Basic Information

Name

BTR-80A Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Designation

BTR-80A

Alternate Designation

BTR-80A

Equipment Type

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Manufacturer

Arzamas Machine-Building Plant

Date of Introduction

1993

Description

The BTR-80 has evolved into the BTR-80A. In 1993, the Tula design bureau finished the development of a new turret similar to that on the German Marder APC, mounting a 30-mm 2A42 (BMP-2) automatic gun, coax 7.62-mm MG and TNP-3 day/night sights. This vehicle is in prototype and offered for export. The drop-in gun/turret package (Modular Weapon System) is offered for export, to upgrade a wide variety of vehicles to BTR-80A standard. BTR-80A can mount K1-126 bullet-resistant tires. On the BTR-80A and BTR-80S, the standard BTR-80 turret is replaced with a modular armaments system. The BTR-80A is fitted with a 30 mm 2A72 automatic gun and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun.

Ground Specifications

Crew 2

Engine Water-cooled, V8 Diesel (240 hp)

Variants

BTR-80 (GAZ-5903) Original w/ 3 firing ports on each side & smoke grenade launchers.

BTR-80A (GAZ-59034 Stabilized turret w/ 2A72 gun, 7.62-mm coax MG, & new right side firing port.

BTR-80AK BTR-80A CP variant with 1 firing port on right side and 2 whip antennas at rear corners.

BTR-80K (GAZ-59031) Command Post for 6; different turret w/ MGs & 3 radios (R-173, R-173P & R-159).

BTR-80 Kushetka-B (M1989/1) Command vehicle with additional communications gear & gun removed.

BTR-80 PBKM (KM-80) Command vehicle with increased radio communications equipment.

BTR-805 Modular turret armaments system (14.5-mm KPVT MG) & better fire control/sights.

BTR-80 with Cummins Diesel Western Cummins 6CTA 8.3-C250 diesel engine test model; road speed to 100 km/h and range to 600 km.

BTR-82/BTR-82A (Russia & Kazakhstan) Latest version; see separate WEG sheet.

BTR-80UP (Ukraine) BTR-80 with 300hp engine improved armor protection & air conditioning.

BTR-80UP-KB (Ukraine) Battalion level command vehicle.

BTR-80UP-KR (Ukraine) Company level command vehicle.

BTR-80UP-S (Ukraine) Staff Vehicle.

BTR-80UP-M (Ukraine) Battlefield Ambulance.

BTR-80UP-BREM (Ukraine) ARV.

BTR-80UP-R (Ukraine) Dedicated reconnaissance vehicle.

BTR-80UP-T (Ukraine) Dedicated cargo transport variant.

KShM Kushetka-B (Ukraine) Command vehicle based upon the K1Sh1.

BTR-94 (Ukraine) Amphibious armored car with twin 23-mm 2A7M guns (same guns as the ZSU-23-4).

BTR-3U/Okhotnik (Guardian) (Ukraine) 2001 BTR-94 upgrade w/ Shkval 1man turret w/ 30-mm gun, twin AT-5 ATGM launchers, 30-mm AGL, & a 7.62-mm MG. Jordanian version uses twin 23-mm gun & donated to the new Iraqi armed forces.

BTR-3E1 (Ukraine) Export BTR-3U with the Shturm turret; 30-mm ZTM cannon, a 40mm AGL, & a 7.62-mm MG & a twin Barrier ATGM system.

BTR-4 (Ukraine) Soldiers enter & leave the vehicle through rear doors; Grom overhead weapons station with 30-mm automatic cannon, 7.62mm coax MG, & up to 4 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer ATGM missiles, & 1 30-mm AGL.

BTR-80 GKKO (Hungary) Proposed vehicle with additional observation equipment, but no turret.

BTR-80M (Hungary) 1993 Improvement with 240-hp DMZ-238M2 series engine.

BTR-80 MPAEJ (Hungary) Battlefield engineer variant without turret.

BTR-80 MPFJ (Hungary) Obstacle clearance vehicle without armament.

BTR-80 MVJ (Hungary) ARV.

BTR-80 SKJ (Hungary) Battlefield ambulance variant with enlarged passenger compartment.

BTR-80 VSV (Hungary) NBC reconnaissance vehicle.

TAB Zimbru (B33)(Romania) BTR-80 w/268hp Model 1240 V8-DTS engine, Romanian radios, & more 12.7-mm ammo storage space.

Zimbru 2000 (Romania) Proposed improved TAB Zimbru with enlarged hull & 285-hp engine.

Saur 1 (Romania) 2006 prototype with 275hp Cummins engine, rear entry/exit doors & new turret.

Saur 2 (Romania) Improved Saur 1 prototype.

BTR-80 "Caribe" (Columbia) Colombian designation for BTR-80 with 12.7mm machine gun.

Kliver Turret System Prototype with the Kliver turret (see separate entry).

ZS-96 PSYOP variant w/ loudspeakers.

ZS-88 Loudspeakers for PSYOP operations and riot control.

“Tajfun” Prototype proposed for base security forces with a 7.62mm MG & the Kredo-1 radar.

UNSh Standardized name for expanded chassis, but called Kusheta-B, ACRV, & BM.

SPR-2 Wide Band Jamming System Turretless w/ large telescopic antenna to neutralize artillery shells with proximity fuses.

RKhM-4-02 Upgraded RKhM-4 NBC reconnaissance vehicle.

RKhM-4-01 Improved/modernized RKhM4 NBC vehicle.

RKhM-4 NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle Outfitted with NBC equipment.

RPM-2 (NKR) Radiological Reconnaissance Vehicle that first appeared in 2000.

R-439-MD2 Satellite communications vehicle.

