BTR-80

   The BTR-80 armored personnel carrier is a successor to the BTR-70 APC. Its development began in the 1980s. Vehicle entered service with the Soviet Army in 1986. Its 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 arc provides protection against 12.7 mm rounds, while all-round protection is against 7.62 mm rounds and artillery shell splinters. 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. The BTR-80 is also equipped with smoke grenade dischargers.

   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 in order to engage low flying air targets.

   There are seven firing ports provided for the dismounts. 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 its predecessor is a single KamAZ V8 diesel engine in stead of two petrol engines. This engine developed 260 hp. Since 1993 vehicles were produced with a YaMZ-238M2 diesel, developing 240 hp (BTR-80M). Engine is completed in one block with transmission and gearbox. Engine compartment is located at the rear of the hull in order to improve weight distribution and amphibious capabilities. However such layout also resulted in uncomfortable entrance and exit for the dismounts.

   The BTR-80 APC has an 8x8 configuration, which is common to all BTR family of armored personnel carriers. On hard surface roads it uses 8x4 configuration for maximum range, while 8x8 configuration is engaged when traveling off road. 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 and self-recovery winch as standard. 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.

   This armored vehicle is fully amphibious. On water it is propelled by two waterjets at a maximum speed on 10 km/h.

Variants

   BTR-80K command vehicle.

   BTR-80A/S armored personnel carrier, fitted with externally mounted weapons.

   BTR-82 upgraded version, revealed in 2009. It is better protected and is powered by a more powerful engine, developing 300 hp. This APC is fitted with externally mounted weapons, armed with 14.5 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns. Its version, the BTR-82A is armed with a 30 mm  cannon. The BTR-82 is currently it is in service with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Since 2010 Russia stopped ordering the BTR-80 and obtains the BTR-82 until as a stop-gap measure until the new APC becomes available.

   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. It was adopted in 1993.

   1B118 artillery control vehicle.

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

   ZS-88 version of the BTR-80 for psychological operations. Loudspeakers are fitted on the turret. These loudspeakers can be heard at a range of 5-6 km.

   ZS-96 is an improved psychological operations vehicle. It is fitted with different loudspeakers that can be heard at a range of up to 7 km. Also it carries special equipment that allows to track location of hostile loudspeakers at a range of up to 10 km. This armored vehicle is operated by a crew of 3.

   BTR-80UP is an upgraded version, developed by Polish and Ukrainian companies to meet Iraqi requirement. Upgrades were carried on in Ukraine with assistance of Polish companies. The BTR-80UP is powered by two IVECO Tector diesel engines, developing 150 hp each. Also it has add-on armor and is fitted with air conditioning. Waterjets were removed. First 3 armored personnel carriers were delivered to Iraq for trials and evaluation in 2006. Another 9 units were delivered in 2012. Iraq ordered a total of 98 of these armored vehicles.