Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blagonravov

Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blagonravov
Born	(1933-05-24)24 May 1933 Moscow, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Died	1 January 2020(2020-01-01) (aged 86) Kurgan, Kurgan Oblast, Russian Federation
Resting place	Ketovo Cemetery, Ketovo, Kurgan Oblast, Russia
Nationality	Soviet Union Russia
Education	Military Academy of the Armoured Forces
Occupation	Engineer
Parent	Aleksandr Ivanovich Blagonravov
Engineering career
Discipline	Military engineering Armoured vehicle design
Employer(s)	Kurganmashzavod
Projects	BMP-2 BMP-3
Awards

Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blagonravov (Russian: Александр Александрович Благонравов; 24 May 1933 – 1 January 2020) was a Soviet and Russian military engineer and designer who worked on the designs of armoured vehicles. Major general of Engineering and Technical Service (1982).

Born the son of a military engineer who worked on tank designs during the time of the Second World War, Blagonravov followed in his father's footsteps. After studying at the Military Academy of the Armoured Forces, he began a long association with the academic study of problems relating to mechanised military vehicles. He taught and researched at the academy after graduation, and also served briefly as a deputy battalion commander in the 4th Guards Tank Division. He left the academy in 1974, taking up the position of chief designer at Kurganmashzavod, a state enterprise that designed and produced infantry fighting vehicles. Under his leadership the designs of the BMP-2 and BMP-3 were brought to fruition, entering service with the Soviet Armed Forces.

Stepping down as chief designer in 1989, Blagonravov continued to live and work in Kurgan, teaching at Kurgan State University and producing a number of academic works. Over his career he had received awards from the Soviet and Russian governments, including the Order of Honour, the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, and the Medal "For Battle Merit". He was a Doctor of Technical Sciences.