ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER BTR-82A, OVERVIEW OF ARMAMENT AND CANNON, TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS, WEIGHT AND COMBAT USE OF ARMORED VEHICLES

The BTR-82 and BTR-82A are Russian armored personnel carriers developed at the turn of the past and the current decade. In fact, the creation of these machines is another attempt to modernize the old and well-deserved fighting vehicle BTR-80. The designers set themselves the task of making a vehicle with a higher level of protection, firepower and mobility on the basis of the BTR-80, as well as significantly improve the performance of the armored personnel carrier.

The development of new cars began in 2009, and a year later the BTR-82 and BTR-82A were put to the test, after which the two armored vehicle versions were put into service.

Serial production of the BTR-82 and BTR-82A was established at the Arzamas engineering plant. Currently, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are armed with more than 1,200 units, in addition, the BTR-82A is still in use by the armed forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan (190 units), and in 2018 it was planned to be bought by Belarus. Moreover, Kazakhstan bought armored personnel carriers even before they were adopted by the Russian army. The BTR-82A is shipped to Syria, although the exact number of armored personnel carriers sent to this country is unknown.

The BTR-82 model is considered basic, the BTR-82A armored personnel carrier differs from it only in a combat module with a 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon. In total there are four modifications of the armored personnel carrier.

According to domestic experts, the modification has significantly improved the tactical and technical characteristics of armored personnel carriers. In 2014, according to the authoritative international publication Army Technology, the Russian BTR-82A entered the top ten of the world's best vehicles of this class.

History of creation

The BTR-80 was developed in the early 80s on the basis of the BTR-70 armored personnel carrier, taking into account all the shortcomings that were identified in the difficult conditions of Afghanistan. Serial production of the machine began in 1984. The BTR-80 is one of the most famous and honored Soviet armored vehicles, it can also be called one of the most successful. The BTR-80 had good technical characteristics, a decent level of armor protection, good maneuverability, and decent firepower.

The BTR-80 was actively used in the Afghan war, later this combat vehicle participated in all conflicts in the post-Soviet space. The armored personnel carrier was actively exported, currently it is in service with 26 armies of the world.

However, more than thirty years have passed since the armored personnel carrier was taken into service, during which time the requirements for vehicles of this class have changed somewhat. Modern armored personnel carriers are distinguished by high firepower, well-thought-out ergonomics, and their level of protection has significantly increased. Special attention is paid to the protection of armored personnel carriers from mines and land mines.

Based on the foregoing, it is not surprising that the leadership of the Russian armed forces had plans for the deep modernization of the BTR-80, a machine that has long been one of the main "workhorses" of the ground forces of the Russian Federation.

The decision to start the modernization work was made in 2008, the company "Military Engineering Center" and OJSC "Arzamas Machine-Building Plant" were chosen as the contractors.

At the beginning of 2009, design work began, in July of the same year, the design of the new vehicle was approved by the research and design council, and the manufacturer began production of a new armored personnel carrier, which received the name of the BTR-82.

In the winter of 2010, the car passed state tests, after which the BTR-82 was put into service. In 2011, she began to enter the military units of the Southern Military District. In 2010, the BTR-82A was adopted by the armed forces of Kazakhstan, and deliveries of vehicles to this country began in 2012.

Description of construction

The BTR-82 (and BTR-82A) is a deep modernization of the Soviet armored personnel carrier BTR-80, the shape, size and layout of the corps fully comply with the Soviet combat vehicle. The control compartment is located in the nose of the armored personnel carrier, the fighting compartment in which the paratroopers are located is in the middle part, and the engine compartment is located in the rear of the vehicle.

The crew of the BTR-82 and BTR-82A consists of three people: a driver, a gunner and a car commander. In the landing compartment can fit seven fighters in full gear with weapons.

The landing of fighters occurs through a double side door (as on the BTR-80), the upper flap of which opens forward in the direction of travel, and the lower flap serves as a step. Thus, paratroopers can leave an armored personnel carrier on the go. In addition, two more landing hatch located on the roof of the hull. The driver and commander of the car have their own evacuation hatches, which are located directly above their seats. Also in the case there are numerous hatches for convenient access to the transmission, engine and winch. The machine has air conditioning.

