Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blagonravov was a Soviet and later Russian military engineer and designer who worked on the designs of armoured vehicles. 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. Blagonravov 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 both 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".
From 1962 Blagonravov was back at the Military Academy of the Armoured Forces, serving as a senior researcher, and then senior lecturer, until 1974. In 1974 he was appointed chief designer at Kurganmashzavod, which specialised in producing lightly armoured vehicles, particularly infantry fighting vehicles. Blagonravov led the design of the enterprise's BMP-2 design, which entered general service with the Soviet Armed Forces in 1980. Alongside work to finalise the BMP-2 and bring it into mass production, Blagonravov and the team of designers at Kurganmashzavod began work on a next-generation version of the vehicle in 1976, which was finalised and entered service in 1987 as the BMP-3.
Retirement, studies and awards
Blagonravov served as Kurganmashzavod's chief designer until 1989, and in retirement continued to participate in academic work and engineering studies. He eventually authored some 140 printed works and four monographs. After 1989 he spent ten years as Head of the Department of Tracked Vehicles at Kurgan State University. He was a Doctor of Technical Sciences. Over his career he received numerous awards and honours. He was presented with the Order of Honour by the Russian Federation, while his Soviet awards included the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Medal "For Battle Merit". He was also given the title of, Honorary Citizen of the Order of the Red Banner of Labor of Kurgan in 2000, and. He had retired with the military rank of major general.
Death and funeral
Blagonravov died in Kurgan on 1 January 2020, at the age of 86. Condolences were offered by, the governor of Kurgan Oblast, and by, head of the city of Kurgan. A memorial ceremony was held on 6 January in the sports complex "Zauralets" in Kurgan. It was attended by some 300 people, including members of Kurganmashzavod and former members of the government of the Kurgan region, including ex-governor Oleg Bogomolov and his former deputy. Blagonravov was then interred in the village cemetery in Ketovo.
