The BTR-3 is an

eight-wheel drive Eight-wheel drive, often notated as 8WD or 8×8, is a drivetrain configuration that allows all eight wheels of an eight-wheeled vehicle to be drive wheels simultaneously. Unlike four-wheel drive drivetrains, the configuration is largely confin ...

armored personnel carrier An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a broad type of armoured military vehicle designed to transport personnel and equipment in combat zones. Since World War I, APCs have become a very common piece of military equipment around the world. Acc ...

developed in 2000 and 2001 by an international consortium. The companies involved in the project include the

Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (), often simply called Morozov Design Bureau or abbreviated KMDB, is a state-owned Ukrainian company in Kharkiv which designs armoured vehicles, including the T-80UD and T-84 main battle tanks, a ...

of Ukraine, Adcom Systems of Abu-Dhabi, UAE, and the State Scientific Technical Centre of Artillery & Rifle Arms of Ukraine. Although somewhat similar in appearance to the Soviet

BTR-80 The BTR-80 () is an 8×8 wheeled Amphibious vehicle, amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed in the Soviet Union. It was adopted in 1985 and replaced the previous vehicles, the BTR-60 and BTR-70, in the Soviet Army. It was first de ...

, the BTR-3U is an all-new production vehicle rather than an update of the existing in-service vehicle.

Armament

The BTR-3U is fitted with the one-person KBA-105 "Shkval" unified fighting module which can accommodate 30mm gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 30mm automatic grenade launcher and

anti-tank Anti-tank warfare refers to the military strategies, tactics, and weapon systems designed to counter and destroy enemy armored vehicles, particularly tanks. It originated during World War I following the first deployment of tanks in 1916, and ...

guided weapons. This module was developed by the State Scientific Technical Centre of Artillery & Rifle Arms of Ukraine. The Shkval fighting module design is versatile, but can also be used with another turret. * The Cockerill CSE 90LP with 90mm Cockerill LP * The KBA-105 one person manned turret with 30 mm ZTM-1 dual-feed autocannon that has 350 rounds of ready-use

ammunition Ammunition, also known as ammo, is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. The term includes both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines), and the component parts of oth ...

or Stiletto turret with 30mm ZTM-2. * A total of 2,500 rounds are carried for the 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. * The 30 mm AGS-17D grenade launcher is mounted on the left side of the turret, having 29 rounds of ready-use ammunition, with additional 87 rounds being carried in reserve (three magazines, each containing 29 rounds). * Cockerill CPWS 30 turret with 30mm autocannon. * Six 81 mm

electrically Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwel ...

operated smoke/aerosol grenade launchers are mounted three either side of the turret rear and firing forwards. * The sighting systems include a commander's 1PZ-3 observation

periscope A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object, obstacle or condition that prevents direct line-of-sight observation from an observer's current position. In its simplest form, it consists of an outer case with ...

and a TKN-4S Agat stabilised sight which is integrated with the missile fire control system. BTR-3DA has BM-3M Shturm-M weapon station armed with ZTM-1 30mm autocannon, KT-7,62 machine gun, KBA-117 30mm grenade launcher, six smoke grenade launchers 902B Tucha, and ATGM system, Barrier.

Equipment design

The standard equipment of the BTR-3U also includes

hydraulically Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...

amplified powered steering on the front four road wheels and a central tire-pressure regulation system that allows the driver to adjust the tire-pressure to suit the terrain being crossed. The BTR-3U is fitted with French Michelin tires. The BTR-3U engine compartment consists of a Deutz BF6M1015 diesel developing 326 hp coupled to an

Allison Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer * Allison family, a family of RMS Titanic passengers Compan ...

MD3066 fully automatic transmission. The power pack and transmission are fitted by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau with the technical assistance of the Deutz AG and the Allison Transmission companies. The engine compartment is fitted with an automatic double-action fire extinguishing system. The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled when afloat by a single water jet mounted at the rear of the hull. To prepare the vehicle for water, the driver erects a trim vane and switches on the bilge pumps from within the vehicle. The troop compartment accommodates six soldiers who enter and leave the vehicle by a door in either side of the hull. The lower part of the door folds downward to form a step, with the upper part opening forwards. There are also hatches in the roof and firing ports with associated vision devices provided in the sides and front of the vehicle. An

air conditioning Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C (US) or air con (UK), is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior temperature, and in some cases, also controlling the humidity of internal air. Air c ...

system is fitted as standard to ensure crew comfort in hot conditions.

