BTR-4

BTR-4
The BTR-4 "Bucephalus" (abbreviation of ) is an amphibious 8x8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) designed in Ukraine by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (SOE KMDB).
They have seen action in the War against the Islamic State during the capture of Jurf al-Nasr from ISIL and in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
History
The prototype, which was designed as a private venture, was unveiled at the Aviasvit 2006 exhibition held in Kyiv in June 2006. A serial production started in late 2008. The first series of ten BTRs entered service with the army of Ukraine in 2009. In 2009, the BTR-4 was presented as a candidate for replacing the Pegaso BMR as the next infantry combat vehicle of the Spanish Army.
In 2012, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence ordered 420 Ukrainian BTR-4E IFVs. However, only 88 vehicles were delivered from the order, as the Iraqi Ministry of Defense cancelled the contract due to quality issues. The Ukrainian army thus took over 52 BTR-4E IFVs originally intended for Iraq.
In April 2014, units of the National Guard of Ukraine received their first BTR-4E IFVs, and during late May and early June they were already involved in the siege of Sloviansk, which was liberated on 5 July 2014, with the separatists and Russians withdrawing to Donetsk. During the fighting at Sloviansk, soldiers praised the new BTR-4E, especially for its armour, mobility, and optics. Vehicles withstood enemy machine gun fire and RPGs, and the slat-armor and Kevlar layer also protected the crews from shrapnel. On October 4, 2014, separatists posted a photo of a captured Ukrainian BTR-4K, a commander's version of the BTR-4. The vehicle had a slat-armor and was repainted. It served with the Vostok Battalion, which was composed mainly of Russian GRU officers.
Description
The layout of the BTR-4 represents a change from the older BTR-60/70/80s designed in the Soviet Union. The vehicle has a conventional layout similar to western designs like the German TPz Fuchs with the driver's and commander's compartment at the front of the hull, the engine and transmission compartment in the middle, and the troop compartment at the rear. The troops enter and leave the vehicle either through the rear doors or the roof hatches, and the driver and the commander are provided with doors located on the sides of the hull.
The BTR-4 is a more flexible design than the older BTR-60/70/80s, as the altered layout makes it easier to adapt the vehicle to specialized roles. The vehicle can be armed according to customer requirements. The prototype is armed with the locally designed New Armament Module, which consists of one 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine-gun, up to four 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer anti-tank missiles (two on each side of the turret), and one 30mm automatic grenade launcher (fitted in place of the AT missiles on one left-hand side of the turret). It can be fitted with different turret weapons modules including the GROM module, SHKVAL module, and the BAU 23x2 module.
The BTR-4 has a maximum speed of 110 km/h. It can cross water obstacles at a speed of 10 km/h. The vehicle is powered by a 3TD diesel engine with 500 hp. There are reports of vehicles being hit by several RPG rounds and multiple small-arms fire with no consequences. Slat armor can be fitted for maximum protection against RPG attacks.
Ukrainian state defense manufacturer UkrOboronProm has unveiled a prototype wheeled armored fighting vehicle that is presently known as the BTR-4MV1. The new BTR-4MV1 is the latest generation of 8×8 IFV. The BTR-4MV1 is designed in accordance with NATO standards. The vehicle is based on the BTR-4 but with many new improvements.
It differs from the previous versions mostly in a modified configuration of the vehicle's hull, which makes it possible to install additional types of protection (including the ceramic plates and explosive reactive armor) to reach the fourth and fifth protection levels in accordance with NATO standards. The hull rear is fitted with a ramp that not only enables troopers to enter and leave the vehicle much quicker, but also enables the armored personnel carrier to transport various large-size cargoes, including additional ammunition, spare parts, etc.
Service history
Up to 750 vehicles have been produced for all operators.
Indonesia
During early trials and evaluation by the Indonesian Marine Corps, the BTR-4 has successfully passed the trials in Indonesia. In April 2017, it was reported that the Indonesian Marine Corps had prepared a formal letter to withdraw from any further acquisitions of the BTR-4, though according to Ukroboronprom the news are part of informational warfare and black PR.
Iraq
Iraq has ordered 450 BTR-4s. 40 vehicles of the third batch delivered arrived with rust and damaged hulls and were not accepted by Iraq.
Nigeria
50 BTR-4s was delivered to the Nigerian Army in 2014.
Ukraine
Some BTR-4s that are being used by Ukrainian armed forces in the ATO operations come from the rejected batch for the Iraqi army.
Combat use
Iraq
The Iraqi army used BTR-4s in an operation to recapture Jurf Al Sakhar from ISIL forces on 24 October 2014, successfully repelling two road-side ambushes.
