BTR-T

   Usage of the wheeled armored personnel carriers in the global military conflicts exposed their vulnerability to portable anti-tank guided weapons. Armored personnel carriers with quiet weak armored protection become an easy target for any anti-tank missiles or for straight aimed artillery guns. Accordingly the new generation APC should have armor protection similar to the main battle tank, to increase it's survivability in the battlefield.

   Such kind research works were made independently by Russian and by Israeli designers. Both of them have chosen a based of the T-55 medium tank which is now obsolete and is not suitable to fight on equal terms with modern main battle tanks. By rejecting the T-55's turret with the main gun. Furthermore medium tank received additional armor, which allow the BTR-T to operate alongside with the main battle tanks. Heavy APC has no amphibious capability however it can cross swallow water obstacles with preparation and using specialized equipment.

   The BTR-T heavy armored personnel carrier has an engine compartment in the rear of the hull, while the front and the middle part of the T-55 was rebuilt for driving and combat compartments. Driver's seat is from the left side of the hull. Right side from the driver there is a new low profile turret with the main armament. BTR-T carries 5 fully equipped troops. Troops use hatches in the roof to enter or leave the APC. Unfortunately such design decision will probably lead to casualties in battle.

   Fully enclosed hull of the BTR-T differs from the base T-55 medium tank. Firstly because of the built-in explosive reactive armor panels and additional anti-mine protection. In 30º traverse range Armored Personnel Carrier has armor protection equivalent in 600 mm. Hull boards and chassis elements are covered with steel anti-cumulative screens.

   The BTR-T has a modular armament system. It consists from the low profile 360 degree rotation turret. Interchangeable armament systems are mounted on it. First publicly presented BTR-T variant in 1997 was completed with a 30-mm cannon and Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) anti-tank guided missile launcher. In addition to this base variant there were developed later armament variants for the BTR-T (according numbers in the picture below):

   - 30-mm canon and AGS-17 30-mm automatic grenade launcher (2);
   - Two twin barrel 30-mm canons (3);
   - 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun and twin-tube Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) ATGW (4);
   - 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun and AGS-17 30-mm automatic grenade launcher (5).

   All armament variants allow to defeat light armored ground and air targets as well as heavy armored targets. However troops have no ability to use their personal firearms from the inside of the hull as became traditional for Soviet/Russian armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. From the other side this feature allowed to increase hulls armor protection. Vehicle is also fitted with the smoke grenade dischargers placed in the rear part of the hull.

   Rebuilding the T-55 medium tank into the BTR-T, transmission and chassis remained without any changes.

   Vehicle has a maximum road speed of 50 km/h. It fords 1.4 m depth water obstacle without preparation and using special equipment it manages water obstacles up to 5 m depth by moving on tracks under the water. Such results are a record for an ordinary personnel carrier.
The BTR-T is fitted with an NBC protection equipment, radio, internal communication device, fire prevention equipment.