It was derived from the chassis of the Soviet BMP-1 but possessing a lengthened hull, a 12.7×108mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the troop compartment and MLI-84M having Oerlikon KBA autocannon and new ATGMs.

At the same time, it received permission to modify the construction in order to adapt it to its industry.

Since then, the Romanian Ministry of Defense spent around US$ 155 million to upgrade 99 vehicles for equipping three battalions.

Because of these modifications the length of the hull of the vehicle was increased by 60 centimeters to 7.335 meters, which in turn resulted in wider gaps between the roadwheels.

[1][3] The armament wasn't modified but a 12.7 mm DShK 1938/46 heavy machine gun was placed on a rotatable mount fitted on the left rear troop compartment roof hatch.