Ukrainian view of modern armored personnel carriers. Family BTR-4

BTR-4MV1 with the combat module "Sail"

Combat buses. In the early 2000s, work began in Ukraine on the creation of a new armored personnel carrier, which was supposed to surpass all Soviet-era vehicles, which in massive quantities were left to the former Soviet republics after the collapse of the USSR. Work on the new armored personnel carrier began on an initiative basis at the Kharkov Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering, specializing in the development of armored vehicles. In the 2000s, two new variants of armored personnel carriers were created here.

The first version of the BTR-3 was a simpler project, representing a further modernization of the BTR-80. Ideologically, he is close in everything to the Russian serial armored personnel carrier BTR-82A. The second option is more complex and promising - BTR-4 "Bucephalus". The family of these Ukrainian armored personnel carriers has been developed and is the basis for the creation of a large number of models of different wheeled military equipment. This is due to a new approach, a change in layout and the use of a modular design that allows you to quickly and painlessly create machines for various combat missions.

Numerous newsrelating to marriage, malfunctions or breakdowns of the BTR-4 are in no way connected with the design of the machine itself, and especially with the work of Kharkov designers. The main problem of the armored personnel carrier is the weakness of Ukrainian industry, a low production culture and chronic underfunding. The Ukrainian defense industry is still not able to mass-produce such armored personnel carriers in commercial quantities. At the same time, the armored personnel carrier, of course, is in demand both by the Ukrainian military and foreign customers. On the international market, it can compete with Russian wheeled armored vehicles, primarily with its price and the best set of characteristics.

The layout and construction of "Bucephalus"

The new Ukrainian armored personnel carrier BTR-4 is an all-wheel drive armored amphibious combat vehicle with an 8x8 wheel formula. Like most Soviet / Russian wheeled armored personnel carriers and modern western counterparts, Ukrainian designers remained true to the four-axle formula. BTR-4 “Bucephalus” is intended for transportation of fighters of motorized rifle units, as well as providing them with direct fire support in combat conditions. With the help of such an armored personnel carrier, motorized rifles are able to conduct combat operations in any conditions, including the conditions when the enemy uses various models weapons mass destruction.

In addition to motorized rifle units, the machine can be used by marines and special forces. The presence of modern equipment, primarily thermal imaging devices, allows the use of the BTR-4 for solving combat missions both in the daytime and at night. It can be used in various climatic conditions at air temperatures from -45 to +55 degrees Celsius (standard requirements for military equipment created in the post-Soviet space). The machine has sufficient cross-country ability for off-road operations, including in conditions of complete impassability.

The manufacturer relates the BTR to a new generation of wheeled armored vehicles. Indeed, in comparison with the Soviet legacy, work was carried out on the re-arrangement of the entire internal reserved space of the machine and the transition to Western standards for such equipment. The convenience of accommodating the crew and the landing was given increased attention. The BTR-4 Bucephalus is divided into three sections:

- front - management department;
- secondary - engine-transmission compartment;
- back - combat and landing squad.

BREM-4RM

The use of the new layout scheme provides the ability to quickly transform the combat and airborne compartment of the combat vehicle without changing the layout and implemented solutions for the transmission and power plant, which opens the way for creating a large range of various combat vehicles based on the standard BTR-4 armored personnel carrier. Also, the implemented layout solutions made it possible to provide the safest of all possible landing methods. Soldiers leave the APC through a double-wing door in the stern of the combat vehicle hull. This solution provides maximum protection for soldiers from frontal fire, and also paratroopers can use hatches located in the roof of the hull to exit.

The layout solutions and the BTR-4 design allow without significant changes to make modifications to the armored personnel carrier, which differ in the set of installed weapons (4 combat modules are already available), as well as the level of protection. Various solutions make it possible to use Bucephalum in different roles: both as an armored vehicle for transporting a motorized rifle compartment, and as a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle. At the same time, the designers note that the large useful volume of the BTR enclosure provides the ability to install various equipment inside to create auxiliary equipment or support machines.

Already now, on the basis of BTR-4, the following have been created: the BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle, the BTR-4K command vehicle, the BREM-4RM armored repair and recovery vehicle, the BMM-4 armored medical vehicle, and the BRM-4K combat reconnaissance vehicle . There are also options with heavy weapons - the installation of a 120-mm mortar.

