BTR-80


The BTR-80 is an 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. It was adopted in 1985 and replaced the previous vehicles, the BTR-60 and BTR-70, in the Soviet Army. It was first deployed during the Soviet–Afghan War.
The BTR-80 was developed into the larger BTR-90 in the early 1990s.

Description

The BTR-80 is based on the BTR-70 APC, which itself was based on the BTR-60. It has a single 260-hp V-8 turbocharged water-cooled diesel engine, an improvement over the twin gasoline engines installed in the BTR-60 and BTR-70 vehicles. The reconfigured rear portion of the hull accommodates the new, single engine. The Soviets removed the roof chamfers of the modified BTR-70, raised the rear, and squared off the rearward-sloping engine compartment.
Standard equipment includes TNPO vision blocks, TNP-B and TKN-3 optical devices for the driver and commander, an OU-3GA2M infrared search light, six 81 mm smoke grenade launchers 902V "Tucha", a radioset, an intercom, and hydrojets for amphibious propulsion.

Capabilities

The Soviets modified the truncated cone turret used on the BTR-70 for the BTR-80 by redesigning the mantlet. This allows the KPVT and coaxial PKT machine guns to be elevated to a maximum of 60 degrees. This high angle of fire is useful in engaging targets on steep slopes, in urban fighting, and for engaging low slow flying air targets.
The Soviets modified the design and positioning of the firing ports. The ports are now round rather than tear-shaped, and have ball mounts similar to those used on the BMP-1. The forward firing ports now sit in angled recesses, which allows infantry to fire to the front of the vehicle.
The redesigned side doors are split horizontally. The upper portion opens forward. This gives dismounting troops some protection against small arms fire from the front of the vehicle. The lower portion opens down, forming a step. Six smoke grenade projectors are mounted on the rear of the turret.
The BTR-80 can climb a slope with up to 60% gradient and climb a vertical step of 0.5 m.

Protection

The BTR-80's protection is similar to that of prior models, intended only to provide protection from small arms ball ammo and small bomb splinters all-around. However it has minor armor upgrades: the front and sides of the hull were thickened from 7 mm to 9 mm. Its armor scheme in high-hardness steel is as follows:
  • Turret front and sides: 9 mm at 45 degrees
  • Upper hull front: 9 mm at 64 degrees
  • Lower hull front: 9 mm at 45 degrees
  • Upper and lower hull sides: 9 mm at ~25 degrees
  • Turret rear: 7 mm at 45 degrees
  • Hull rear and roof: 7 mm, vertical

    Remakes

In 1984, the Soviets began production of a diesel-engined variant of the BTR-70, which they called the BTR-80. The Soviets have retrofitted some BTR-70s with several of the improvements incorporated into the BTR-80, including the high-angle-of-fire turret. The twin doors are designed to allow the infantry to disembark while the vehicle is in motion, and allow the infantry inside to exit from one side if the other is receiving fire.
The 30mm autocannon used on IFV variants are effective against most targets apart from main battle tanks, against which they can still cause significant damage to optics, weapons, and important systems. The main gun is not stabilized, so accurate fire on the move is limited to low speeds. The turret's rotation mechanism is manually operated.
The gunner sits in a roof-mounted chair located above the flat floor behind the driver/commander and two passengers, and before the passenger bench.

