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.

He taught and researched at the academy after graduation, and also served briefly as a deputy battalion commander in the 4th Guards Tank Division.

[1] He was the son of Aleksandr Ivanovich Blagonravov, a military engineer who worked on the T-34 and IS-2 tank designs, and had been awarded the Stalin Prize.

[3] From 1957 to 1961 he was a junior research fellow at the Academy, and then from 1961 to 1962 was a deputy battalion commander in the 4th Guards Tank Division, based in the city of Naro-Fominsk.

[1] Blagonravov served as Kurganmashzavod's chief designer until 1989, and in retirement continued to participate in academic work and engineering studies.

[1] After 1989 he spent ten years as Head of the Department of Tracked Vehicles at Kurgan State University.