Technical capabilities of the armored personnel carrier BTR-4

The new Ukrainian armored personnel carrier, developed in Kharkov in the early 2000s, has an 8x8 wheel arrangement and is an all-wheel drive car, which, at the request of the customer, can be equipped with various power plant options. Three main options are available: Ukrainian 3TD engine, Italian Iveco or German Deutz. Three-cylinder diesel engines 4TD-3 with a volume of 3 liters are installed on serial Ukrainian BTR-8,15 "Bucephalus". Such an engine develops a maximum power of 500 hp, providing the armored personnel carrier with a maximum speed of 110 km / h when driving on the highway, and up to 60 km / h on rough terrain. Cruising on the highway - at least 690 km. The armored personnel carrier has kept buoyancy and can move through water at a speed of up to 10 km / h.

The increased off-road patency is provided by the ground clearance of 475 mm. The BTR-4 armored personnel carrier itself is distinguished by the following geometric dimensions: body length - 7760 mm, height - 2860-3200 mm, width - 2932 mm. The maximum allowable roll angle is 25 degrees, the maximum lift angle is 30 degrees.

The combat weight of the machine has grown significantly compared to the Soviet BTR-60/70/80, which have weak bulletproof armor. As standard with bulletproof armor providing circular protection according to standard 2 STANAG-4569 from 7,62 mm armor-piercing bullets, as well as fragments of 155 mm high-explosive fragmentation shells at a distance of 80 meters, the BTR-4 combat weight is 17 tons, s installed combat module mass increases to 20 tons. At the same time, with an enhanced reservation option that provides protection against shells of 30-mm automatic guns (in frontal projection), the combat weight of the vehicle increases to 25-26 tons. It is important to understand that currently serial BTR-4 have numerous problems with the hulls, including in the form of cracks. Also, armor steel itself often does not meet the declared parameters, Ukrainian media also regularly write about this.

Command and staff vehicle BTR-4KSh

For comparison: the standard Soviet / Russian armored personnel carrier BTR-80 has a combat weight of 13,6 tons, no additional booking options are provided for it. The BTR-82A with a combat module equipped with a 30-mm automatic gun weighs 15,6 tons and also cannot boast of any serious level of armor protection, preserving the old BTR-80 body. In this regard, the Ukrainian armored personnel carrier provides a fundamentally different level of protection for the crew and the landing force (while improving the culture and quality of production) than the Russian production models. The situation can be corrected only by the production of a fundamentally new armored personnel carrier based on the Boomerang wheeled platform.

Depending on the modification, the BTR-4 can take on board 7-9 paratroopers, the crew of the armored personnel carrier is 2-3 people (a machine commander, a driver, if there is a combat module - an archer-operator of weapons). On the sides of the hull there are loopholes with armored shutters for firing from personal weapons. Inside the body are individual seats of paratroopers, which are attached to the roof of the combat vehicle. They can be located either in the center of the machine, or along the sides opposite each other. These seats are quick-detachable, which makes it easy and efficient to transform the airborne squad for solving various problems, including for transporting military cargo.

BTR-4MV

The most modern version of the armored personnel carrier is the BTR-4MV, the combat mass of which, depending on the level of protection, ranges from 21,9 to 23,55 tons. As standard, the armor withstands hit by 12,7 mm bullets in the frontal projection. From other options, this modification differs by changing the shape of the case. The frontal part of the armored personnel carrier was substantially redesigned, which allowed to significantly improve protection in the frontal projection. The BTR-4MV model, which was first introduced in 2013, lacks bulletproof glass and side doors of the driver and armored personnel carrier commander, landing of which is now carried out through hatches. In 2017, the BTR-4MB1 version was first introduced, which received additional ceramic armor. Also, on the BTR-4MV models, a full fodder ramp for landing has appeared on the back.

Four main combat modules developed for BTR-4

The armament of an armored personnel carrier BTR-4 may differ; for this model, the Ukrainian defense industry has already developed four combat modules. We are talking about combat modules "Thunder", "Flurry", BM-7 "Sail" and BAU-23-2. The simplest is the last module, which is two 23 mm 2A7M automatic guns, providing a maximum rate of 850 rounds per minute. Ammunition module 200 shells, an additional 7,62 mm PKT machine gun with an ammunition load of 2000 rounds is installed.

