During the Great Patriotic War, their role grew in the context of major offensives. Today, the UVZ concern, maintaining continuity, multiplies the glorious traditions of the engineering and design school and supplies the Russian Army not only with tanks and BMPT, but also with special-purpose armoured and engineering vehicles. We are seeing strong demand among the troops for our IMR-3M obstacle-clearing machines””, Uralvagonzavod’s press service said.

BMP-3M armoured vehicle deliveries in late 2025

Ahead of the IMR-3M engineering-vehicle shipment, it is also worth noting that in early December last year the Rostec group confirmed the delivery of BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles, which were equipped with ““… complete sets of additional multi-component protection, as well as electronic warfare systems””.

““The infantry fighting vehicles from ‘High-Precision Systems’ are the most numerous and in-demand equipment on the line of combat contact. Russian servicemen value this technology for its mobility, high firepower and ease of operation even under the most difficult conditions. A coordinated system for modernising equipment has been developed, as a result of which BMPs receive options that are highly sought after by the troops””, said Bekhan Ozdoev, industrial director of the state corporation Rostec’s armaments cluster and a member of the Bureau of the Union of Machine Builders of Russia.

Photographs: Rostec.

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