BTR-80

   The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier is a successor to the BTR-70 APC. It's development began in the 1980s. Vehicle entered service with the Soviet Army in 1986. It's production commenced the same year. Recently it is in service with a number of countries. This vehicle was also extensively used in a number of military conflicts worldwide.

   The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier has the same arrangement as the BTR-70 and BTR-60PB APCs. Driving compartment is located at the front of the hull, troops are seated in the middle and engine is located at the rear. Driving position is located from the left side of the hull and commander is seated from the right. Troop compartment can be accessed through the side entry doors and roof hatches. The side entry doors were added to speed up dismounting, although a number of troops carried was reduced to seven.

   Vehicle has a welded hull. Front armor provides protection against 12.7-mm rounds, while all-round protection is against 7.62-mm rounds and artillery shell splinters. The BTR-80 has the same armament as the BTR-70. Vehicle is armed with a turret-mounted 14.5-mm heavy machine gun and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. This turret has been modified for better elevation angles to engage low flying air targets. The BTR-80 is also equipped with smoke grenade dischargers.

   There are seven firing ports provided for the occupants. Two of these ports are intended for light machine guns. Commander uses his own firing port. Troops can fire their weapons from inside the vehicle. This feature significantly increases overall firepower of the vehicle.

   The main improvement of the BTR-80 over it's predecessor is a single KamAZ V-8 diesel engine in stead of two petrols. Since 1993 vehicles were produced with the YaMZ-238M2 diesel, developing 240 hp (BTR-80M). Engine is completed in one block with transmission and gearbox.

   The BTR-80 APC has an 8x8 configuration, which is common to all BTR family of armored personnel carriers. The first two pairs of wheels are steering. A number of automotive components of the BTR-70 are compatible with the BTR-80. This armored personnel carrier is fitted with a central tyre inflation system. Vehicle can be fitted with run-flat tyres. Fitted with these tyres this APC can make several thousand kilometers with a multiple shots and absence of pressure in the tyres. Vehicle is fully amphibious. On water it is propelled by two waterjets at a maximum speed on 10 km/h.

   The BTR-80 is fitted with NBC protection system, which shuts the engine down and creates overpressure in the troop compartment in the event of NBC attack. Vehicle is also fitted with automatic fire suppressions system and self-recovery winch.

Variants

   BTR-80K command vehicle;

   BTR-80A/S armored personnel carrier, fitted with externally mounted weapon station;

   BTR-90 armored personnel carrier, armed with a 30-mm cannon and ATGM launcher;

   BTR-3U improved Ukrainian variant;

   2S23 Nona-SVK 120-mm self-propelled mortar system;

   RKhM-4 NBC reconnaissance vehicle;

   BREM-K armored recovery vehicle;

   1B118 artillery control vehicle;

   BMM-1, BMM-2 and BMM-3 armored ambulances.