More interesting are the modules "Thunder" and "Flurry", which received anti-tank systems to combat the main combat tanks the enemy. The main armament of the Grom module with external armament is the 30mm ZTM-2 automatic gun (analogous to the Russian 2A42), the 30mm AG-17 automatic grenade launcher and the 7,62mm KT-7,62 machine gun coaxial with the gun. Also on the module are 4 ATGM 9M113 "Competition" or "Barrier". The Flurry module also has a 30-mm automatic cannon coaxial with a 7,62-mm machine gun, but we are talking about the ZTM-1 gun (an analogue of the Russian gun 2A72, placed on the BTR-82). It is also possible either to mount 4 Barrier anti-tank systems, or instead of two anti-tank missiles, a 30-mm automatic grenade launcher is installed.

BTR-4 with a combat module "Thunder"

The most advanced is the remotely controlled remote combat module BM-7 "Sail", which, thanks to the remote ammunition and remote control, provides increased crew protection. The module is distinguished by the presence of a 30 mm automatic gun (it is possible to install both ZTM-1 and ZTM-2), a 30 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7,62 mm PKT machine gun. Also on the module there is a complex of guided weapons - ATGM “Barrier” (ammunition 4 ATGM, maximum missile range - 5500 meters). Ammunition of the gun - up to 400 rounds, a machine gun - 2000 rounds, an automatic grenade launcher - 175 grenades.

Comments

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

Let them solve their problems at home in the beginning, and then compete with others and our armored personnel carriers.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

and our armored personnel carriers.

With our compete, like two fingers on the asphalt.
For we have no modern armored personnel carriers

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

And what for then the promising wheeled platform "Boomerang"?

[Lopatov]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

And what for then the promising wheeled platform "Boomerang"?

She is not yet. Neither for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, nor for export.

And something hurts for a long time this "while" lasts.
Maybe such organizations were not worth it in private hands?

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

And I think that we will solve our problems with modern armored personnel carriers before the Ukrainians.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Nikolai Ivanov_5

And I think that we will solve our problems with modern armored personnel carriers before the Ukrainians.

Only if we act in an American way and we take away another company from Deripaska.

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

It does not depend on the owner.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

It does not depend on the owner.

How to say....
Even Indonesia is able to create its own wheeled armored personnel carrier
And I do not believe that our designers are worse than Indonesian

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

I am sure that our designers are better than the Indonesian ones.

[FANTOMAS.]

That's it ... It’s a pity none of them protects from the coronovirus.

[FANTOMAS.]

Funds are sent in the first order to the development of hyperweapons, but armored personnel carriers are in line after that.

[DeusExMachina]

Quote: Spade

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

And what for then the promising wheeled platform "Boomerang"?

She is not yet. Neither for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, nor for export.

And something hurts for a long time this "while" lasts.
Maybe such organizations were not worth it in private hands?

Well, of course, that was not worth it. Just who cares? Need defense efficiency? Welcome to (I’ll say a terrible word) planning. Satisfied with a tyap? Then leave everything to private pens.

[Lopatov]

Quote: DeusExMachina

Welcome to (I’ll say a terrible word) planning.

This word is so scary. that has never been applied. Even under the USSR, when this concept was mocked most sophisticatedly. First, take a bunch of wise plans, and then make a mess, overfulfilling them.

So to hell with it, planning. At least to return the "Military Industrial Company" into the hands of the state.
And then, despite the speed of Deripaska's fulfillment of the requirements of the Americans, I have bad suspicions about the strange activities of "VPK LLC"

[DeusExMachina]

Quote: Spade

Quote: DeusExMachina

Welcome to (I’ll say a terrible word) planning.

This word is so scary. that has never been applied. Even under the USSR, when this concept was mocked most sophisticatedly. First, take a bunch of wise plans, and then make a mess, overfulfilling them.

So to hell with it, planning. At least to return the "Military Industrial Company" into the hands of the state.
And then, despite the speed of Deripaska's fulfillment of the requirements of the Americans, I have bad suspicions about the strange activities of "VPK LLC"

Well, the work of the State Planning Committee in the USSR is a separate and rather extensive question, however, the main thing that can be learned from studying her experience is that it can be improved, which automatically puts an end to all the mantras of the marginalized from the AES about the "ineffective planned economy" ...
Well, you need to understand that within the framework of a capitalist state, a simple return to the hands of the state is a half measure. I do not know whether it is necessary to explain the reasons for this?

[Lopatov]

Quote: DeusExMachina

a simple return to the hands of the state is a half measure.

At least there will be confidence that management is not controlled externally.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

And what for then the promising wheeled platform "Boomerang"?