Variants

Russia

  • BTR-80 – armored personnel carrier.
  • * BTR-80K – command vehicle APC with telescopic antenna mast, TNA-4 navigation device and R-163-50У series of radio equipment.
  • * BTR-80M – an improved model with a 240 hp DMZ-238M2 engine, a slightly longer hull and new tires. In production since 1993. It is understood that only a small number were produced until the original engine was ready for production again.
  • BTR-80A – IFV with a 2A72 30 mm gun and 300 rounds as the primary weapon. The turret is called BPPU and is equipped with sights 1PZ-9 and TPN-3 or TPN-3-42 "Kristall". In production and service since 1994.
  • * BTR-80S – variant of the BTR-80A for the Internal Troops of the MVD, equipped with a KPVT 14.5-mm machine gun and 7.62 mm PKT in the turret.
  • * BTR-80AK – A command variant of the BTR-80A, with two whip antennas in the rear corners and with only one firing port on the right hull side.
  • ** BRDM-3 – An armoured reconnaissance/surveillance vehicle, based on the BTR-80AK and with a new day/night vision device in front of the commander's position. The crew consists of six men. In some Western sources, the name BRDM-3 is incorrectly used for the 9P148 ATGM carrier.
  • BTR-82 – the latest production version with improved armour, spall liners, more modern night vision device TKN-4GA, GLONASS navigation system and a more powerful 300 hp engine. The original armament is retained but is now installed in the BPPU turret of the BTR-80A/BTR-82A. The BTR-82 prototype was shown for the first time in November 2009.
  • * BTR-82A – the latest production version with improved armour, spall liners, a more modern night vision device TKN-4GA-02, 2A72 30 mm gun, GLONASS navigation system and a more powerful 300 hp engine. The prototype of the BTR-82A was shown for the first time in November 2009. The Russian Ministry of Defense adopted the BTR-82A in early 2013. In a Syrian government TV channel report, a BTR-82A was seen in battle in Syria around September 2015. The video showed BTR-82A crew members speaking Russian. It is widely believed that Russian armoured vehicle units were directly fighting anti-government groups in Syria. Russia integrated the AU-220M Baikal remote turret to the BTR-82A fitted with an autocannon firing the 57x348SR mm shells at 120 rpm. The type tests of the updated BTR-82A armored personnel carrier have successfully been completed as of April 2019. Since 2019, all vehicles of the type will receive additional protection and a new fire control system with a thermal imager. More ordered in August 2022. In July 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that the supplies of BTR-82A by Arzamas Machine-Building Plant had surged 4 times since early 2022. An upgraded version with enhanced ballistic and anti-mine protection was unveiled in August 2023.
  • * BTR-82AM – A refurbished BTR-80 to the level of BTR-82A. Distinguished by a closed embrasure in the frontal part of the vehicle. The first batch was delivered in 2013. Used by naval infantry.
  • * BTR-82AT – Upgraded BTR-82A featuring third-generation thermal imager for the gunner, enhancing target acquisition in low visibility conditions. It can also mount the Kornet ATGM, providing significant anti-armor capabilities. Enhanced with SLAT armor.
  • * BTR-87 – A modification of the BTR-82A that relocates the engine compartment to the front-right part of the hull, allowing troops to disembark through rear and roof hatches.
  • * BTR-82V – A BTR-80 with a hull upgraded to the BTR-82A-level with 14.5 mm heavy machine gun in a manned turret. Development in accordance with terms issued by the Russian National Guard.
  • 2S23 "Nona-SVK" – fire support vehicle with the 120 mm 2A60 rifled gun-mortar – developed on the base of 2А51 rifled gun/mortar of the 2S9 Nona – and a crew of 4. Adopted in 1990.
  • BREM-K – armoured recovery vehicle with towbars, a winch, welding equipment and a light crane.
  • KM-80 or BTR-80 PBKM – command vehicle.
  • RKhM-4 – NBC reconnaissance vehicle with detection devices including the IMD-21BA and DP-5V, an automatic chemical alarm system GSA-12, a detection set for chemical agents KPKhR-3, an MK-3M meteo set, a KPO-1 sampling device, an ASP automatic detector and a KZO-2 flag dispenser to mark contaminated areas.