Variants

* BTR-3U "Hunter": initially known as BTR-94K. As described. ** BTR-3U Guardian: version for UAE Marines with "Buran-N1" turret. * BTR-3E: has a new UTD-20 engine. ** BTR-3E1: latest version with BM-3 "Shturm" turret and new engine MTU 6R106TD21 ** BTR-3E ARV: recovery vehicle with winch, crane and dozer blade. ** BTR-3E 90: heavy fire support vehicle with 90mm Cockerill main gun. * BTR-3DA: upgraded version purchased by the Ukrainian armed forces in 2017. BTR-3DA is BM-3M Shturm-M weapon station armed with ZTM-1 30mm autocannon, KT-7,62 machine gun, KBA-117 30mm grenade launcher. * BTR-3KSH: version of command and control vehicle.

Operators

* : six BTR-3/12.7s * : 12 BTR-3Es * : three BTR-3Us ordered * : two BTR-3Es * : 500+ BTR-3Us in service. 10+ BTR-3Us bought from

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

in 2001. Kyiv signed a US$500 million contract in 2004 to supply 1000 BTR-3U armoured personnel carriers (APCs). Purchased as kits to be assembled locally until 2013. According to Building the Tatmadaw report, the

Myanmar Army The Myanmar Army (; ) is the largest branch of the Tatmadaw, the armed forces of Myanmar, and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. The Myanmar Army maintains the second largest active force in Southea ...

was operating more than 500 BTR-3Us as of 2008. According to Amnesty International, the last batch with 368 BTR-3Us was delivered as of January 2013. * : 30 BTR-3UNs, six BTR-3UKs, four BTR-3UR and seven BTR-3E/14.5s * : General Directorate of Civil Defense * : At least 12 were captured by Russian forces during the

Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...

. * : Known to operate the BTR-3, at least 4 were confirmed lost during the

2023 Sudan conflict 3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious and cultural significance in many societies ...

by photographic evidence. * Azov in Mariupol 5

: 96 BTR-3E1s delivered with the price tag of 4 billion baht, 120 more on order from Ukraine. The first two out of 96 BTR-3E1s were delivered at U Tapao Airport on 17 September 2010. The second batch of 121 BTR-3E1s with a price tag of 5 billion baht has been ordered by the

Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA (; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 187 ...

and 14 BTR-3E1s have been ordered by the

Royal Thai Navy The Royal Thai Navy (Abbreviation, Abrv: RTN, ทร.; , ) is the Navy, naval warfare force of Thailand. Established in 1906, it was modernised by the Admiral Prince Abhakara Kiartiwongse (1880–1923) who is known as the father of the Royal N ...

to be used by the

Royal Thai Marine Corps The Royal Thai Marine Corps or RTMC ( are the marines of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN). The Royal Thai Marine Corps was founded in 1932, when the first battalion was formed with the assistance of the United States Marine Corps (USMC). It was expanded ...

in August 2010 with the MTU Engine and Edison Gear. The Royal Thai Army plans to use the BTR-3E1 as the backbone for one regiment of create the Mobile Infantry regiment which require 288 BTR-3E1s even the first 96 BTR-3E1 would be enough to create only one mobile infantry battalion. The first 96 BTR-3E1s consisted of seven different variants including 64 armoured personnel carriers, four command vehicles, three armoured ambulances, nine 81 mm mortar carriers, four 120 mm mortar carriers, six BTR-3E1s for ATMS anti-tank rocket unit, and six armoured recovery vehicles. In addition to the first batch of 96 BTR-3E1s, the Ukrainian government has given five BTR-3E1s for free including four armoured personnel carriers and one armoured recovery vehicle, while making a contract for the maintenance of nine BTR-3E1. The batch of 12 BTR-3E1s for the Royal Thai Marine Corps have reached Thung Prong Port in Sattahip on 24 June 2011 and the ceremony has been held on 29 July 2011. These vehicles are to replace the aging V-150 armoured cars, which will be kept in the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Royal Thai Marine Corps before being deployed in three southern provinces. Another order for 15 BTR-3E1s and 6 BTR-3RKs was placed by the Royal Thai Army in August 2013. * : 90 Guardians * : 22 BTR-3Es were ordered for the

Armed Forces of Ukraine The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are the Military, military forces of Ukraine. All military and security forces, including the Armed Forces, are under the command of the president of Ukraine and subject to oversight by a permanent Verkhovna Rad ...

and the

National Guard of Ukraine The National Guard of Ukraine (NGU; , ; /NHU ) is the Ukrainian national gendarmerie and internal military force. It is part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for public security. Originally created as an agency under the dire ...

, five BTR-3Es were delivered in June 2014, and 50 BTR-3DAs in December 2017.

References

External links