She still has to hand over the state, and if she passes it, it is not a fact that she will enter service. Potentially, the car looks much more serious than the Ukrainian crafts, but will it reach the troops?

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

I believe that will come.

[Zeev Zeev]

There is a series - there is a platform. No series - no platform.

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

According to the results of the assessments, there are a lot of touchy Ukrainians.

[Bolo]

They are all a little very touchy.

[TermNachTer]

Maybe there are no new ones, but the old ones are still very good. But Bandera novye still creates some problems. The hodovka remained from the 80s, and the weight has grown greatly. Especially the rear axles "fly" because of the weight of the BM. Repairs can be carried out by brigades from Kharkov, brigade repairmen will destroy a new-fashioned armored vehicle at once.

[Zeev Zeev]

But somehow Bandera did not complain. There are many places, the landing is convenient, the armor is better. But on the other hand, the Bucephalus cannon was scolded more than once. Now about the chassis. It is new, reinforced.

[TermNachTer]

I do not know how it was strengthened, but the two rear axles "fly out at once" when driving fast over rough terrain. At the same time, BM stabilization does not work well. But only Kharkiv residents can repair them. In the brigade I'm talking about, these wunder wafers were put in a box and kicked out of there only for the parade.

[The leader of the Redskins]

I have always liked Bucephalus visually. I agree with the author - this is the next step in the development of the armored personnel carrier based on the Soviet heritage.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Leader of the Redskins

this is the next step in the development of armored personnel carriers

8)))))
But not the fact that a step forward.
Yes, and I do not see the Soviet here. Is that a place for an older car.

[The leader of the Redskins]

I meant a step forward in comparison with the Soviet concept, when the crew covered the engine.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Leader of the Redskins

I meant a step forward in comparison with the Soviet concept, when the crew covered the engine.

?
And here it is. Motorcycle layout. At the Germans, on the contrary, the crew closes the engine and the landing. And as for me it is the most advanced modern armored personnel carrier.

Well, in general, in the world, the layout is like a BMP, with a carrier on the side of the engine

[svp67]

Quote: Spade

But not the fact that a step forward.

In terms of concept - of course, this is a step forward. But here's the performance - two steps back. The first, in terms of design, with doors for the commander and driver, which immediately reduced their armor resistance, because of which they had to abandon this decision, increased armor resistance and immediately gave rise to another problem, a heavy nose, which began to bury itself into the wave., well, the second step, this is of course the execution, not a little has been written about this

Quote: Spade

Yes, and I do not see the Soviet here. Is that a place for an older car.

Commander ... Yes, there were pilot projects of similar schemes in the USSR, the ZIL plant, the same ZIL-153, the Bryansk plant "ob. 1200", for example

vol. 1015 of the Kutaisi plant

[Lopatov]

Quote: svp67

Commander ...

Commander? The commander must be with his squad.

Here it is for the older car.

[svp67]

Quote: Spade

The commander must be with his squad.

It goes without saying, but there is also a commander of a combat vehicle.

[Lopatov]

Quote: svp67

Quote: Spade

The commander must be with his squad.

It goes without saying, but there is also a commander of a combat vehicle.

Even so, the BM commander reports to the squad leader. Which in BTR-4, it turns out, has no place at all.

[rruvim]

It must be admitted that the "Soviet school" remained on the outskirts, especially in the AFV. And the engineers are not bad. They can do something advanced and teach.

[Cat]

It must be admitted that the "Soviet school" remained on the outskirts, especially in the AFV

Schools may have remained, but with a production base - seams. A design bureau without production is like a graphomaniac writer: there are no ideas above the roof, but no print runs

[Mikhail m]

Judging by the article, a good car with a good development prospect. Now Ukraine has not died and glory, and will. Slavs work non-brothers. I especially liked the modular principle of building technology. And it’s not the fault of the designers that industry cannot master good technology.

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

What's New? Almost everything is being built on a modular basis.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

Almost everything is being built on a modular basis.

To be honest, the only one I can remember is the German "Boxer"

[Nikolay Ivanov_5]

Swedish SEP modular armored personnel carrier, Israeli Eitan, Finnish armored Patria AMV modular armored vehicle, etc.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

Swedish modular armored personnel carrier SEP

This is just a concept.
Although really modular

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

Israeli Eitan,

Quote: Nikolay Ivanov_5

Patria AMV

And what is modular in them?

