The BMP-1, introduced in 1967, was the Soviet Union's first true Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The vehicle had a very low profile, was amphibious, heavily armed, had an NBC protection system, and could carry eight infantrymen.

The commander's position was equipped with an infrared search light, and night vision equipment was provided for the driver and gunner.

The suspension comprised six unevenly spaced small road wheels, three track return rollers, a rear idler, and a front sprocket driven by a 300hp water-cooled diesel engine. It was propelled through the water with its tracks, and was stabilized by a trim vane on the front of the hull.

Eight infantryman could be carried in its troop compartment, and there were four firing ports in each side of the hull and two in the rear that would accomodate the infantry's rifles, with each position having 1x sighting periscopes.

The former East German Army had 1,112 BMP-1s in service, of which 763 were used temporarily by the Bundeswehr after the reunification and were designated BMP-1A1. The BMP-1s were all eventually replaced by the Marder 1 IFV.