MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Iraq plans to acquire 500 and Saudi Arabia 950 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles from Russia, Albert Bakov, first vice president and co-owner of the Tractor Works Concern, the manufacturer of these machines, told TASS today.

"We’ve got an application for 500 BMP-3s from Iraq and for 950 from Saudi Arabia," the interlocutor told the Agency.

He noted that there are no problems with orders, but a balance must be set between those for export and for the domestic market. "In 2016 we’ll start conveyor manufacturing to fulfill all the orders on time. However, the conveyor start-up calls for a lot of work in the component supply segment," Bakov added.

Previously it became known that before the end of 2017 the Russian Defense Ministry is due to receive over 200 new BMP-3s. In addition, there were reports that those combat machines might be purchased by Myanmar and Morocco planning to acquire small lots of 35 to 40 IFVs.

As per unclassified sources, the BMP-3s are in service with a number of countries, including Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Russia is currently fulfilling an order to upgrade 135 infantry fighting vehicles of the UAE. The work is expected to be completed early next year.