The mass of the armored personnel carrier increased due to the installation of more powerful weapons on it, but this did not lead to a decrease in the mobility of the vehicle. A new, more powerful diesel engine KAMAZ-740.14‑300 (300 hp.) Was installed on it. Multi-fuel engine, if necessary, it can even be filled with diesel fuel.

The developers managed to slightly increase the security of the machine by covering the inner surface of the case with kevlar fabric. This not only helps to protect the crew and the airborne troops from bullets and fragments, but also increases the level of insulation and reduces the noise inside the car. Although the level of protection of the new armored personnel carrier remained the same - anti-bullet.

The anti-mine protection of the BTR-82 and BTR-82A was slightly increased compared with the old BTR-80 due to the use of special energy-absorbing mats inside the hull, the task of which is to take on part of the explosion energy. However, such protection can only help out if a small charge is detonated (anti-personnel mine), the BTR-80 and BTR-82A do not have a level of protection against mines and MRAP bombs.

Some sources provide information that the crew members and airborne seats are equipped with so-called anti-compression seats. They are not attached to the floor, but hung inside the case. This is a standard way to increase the protection of military personnel inside combat vehicles from the blast wave.

However, to install these seats requires a significant height of the machine body. That is why modern armored vehicles made according to MRAP standards have a high silhouette. Case BRT-82A, designed 35 years ago, simply does not have a place to install them. The seats in the BTR-82 were installed modern, but not anti-compression.

The BTR-82 and BTR-82A are equipped with a modern fire extinguishing system, which significantly reduces their explosion hazard.

According to experts, the complex of work carried out has increased the overall security of new machines by about 20%.

A new combat model was installed on the BTR-82A, which made it possible to significantly increase the combat power of the vehicle. It includes an automatic 30-mm cannon 2A72 and a PKTM machine gun. The gunner's regular place moved from the tower to the car body. The module is equipped with a two-plane stabilizer, which allows the gunner to fire while the vehicle is in motion, and with electric drives. In addition, the BTR-82 and BTR-82A mounted a combined round-the-clock stabilized sight TKN-4GA, which makes it possible to use the weapon of the combat module both day and night. The sight is equipped with a channel for remote detonation of ammunition. Gun ammunition is 300 rounds.

Due to the increased mass of the armored personnel carrier, the developers had to seriously alter the chassis of the car. On the BTR-82 were installed new wheel gearboxes, modern cardan shafts. Shock absorbers with high energy intensity were installed on the armored personnel carrier. The BTR-82 is equipped with driving axles with a gear forcibly lockable differential.

BTR-82 is equipped with an additional power unit with a capacity of 5 kW, it provides energy to all systems of the machine during a stop.

The mileage of the armored personnel carrier until the first overhaul is 50 thousand km.

Project Evaluation

Armored personnel carriers BTR-82 and BTR-82A are certainly a big step forward compared to its predecessor, the BTR-80. New machines have higher firepower, their security and mobility of the machine have slightly improved. However, still, to call the BTR-82A a “breakthrough” does not turn the language. In fact, this is the good old BTR-80 with a new combat module, a more powerful engine and converted chassis.

The armored personnel carrier retains the old layout of the Soviet machine, which can be safely attributed to one of its main drawbacks.

Because of the rear location of the engine compartment, the exit for the paratroopers had to be left to the side. In addition, it is quite narrow and uncomfortable. Most modern cars of this class have a spacious outlet in the stern.

Places for the crew do not differ much convenience. If the driver is killed or injured to get it from the workplace will be very problematic. Not less questions are caused by the quality of the review from the driver’s seat (especially back). The landing compartment of an armored personnel carrier is cramped, there are no energy absorbing seats, which today are almost the same attribute of armored personnel carriers.

Insufficient is the security of the machine, especially from the effects of the blast wave.

Currently, the Arzamas Machine-Building Plant is working on creating several more modifications of the BTR-82. However, it should be noted that the BTR-60/70/80 line of Soviet armored vehicles is obsolete and no modernization can change this fact. To give the army a truly modern machine, it will have to be developed from scratch.