Russian BTR-80 during a parade.
Source: Counterfeiter -
© public domain
The BTR-80 is an armored personnel carrier of Soviet origin. It was developed as a follow on to the successful BTR-70 and BTR-60PB. The general layout remains similar but the design has been improved in every aspect.
The BTR-80 has the same general layout as the earlier BTR-70. The driver and commander are seated in the front, the turret and crew compartment is located in the middle and the engine is located at the rear. The crew may enter the vehicle through two part doors on each side and via roof hatches. The BTR-80 chassis is used for a wide variety of specialist vehicles in the command, reconnaissance and recovery roles.
The original BTR-80 is armed in the same manner as the BTR-70. It has a turret with a 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun and coaxial 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun. The increased elevation allows it to target helicopters and low flying aircraft
The protection level of the BTR-80 is improved over the earlier BTR-70, especially regarding mines. The steel armor protects the crew from small arms fire and shell splinters all around and from 12.7mm rounds over the frontal arc. An NBC system is standard and smoke grenade launchers are fitted to the turret.
The 8x8 chassis provides good mobility on roads and in the field. The maximum speed is 80 km/h on roads. A single 260 hp diesel engine provides propulsion. The single engine setup makes the BTR-80 much more reliable than its predecessors. The amphibious capability has been slightly improved.
The BTR-80 is widely used by Russian forces and various Eastern European nations. Large quantities have been exported, but not to the extent as earlier designs. The newer models with autocannon make the BTR-80 design a very attractive all-round and cost effective combat vehicle.
BTR-80 is the baseline vehicle from which all BTR-80 variants are derived. The BTR-80 is armed with a similar turret as the BTR-70. The BTR-80 series can be easily identified by the two part doors on the sides, the rear engine deck and smoke grenade dischargers at the rear of the turret.
The BTR-80A is a BTR-80 fitted with 30mm 2A72 autocannon. This makes it suitable as an infantry fighting vehicle.
The 2S23 Nona is a self-propelled 120mm gun/mortar based on the chassis of the BTR-80.
The BREM-K is an armored recovery vehicle based on the BTR-80 chassis. It was developed as a support vehicle for units equipped with the BTR-80 series of armored personnel carriers.
The BTR-80 was developed as a more capable successor to the BTR-70. It proved to be a more capable design and was produced in larger numbers than the BTR-70.
The BTR-80 replaced many remaining BTR-60PB in Soviet service, since not all of these vehicles were replaced by the BTR-70.
© WeaponSystems.net | All rights reserved.