Basic Information

Name

BTR-ZD Russian Airborne 23mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun

Designation

BTR-ZD

Alternate Designation

BTR-ZD

Equipment Type

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Manufacturer

Volgograd Tractor Plant

Date of Introduction

1981

Description

The BTR-ZD is an airborne armored personnel carrier that carries two teams with man-portable air defense missiles. BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (ZD stands for zenitnaya ustanovka) – BTR-D converted into an airborne air defense vehicle for carrying two MANPAD teams. The vehicle is fitted with racks for spare MANPAD missiles. It also is fitted with external stowage rails for a MANPAD on the right-hand side of the roof of the troop compartment. It can also carry a complete ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon mount on the roof of the troop compartment

Ground Specifications

Crew 12

Main Weapon ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon

Engine Diesel (240 hp)

Active Protection None

NBC Protection Yes

Variants

BTR-DG (Ob'yekt 925G) Cargo variant without bow machine guns, firing ports and periscopes. The troop compartment was modified to serve as a cargo compartment.

BTR-DG converted into an airborne SPAAG fitted with a specially built three-legged ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon mount over the roof of the cargo compartment.

BTR-D San BTR-D converted into an airborne armoured ambulance.

BREM-D (BREM-D stands for bronirovannaya remonto-evakuatsionnaya mashina desanta – armored maintenance-recovery vehicle of the airborne) (Ob'yekt 932) – BTR-D converted into an airborne ARV. It carries specialized equipment for the repair and recovery of BMD-1 type vehicles. This equipment includes a light collapsible crane stored on the roof of the personnel compartment, which can be traversed through 180°, a recovery winch, a combination spade, and dozer blade, a generator, towing equipment, electric welding system, tools, and ready use spares. One of the 7.62 mm bow PKT tank machine guns was eliminated. This entered service in 1989 in very small numbers.

BTR-RD "Robot" BTR-D converted into an airborne ATGM team carrier with two 9P135M-1 ATGM launchers capable of firing 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel), 9M113M "Konkurs-M" (AT-5B Spandrel B), 9M111 "Fagot" (AT-4 Spigot), and 9M111-2 "Fagot" (AT-4B Spigot B) ATGMs. They can be used by the dismounted ATGM squad or fitted on a pintle mount on the right side of the hull. This is basically a BTR-D with a pintle mount added and with missile racks inside the troop compartment

BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (ZD stands for zenitnaya ustanovka) – BTR-D converted into an airborne air defense vehicle for carrying two MANPAD teams. The vehicle is fitted with racks for spare MANPAD missiles. It also is fitted with external stowage rails for a MANPAD on the right-hand side of the roof of the troop compartment. It can also carry a complete ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon mount on the roof of the troop compartment.

NPDU "Sterkh" (NPDU stands for nazemnyj punkt distantsionnogo upravleniya) – BTR-D converted into an airborne unmanned aerial vehicle carrier and launch vehicle of the "Stroy-P" set. It is used to launch Yak-061 "Pchela-1T" UAV for reconnaissance or jamming at ranges up to 60 km. The single-rail launcher is mounted on the left-hand side of the roof of the hull. It has a large three-piece tube on the forward right-hand side of the roof of the hull. It entered service in 1990

BMD-1KSh "Soroka" (Ob'yekt 926) (KSh stands for komandno-shtabnaya – command and staff) – airborne command post equipped with the R-123M, R-111, and R-130M or R-134 radio sets, as well as an AB1 portable 1 kW generator, the TNA-3 navigation system, folding CLOTHES HORSE type antennae around the superstructure, and two slim antenna masts. Bow mounted machine guns and firing ports were removed. The commander's hatch is offset to the left and does not project forward. It's sometimes called BMD-KSh or KShM-D.

BMD-1R "Sinitsa" (R stands for radiostantsiya – signals vehicle) – Division-level command and signals vehicle equipped with R-161A2M radio set, one heavy telescopic antenna mast stowed along the left-hand side of the roof of the hull, and one slim elevatable antenna mast on the rear right-hand side of the roof of the personnel compartment. Only a small number was delivered.

R-440-ODB "Kristall-BDS" BTR-D converted into an airborne satellite communications vehicle with R-440 system with a range of 15,000 km. The vehicle has a roof-mounted satellite dish AK-12 that is covered with a cage-like structure during transport.

1V119 "Reostat" BTR-D converted into an airborne artillery battalion fire direction vehicle. The vehicle is fitted with a turret equipped with NNP-21 and V-7 observation devices, three R-173 and R-159 radio sets, PAB-2AM aiming circle, three antennae mounts, DSP-30, and DAK-2 rangefinders. The turret was also equipped with PSNR-5K (1RL-133-1) "Tall Mike" ground surveillance radar mounted on the roof of the turret. Located over the turret front sights were the visors hinged in the center

2S9 Nona-S (Ob'yekt 925S) – Airborne self-propelled mortar, armed with a 120 mm 2A60 mortar. Entered service 1981.

System

Alternative Designation BTR-ZD

Type Airborne APC/23 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

Manufacturer Volgograd Tractor Factory

Family BTR

In Service 1980-Present

Crew 12 ea

Dimensions

Length 5.88 m

Width 2.63 m

Height 2.0 m

Weight, Combat 8.0 tons

Ground Pressure INA

Automotive

Engine Name 5D20 V6 Diesel

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 240 hp

Cruising Range 500 km

Speed, Maximum Road 62 km/h

Speed, Average Cross INA

Speed Maximum Swim 10 km/h

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 30 %

Vertical Step 0.7 m

Trench 2.0 m

Fording Depth Amphibious

Main Weapon System

Note #1 This air defense gun has only simple sights.

Note #2 The vehicle has racks for shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles. Usually, three missiles are carried.

System

Name 1 x ZU-23-2 (ZU-23) 23mm Anti-Aircraft Twin-Barreled Autocannon

Type Anti-Aircraft Twin-Barreled Autocannon

Caliber 23 mm

Manufacturer KBP Instrument Design Bureau

In Service 1960-Present

Proliferation Widely Proliferated

Number of Barrels 2 ea

Length 4.57 m

Barrel Length 2.008 m

Width 2.88 m

Height 1.22 m

Weight 0.95 tonnes

Crew 2 -- gunner and commander

Action Gas operated

Maximum Elevation +90 deg

Minimum Elevation -10 deg

Traverse Range 360 deg

Traverse Left 180 deg

Traverse Right 180 deg

Rate of Fire 2000 rpm cyclic, 400 rpm practical

Effective Firing Range 2.5 km

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 23 mm

Cartridge 23x152mmB

Muzzle Velocity INA

Baslic Load INA

Secondary Weapon System

Note The BTR-ZD carries two 7.62 mm machine guns, mounted in front of the hull and are operated by the troops.

System

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

Type General-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

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

In Service 1961-Present

Proliferation +1 Million

Length 1,203 mm

Barrel Length 605 mm

Weight, Gun Only 9 kg

Weight, Tripod Only 7.7 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

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

Sights Iron Sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR km

Basic Load 2,000 ea

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS No, This air defense gun has only simple sights.

Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander Yes

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Main Gun Stabilization INA

Protection

Hull Armor Aluminum armor hull, which protects against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.

Turret Armor INA

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor No

Active Protection System No

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment INA

IR Signature INA

Firing Ports all-round firing ports

Image Sources

Notes http://army-news.ru/2013/05/kpv-krupnokalibernyj-pulemyot-vladimirova/; https://forums.kitmaker.net/t/btr-skrezhet-ukraine-2022/25198;