R-439-BK1 Improved R-439-BK satellite communications vehicle.

R-439-BK (Legenda 2BK) Satellite communications vehicle.

R-165B Short-wave signal/ communications vehicle.

R-149BM4A Command and Signal Vehicle.

R-149BMR Signal/Communications vehicle.

PU-12M7 (9S482MU) Improved PU-12M6 FA battery command vehicle.

PU-12M6 (9S482M6) Field Artillery (FA) battery command vehicle.

P-240BTZ Switchboard platform.

K1Sh1 (GAZ-59032) (UNSH) Command Post with enlarged hull w/o turret armament.

E-351BrM Mobile power station with diesel/electric generator.

BREM-K (GAZ-59033) ARV Armored recovery vehicle with A-frame, tow bars, & stabilizers.

BMM-80 (GAZ-59039 or Simfoniya) Battlefield ambulance for 9 sitting or 2 litter patients.

BMM-3 Battlefield ambulance used as a mobile field hospital.

BMM-2 Battlefield ambulance for use at the battalion level for field treatment.

BMM-1 Battlefield ambulance for first aid & MEDVAC operations.

BMM Medical series; BMM-1 (ambulance), BMM-2 (Bn Aid Stn), & BMM-3 (Bde Aid Stn).

2S23 (Nona-SVK) SP GunMortar System (Fire Support Vehicle) Breach-loaded 2A60 120-mm rifled mortar/gun system similar to the 2S9.

BTR-80 R-975 Forward air control vehicle.

BTR-80 1V152 Artillery C2 & forward observation vehicle w/ range finding, navigation & new optics.

System

Alternative Designation BTR-80A

Type Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Configuration 8x8

Manufacturer Arzamas Machine-Building Plant, Nizhniy Novgorod

Crew 2 ea

Personnel 8 ea

Note Soldiers enter and leave the vehicle through side doors or roof hatches. Passengers can fire their individual weapons from inside the armored hull. Each passenger is provided with firing port and periscope for aiming.

Dimensions

Length 7.65 m

Width 2.95 m

Height 2.8 m

Wheelbase 4.40 m

Track 2.41 m

Weight, Combat 14,550 kg

Ground Clearance 0.475 m

Automotive

Engine Name YaMZ-238M2

Engine Type Water-cooled, V8 Diesel

Engine Power 240 hp

Power-to-Weight Ratio 17.9 hp/t

Fuel Capacity 300 liters

Electrical System 24 V

Suspension torsion bar with hydraulic shock-absorbers

Tires 11.50 × 400–457 (tubeless)

Range, Cruising 600 km

Speed, Maximum Road 90 km/h

Speed, Maximum Off-Road 60 km/h

Speed, Maximum Swim 10 km/h

Angle of Approach 40°

Angle of Departure 30°

Gradient 60%

Side Slope 40%

Vertical Step 0.5 m

Trench 2.0 m

Fording Depth Amphibious

Turning Radius INA

Note Vehicle can be fitted with run-flat tyres. Once fitted with these tyres this APC can travel several thousand kilometers with multiple tyre shots and absence of pressure in the tyres. Furthermore this APC can travel with any two if its wheels missing. Mobility of this armored vehicle allows to operate alongside tanks, though it looses in terms of off-road performance to tracked armored personnel carriers.

Communications

Primary R-173

Secondary R-163

Intercome R-174

Main Weapons System

System

Name 1 x 2A72, 30mm Autocannon

Type Autocannon

Caliber 30 mm

Maximum Elevation +70 deg

Minimum Elevation -5 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Max Rate of Fire 330 rds/min

Maximum Effective Firing Range (Air Targets) 4 km

Maximum Effective Firing Range (Ground Targets) 2 km

Maximum Effective Firing Range (Light Armor Vehicles) 1.5 km

Loader Type Dual-belt feed

Fire on the Move Yes

Firing Modes single shot, 10-round burst, or automatic mode.

Ammunition

Name 3UBR8

Type 195 AP rounds

Caliber 30 mm

Cartridge 30mm × 165mm

Muzzle Velocity 1,120 m/s

Penetrator Type tungsten alloy sub-calibre penetrator

Penetration can defeat 28 mm of RHA set at a 60° angle from a range of 1,000 m

Note A sub-caliber discarding sabot. No tracer. Penetration: 25mm RHA at flat angle of impact, 1500 m range 25mm thick plate at 60 degree impact, 1500 m

Basic Load 300 ea

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 1 x PKT (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun) 7.62mm General-Purpose Machine Gun

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Function In use as a front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia's armed forces.

In Service 1961-present

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

Proliferation 1 Million +

Length, Total 1,203 mm

Length, Barrel 605 mm

Weight (Gun Only) 9 kg

Weight (Tripod Only) 7.7 kg

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

Feed System Non-disintegrating metal 50 round belts in 100 and 200/250 round ammunition boxes

Effective Firing Range (With Sight Adjustments) 100-1,500 m

Sights Iron Sights

Ammunition

Name 57-N-323S

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR km

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 90 mm

Basic Load 2,000 ea

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS INA

Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander Yes

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Gunner Day Sights 1P3-6, 1.2x/4x

Main Gun Stabilization Yes

Infrared Searchlight OU-3GA2M

Protection

Hull Armor Front armor of the BTR-80A APC protects against 12.7 mm rounds. All-round protection is against 7.62 mm rounds and artillery shell splinters.

Turret Armor Protection against 12.7mm and shrapnel

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor INA

Active Protection System INA

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade INA

NBC Protection Yes, Collective

Smoke Equipment 6 x 81mm smoke grenade dischargers are fitted to the turret.

Image Sources

Notes https://dnmodels.com/all/btr-80a-trumpeter/; https://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/1040466;