BTR-80

History

The BTR-80 was a logical progression from the BTR family of wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs), which more or less peaked in the 1960s with the development of the BTR-60. The BTR-80 itself was intended to replace the BTR-60 and similar BTR-70 models, and entered production in 1986 and entered service soon after.

Drawing on lessons learned from the design and operation of the BTR-70, the BTR-80 combines several key advantages of its design, while bringing the diverse technology suite required in today's battlefield environment.

Beginning with the BTR-70, Soviet engineers did away with the twin gasoline engine configuration of the earlier BTR-60 and BTR-70 designs and instead installed a single V-shaped 8-cylinder KamAZ-7403 series diesel engine with 260 at 2,600 rpm horsepower. The unique eight-way axle arrangement is retained.

The implementation of the new powerplant required some reorganization of the rear engine bay, raising the rear fuselage line. Modern sights are installed (night vision for the driver and commander), as well as infrared searchlights. The weapon is mounted on a modified, low-profile one-man turret and is given 360-degree swivel and 60-plus-degree elevation to counter low-flying aircraft and engage targets, even when the vehicle stalls on sloping terrain.

Primary armament consists of a 14.5mm KPVT anti-aircraft heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm PKT general purpose machine gun.

The standard operator consists of a driver, commander and gunner, while in the modified fighting compartment up to eight combat-ready soldiers can be transported in relative safety. The driver and commander are located under the sloping plate at the front of the hull, while the gunner operates the powered turret system. Passengers can engage in specific firefights thanks to round firing ports with ball mounts on the sides (three on each side) and in the front of the hull.

The vehicle has an operating weight of approximately 15,000 kg, a travel length of 7.65 meters, a width of 2.90 meters and a height of 2.35 meters. All eight wheels get independent suspension and drive, with a range of 600 kilometers. Steering is assisted only on the front four wheels.

A centralized tire inflation system maintains the required levels for all eight wheel systems and is controlled by the driver to handle various terrains "on the fly".

The BTR-80 was designed with a degree of self-survival in mind, capable of remaining alive despite the loss of two of its eight wheels. Top speed is 80 km/h on smooth paved roads and lower on rough terrain. The BTR-80 is amphibious and can traverse relatively calm waters at speeds of about 9 kilometers per hour with its integrated waterjet propulsion system, without the need for external crew preparation. The new Nuclear Biochemical (NBC) suite and pressurized fighting compartment also protect the crew in the event of nuclear radiation and chemical weapons.

Six 81mm smoke grenade launchers are mounted on the rear of the turret for forward firing self-defense in combat environments. The armor is heavy enough to deflect or stop small arms fire and artillery jets, but is not specifically designed to withstand direct hits from larger caliber weapons, rockets or anti-tank missiles.

Troops exit/enter the BTR-80 hull through a separation door located on the side of the hull between the front and rear wheel pairs (between secondary and triaxial). Each door is split horizontally, with the upper half hinged forward and the lower half folded down to become steps capable of supporting the soldier's weight.

A third hatch section along the top of the fuselage can be similarly folded up (towards the centerline) to increase headroom and allow for quick insertion/removal.

In service, the BTR-80 has proven to be a winner for the Red Army, with off-road performance on par with any tracked vehicle system, while also delivering outstanding on-road performance. What it lacks in protection and firepower (not the power of its special design) it makes up for in maneuverability and speed.

Such is the success of the BTR-80, which is in service with various national militaries around the world, including Colombia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, North and South Korea, and more. The Ukrainians took the initiative to expand their BTR-80 series family to further improved home lines to support their mobile forces.

The BTR-80 has proven chassis height suitable for mounting different types of weapons (machine guns, cannons) and is flexible enough to be used in many desired battlefield roles, including command vehicles, battlefield ambulances, signal vehicles and mobile communication stations.

In 1993, a new YaMZ-238M2 engine was introduced to the BTR-80 line to further increase inherent capability. As of this writing, at least 5,000 BTR-80s are in service with 35 countries.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

500x14.5mm ammo.

2,000 x 7.62mm ammo.

6 x Smoke Grenade.

Changes