18 BTR-70 APC, Former Soviet Union

BTR-80 APC Former Soviet Union

At first sight the BTR-80 resembles the earlier BTR-70 (previous entry) but there ate numerous differences. Although not immediately visible the main change is that the previous pair of petrol engines have been replaced by a single V-8 diesel unit producing 210 hp, although later models may have a 260 hp unit. Another change is that entry doors have been added each side to speed up troop entering and leaving although the doors mean that the number of troops carried is reduced to seven, although in greater comfort than on earlier models, The one-man turret has also been modified to allow the 14.5 mm heavy MG barrel to be fully elevated to engage aircraft and helicopters. There are many other detail changes on the BTR-80 series, including NBC agent sensor equipment to close the vehicle down automatically in the event of an NBC attack.

There is a specialised NBC reconnaissance variant of the BTR-80, known as the RkHM-4-01, fitted with specialised sensing, classification and warning equipment.

Another BTR-80 variant is a command vehicle while the 2S23 selfpropelled gun is a rather more involved model mounting a high-elevation 120 mm breech-loading mortar in an enlarged fully-traversable turret - the exact status of this model is uncertain but it has been offered for export sales,

The latest in the series to date is the BTR-80A which converts the usual APC into a wheeled IFY First shown in late 1994, the BTR-80Ahas yet to leave the prototype stage but has already been promoted for export sales with at least two engine pack options.

On the BTR-80A the turret is replaced by an external weapon station mounting a potent 30 mm cannon plus a 7.62 mm MG; the vehicle crew remains at two but the number of troops carried is eight. The weight of this model is increased to 14.55 tonnes but it remains fully amphibious, in common with all the other wheeled BTR series vehicles.

BTR-80 APC

Specification

Crew: 3 Seating: 7

Weight: (combat) 13,600kg Length: 7.65 m Width: 2.9m Height: 2.35m Ground clearance: 0.475 m Track: 2.41 m Max speed: (road) 80 km/h Fuel capacity: 290 litres Range: up to 600 km Fording: amphibious Vertical obstacle: 0.5m Engine: V-8 diesel Power output: 210 hp (pass 260 hp) Suspension: torsion bar Armament: 1 x 14.5 mm MG; l x 7 . 6 2 m m MG Variants: BTR-80AIFV, 2S23, RKhM-4-01 see also text The external 30 mm cannon marks this BTR-80 model as the BTR-80A.