BTR-80A
BTR-80S
Overview
BTR-80A
Forward view of BTR-80A armed with 2A72 autocannon.
Source: Pilot Strizhy -
© copyright lies with original owner
Shareef 1 (Sudanese service)
Hungary
Venezuela
Kazakhstan
Description
Introduction
The BTR-80A is a modern era infantry fighting vehicle of Russian origin. It was developed in the early 1990's to provide infantry formation with more firepower against light armored vehicles and infantry positions.
Design
The BTR-80A is a version of the BTR-80 wheeled armored personnel carrier with improved armament. The original turret is replaced by the BPPU overhead weapon system which is fitted with a 30mm 2A72 autocannon and 7.62mm PKT machine gun. The 2A72 has a longer effective range than the KPVT and is much more powerful, allowing it to engage most light and medium combat vehicles. Otherwise the BTR-80A is practically similar to the BTR-80, retaining the same hull and drivetrain.
Firepower
The BPPU overhead weapon system is armed with a 30mm 2A72 autocannon. This has 300 rounds ready to fire, with normally no extra rounds carried inside of the vehicle. Additionally, a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun is fitted with 250 of the 2.000 rounds ready to fire. The 2A72 has a cyclic rate of fire of about 330 rpm. It is often fired in short bursts, since in this turret setup the recoil harmonics have proven detrimental to the accuracy at longer range.
Protection
The protection level of the BTR-80A is identical to the BTR-80. 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.
Mobility
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 BTR-80A is fully amphibious and is propelled in the water by hydrojet.
Users
Since the BTR-80A was introduced in the 1990's only a limited number were acquired by Russia at first due to economic difficulties. In total over 200 BTR-80A were acquired by Russia, before adopting the improved BTR-82A. The first major export customer was Hungary, which acquired over 100 BTR-80A. Various nations acquired smaller batches of BTR-82A, with Kazakhstan and Venezuela each acquiring over 100 vehicles.
Variants
BTR-80A
Russian BTR-80A on the move in the field.
Source: www.red-stars.org -
© copyright lies with original owner
List of BTR-80A variants
Details
Subcomponents
BTR-80
The BTR-80 is based on the BTR-80 chassis, but features a new type of turret with more powerful armament.
14.5mm KPVT
The 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun is the main armament of the BTR-80S.
Related articles
BTR-82
The BTR-82 is an improved version of the BTR-80A and features the same turret and armament options.