  • * RKhM-4-01 – improved version with more modern equipment, including the GSA-13, IMD-1R, ASP-12 systems, a PGO-11 semi-automatic detection device, R-171M and R-173M radios instead of the older R-123M.
  • * RKhM-4-02 – with upgraded detection systems such as the ASP-13, IMD-2NM and IMD-23, GSA-14; analysis, storage and interface unit UIK-RKhB and T-235-1U COMSEC equipment.
  • * RKhM-6 "Povozka" – latest version with state-of-the-art detection systems, including the PRKhDD-2B with a detection range of about 3 km. The RKhM-6 is equipped with an SN-RKhM inertial navigation system and a 14Ts834 satellite navigation system. In service since 2011. Deployed to Syria in November 2018.
  • * RPM-2 – A mobile radiological reconnaissance station with KRPI system. In service since 2000. Might also be known as NKR.
  • R-149BMRA – command and signals vehicle.
  • R-145BM1 – 5th generation command and signals vehicle. Entered service in 2015.
  • R-439-BK1 – satellite communications vehicle.
  • "BPDM 15TS56M Typhoon M" – new version for the Strategic Rocket units, developed on the basis of the BTR-82 that will replace the base security vehicles MBP on BTR-60/70 chassis. Signal from the optoelectronic station displayed on liquid crystal screens; operator or commander can monitor the environment and attack the detected targets using the existing machine gun. The BTR-80 version is equipped with a new turret with a 7.62 mm machine gun, an Eleron-3SV unmanned aerial vehicle with a 5 km range, new optical and infrared bands observation device TKN-4S and a "Kredo-1" radar. In service since 2013. Around 70 vehicles were delivered in 2012–2020.
  • ZS-88 – PsyOps vehicle with loudspeaker set.
  • ZS-96 – PsyOps vehicle with loudspeaker set.
  • K1Sh1 – command post vehicle with bigger hull and unarmed turret. Also known as UNSh. This version serves as the basis for several specialised vehicles. Estonia used this type as an APC with a machine gun turret.
  • * BMM-80 "Simfoniya" – armoured ambulance, comes in three versions each of which can transport 9 patients, including two on stretchers on the rear hull :
  • ** BMM-1,
  • ** BMM-2 and
  • ** BMM-3.
  • * E-351BrM – mobile electric power station. The vehicle is equipped with an AD-30T/400 diesel-electric generator that can deliver power to up to 15 signals vehicles. It has a 2-men crew.
  • * PU-12M6 – battery command vehicle for air defence units equipped with "Strela-1M", "Strela-10M2, "Osa-AK", 2S6 "Tunguska" and ZSU-23-4 "Shilka".
  • ** PU-12M7 – improved version.
  • * 1V152 – command and forward observer vehicle for field artillery units. The standard equipment consists of range finders, day/night vision devices, navigation equipment etc. The 1V152 and 1V153 belong to the KSAUO "Kapustnik-B" set.
  • * R-149BMR – signals vehicle, equipped with R-168-100KA "Akveduk-100KA", R-168-100U, R-163-25U, R-163-10V, and R-163-1V "Arbalet" HF/VHF radio sets, AVSK intercom, P-338 video system, AD-3,5U-28,5 generator, ASh-4 telescopic mast, AZI NVIS HF antenna and ShDA-50 Discone-type antenna.
  • * R-149MA1 – command and signals vehicle.
  • * R-149MA3 – command and signals vehicle.
  • * R-165B – HF signals vehicle equipped with "Arbalet-500K", R-163-10V and -50, R-163-AR radios, R-016V "Vishnya" HF link equipment and an AB-4U-P28.5-1V generator. The radio sets have a declared range of 20–350 km on the move and 40–1,000 km deployed.
  • * R-439-MD2 – satellite communications vehicle.
  • * R-439-BK "Legenda 2BK" – satellite communications vehicle, operates within 3400-3900 MHz and 5725-6225 MHz ranges.
  • * P-240BTZ – switchboard vehicle with "Zenit" set. Planned successor for the BTR-60 based P-240BT.
  • "Infauna" – An electronic countermeasures variant created for the Airborne Troops. The VDV accepted the first four vehicles into active service in early July 2012 after completing field evaluation which started in early 2012. As of September 2016, it has been delivered to Armenia.
  • Mars-2000 – Reconnaissance combat vehicle based on the BTR-82.
  • '''BTR-90'''