For example, "Boxer" has modular almost everything. Both the armor and the power plant (change in an hour with a penny

and "target load"

And in the vehicles you indicated, it’s modular unless armor.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Mikhail M

I especially liked the modular principle of building technology.

Incidentally, it is not used by Ukrainians.

[kjhg]

The legendary HCMB is a fragment of the Soviet design school, the survival of which is difficult to explain. You look at the BTR-4 and the eye rejoices, the Soviet breed is immediately visible. But, according to some kind of evil fate, they are now fighting against us. Oh, to put to the wall of those politicians who allowed it, to the wall and ... from the assault rifles ... until the cartridges are completely used up ...

[Pessimist22]

No, it's better to hard labor, I like when people work.

[Cat]

to hard labor, I like when people work

In hard labor, people are punished. As a colleague posted above, "the designers are not to blame" ...

[Zeev Zeev]

As it was rightly noted here, "Bucephalus" has one serious drawback - the engine in the middle of the hull. On a good note, it would be necessary to remove the escort's seat (what for, I need it, I have no idea) and move the engine forward, increasing the troop compartment and connecting the driver's seat with it. Although it is clear that the Ukrainians still do not stand still, and the machine is constantly being modernized, apparently, taking into account the real combat use. In the MV version, the doors of the driver's cabin were abandoned, instead of wide windows, they installed viewing periscopes, and added armor. That is, the work is in progress.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Zeev Zeev

taking into account real combat use. In the MV version, the driver’s cab doors were abandoned, instead of wide windows, they put periscopes of the review, added armor.

This variant appeared in 2013. What "combat use"?

[Zeev Zeev]

So, they looked at the use of their BTR-80 in Iraq. By the way, I had in mind the BTR-4MB1, presented in the photo.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Zeev Zeev

So, looked at the use of their BTR-80 in Iraq

They did not look anywhere.
The designers just figured it out and decided "it's not cool"
They do everything there at the "I see it" level.
Either a three-axle tower from 2S1 is stuck on an armored personnel carrier, then a tower from a BRM-1K, which is even stranger. But according to the authors "looks"

Did you write something about the "school" here?
Here it is, the "school" hehe ...

[Zeev Zeev]

Wide windows on an armored personnel carrier? This is definitely not cool.

[Lopatov]

Quote: Zeev Zeev

Wide windows on an armored personnel carrier? This is definitely not cool.

South African did not particularly complain. Rather, the opposite.
And the Germans from "Fuchs" and the French from VAB have not yet seemed to give up ...

[Andrei Nikolaevich]

They are now, it is time to engage in military equipment. Hurry, a land law would be passed. Now this law is the main thing.

[113262a]

Nice car with decent stuffing. The picture is spoiled by Malyshevsky proprietary two-stroke engine with injector cooling and cracking exhaust. It can be heard for several kilometers. With the bourgeois, they go for export for export, they did not appear at the front. Indeed, from 700 meters his NSV did not take, only sparks and ricochets were observed. Frightened only mestizo. He stood on Bakhmutkui for about two weeks, then dragged away. In the area of ​​31.

[qobnvmog]

The sloping sides of the Soviet armored personnel carriers, this is such an anachronism, from the times of World War II; there is no sense in them, but a useful place on each side is devoured on the entire projection of the side. If in theory they reflected any bullets, then missiles are guaranteed to explode, putting a bullet on them. It’s good that in the post-Soviet space normal cars appeared with vertical sides, in which both equipment and armor can be installed much more, freeing up valuable space for the landing.

[marat2016]

https://23mai1975.livejournal.com/24063.html
EXPORT OF LIGHT BTT UKRAINE IN THE PERIOD OF 1992-2016

[surey_andry2]

three-cylinder engine?

[akims]

Here is a good analysis of the BTR-4:
https://kloch4.livejournal.com/28332.html

[tarakanovaleksei]

Coffins are like cucumbers. It remains only to dig up the dead.

[Andrey Alexandrovich_2]

sorry ponadusery .. I poop on the opinion of the pit troops

[ZaDedov]

BTR 4MV1 is very promising. Liked it.
He would also have all-angle protection from 14.5 mm.

[LuidmilaN1956]

The BTR-4 is superior in ergonomics and layout to our BTRs 80, 80A, 82.
In addition, the Parus DUBM has more powerful weapons. The ammunition is isolated from the crew. And the module itself does not take up space in the fighting compartment. In addition, if necessary, the commander can take control of the DUMB.