Ukraine
In June 2014, company officials revealed that the BTR-4E was being used in military operations in the Sloviansk area. Its armor had withstood hits from large-caliber machine guns, counter-HEAT side screens protected the crew from anti-tank grenade launchers, and armored glass sustained direct hits from sniper rifles. Their original desert camo as seen on Iraqi BTR-4s can be viewed in pictures and videos from ATO operations. The BTR-4 continues to see use during the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Versions
BTR-4 is available in multiple different configurations.
BRM-4K reconnaissance vehicle,
BTR-4K command vehicle,
BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle,
BTR-4E1
BTR-4MV1 upgraded to NATO standard with increased protection.
MOP-4K fire support vehicle,
BREM-4K repair and recovery vehicle, and the
BSEM-4K recovery and medical vehicle.
BMM-4A - Apparently similar in role to the BMM-1 (BTR-80 family) [first-aid and battlefield evacuation vehicle]
BMM-4B - Apparently similar in role to the BMM-2 (BTR-80 family) [battalion level initial medical treatment vehicle]
BMM-4C - Apparently similar in role to the BMM-3 (BTR-80 family) [field hospital]
Weapons modules
Standard module:
Passengers:
3x crew (driver, commander, gunner)
8x soldiers (7x soldiers in up-armored version)
Armament:
1x 30 mm 2A72 automatic cannon
1x 7.62 mm coaxial machinegun
4x 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer AT missiles (optional 1x 30 mm automatic grenade launcher with reduction to 2x AT missiles)
GROM module:
Passengers:
3x crew (driver, commander, gunner)
8x soldiers
Armament:
1x 30 mm automatic cannon
1x 30 mm automatic grenade launcher
1x 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
4x 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer AT missiles
SHKVAL module:
Passengers:
3x crew (driver, commander, gunner)
8x soldiers
Armament:
1x 30 mm automatic cannon
1x 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
4x 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer AT missiles (optional 1x 30 mm automatic grenade launcher with reduction to 2x AT missiles)
BAU 23x2 module:
Passengers:
3x crew (driver, commander, gunner)
8x soldiers
Armament:
2x 23x152 mm automatic cannons
1x 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle:
Passengers:
2x crew (driver, vehicle commander)
5x staff (commander, four officers)
Armament:
1x TKB-01-1 12.7 mm machine gun
MOP-4K fire support vehicle:
Passengers:
4x crew (driver, commander, gunner, loader)
Armament:
1x 120 mm cannon
1x 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun (turret ring mount)
Operators
Current operators
— The Indonesian Marine Corps ordered 5 BTR-4M with two vehicles with the BM-7 "Parus" turret with a 30-mm ZTM-1 automatic gun and 3 with 7.62 mm RCWS and began operating them in May 2017. Subsequent orders for 55 vehicles were cancelled due to unsatisfactory performance. In April 2019, an order was made for 21 BT-3F and 22 BMP-3F vehicles instead.
— The Iraqi Ministry of Defence ordered 420 vehicles in 2012. Only 88 out of an order for 420 were delivered by late 2013 and the contract has been canceled due to numerous quality violations. According to Ukraine the contract was resumed and as of September 2018 Iraq operates 270 vehicles.
— 5 BTR-4 for the Nigerian Police.
Armed Forces of Ukraine — Ukraine's Ministry of Defence made an initial order of 10 vehicles that entered service in 2009. Around 170 vehicles were in service as of August 2018 and over 200 as of January 2021.
Ministry of Internal Affairs — since 25 March 2014, 10 vehicles were transferred to the recently reconstituted National Guard of Ukraine. There were 40 vehicles delivered to NGU until July 2014.
— In March 2019, a Ukrainian company and the Myanmar military signed a joint-venture agreement to build a plant capable of manufacturing armored personnel carriers (APCs) and self-propelled howitzers. The types of APCs that will be made in the plant are said to be eight-wheeled BTR-4E.
— At least 22 were captured by Russian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Potential operators
— The tender for the Republic of North Macedonia Ground Forces is for an infantry wheeled vehicle, for replacement of the current BTR-60 and BTR-70 fleet. The estimated order can reach 200 units.
— The Royal Thai Marine Corps reportedly showed interest in the BTR-4MV1 in October 2018.
See also
BTR-3
BTR-7
BTR-80 (Russia)
BTR-90 (Russia)
BTR-94 (Ukraine)
Patria AMV (Finland)
Saur 2 (Romania)
Stryker (United States)
TPz Fuchs (Germany)
VPK-7829 Bumerang (Russia)
References
External links
BTR-4 Technical data sheet and pictures
BTR-4 Armoured Personnel Carrier at KMDB
Amphibious armoured personnel carriers
Armoured personnel carriers of Ukraine
Police vehicles
Wheeled armoured personnel carriers
Wheeled amphibious armoured fighting vehicles
Eight-wheeled vehicles
Infantry fighting vehicles of the post–Cold War period
Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s
Armoured personnel carriers of the post–Cold War period
Wheeled infantry fighting vehicles