BTR - 90 BTR - 90 ( GAZ - 5923 ) is an 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier developed in Russia , designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994 . It is a larger version of the BTR - 80 vehicle , fitted with a BMP - 2 turret . Armour protection is improved compared with the BTR - 80 , giving protection from 14 . 5 mm projectiles over the frontal arc . It is armed with a 2A42 30 mm auto cannon , coaxial 7 . 62 mm PKT machine gun , AT - 5 Spandrel ATGM , as well as an AGS - 17 30 mm automatic grenade launcher . Limited numbers have been produced and are in service with Russian Internal Troops ( ) . Development . The development of the BTR - 90 was carried out at the Arzamas Machine Building Plant ( AMZ ) , a subsidiary of GAZ Joint Stock Company . Development was commenced in the early 90s , and the first prototype was completed and displayed to the public in 1994 . The vehicle was intended for the use of mechanized units of the Russian Army as well as marine units of the Russian Navy , as a vehicle for fire support , transportation of personnel , surveillance , reconnaissance , and patrolling tasks . A wide range of vehicles suiting various requirements can be developed on the basis of the BTR - 90 chassis . The vehicle is designed to be highly mobile and maneuverable in all terrains while providing a high level of protection for its crew and passengers . The BTR - 90 is fitted with a gun turret identical to the one used on the BMP - 2 . Description . The BTR - 90 has a pointed nose , somewhat similar to that of the LAV - 25 . The hull is made of welded steel armour plate , and is slightly larger and higher than the BTR - 80 , from which it is developed . A turbo charged , liquid cooled , multi - fuel diesel engine is used , which can develop a power of 510 bhp . The vehicle is eight - wheel driven and has an automatic reversible hydro mechanical transmission , which is capable of providing different speeds to each side of the vehicle . Duplicated electrical and compressed air engine start systems are also used . The wheels are utilized with independent torsion - bar suspension and the traverse arms have high capacity telescopic hydraulic shock absorber s . Communication equipment installed in the BTR - 90 include a R - 163 - 50U radio set for external communications , R - 163UP receiver , and R - 174 intercom device for communication among the crew members . Layout . The layout and positioning of equipment and parts in the BTR - 90 is similar to those of the BTR - 80 and BTR - 80A . The commander and gunner are accommodated in a fighting compartment in the turret . This compartment also houses a BPKZ - 42 gunner ’ s day / night sight and 1P - 13 commander ’ s optical sight . Optionally , a BPK - Z15 thermal imaging sight can be fitted in this compartment as the gunner ’ s sight . The driver is located somewhat to the middle of the hull , just in front of the turret . The troop compartment is located behind the driver ’ s position and the turret . The engine compartment is at the rear of the hull . Hatches are provided on the top of the turret and hull , and side doors are available on the middle of the vehicle . These are designed to allow quick dismounting and boarding of troops even while the vehicle is on the move . The eight wheels are located as two sets , with two pairs at the front of the hull and two pairs at the rear . Split side doors are located between these two sets of wheels . The two forward pairs of wheels are utilized with power steering . Capabilities and features . The BTR - 90 is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 100 km / h , and has cross - country driving ability comparable to that of tracked vehicle s , with an average speed of 50 km / h . The vehicle is fully amphibious and can negotiate water obstacles without any preparation . Two water jet propellers power the vehicle in water , and it can achieve a maximum speed of 9 km / h . It can enter and be deployed from amphibious assault ship s from the water . The BTR - 90 can be deployed by truck , rail and also by water and air transportation means . Its hydro mechanical transmission helps to increase its maneuverability by providing different speeds to each side of the vehicle . This allows the BTR - 90 to have a low turning radius of 6 m . When turning with only the front four wheels , it has a turning radius of 14 m . It can cross up to 2 . 1 m wide trenches and can negotiate 60 % gradients , 30 % side slopes and 0 . 8 m vertical steps . The vehicle has an inner capacity of 12 cubic meters , and can carry a load of 7000 kg . An air conditioning system can be added optionally . The commander has the ability to carry out all - round surveillance and can take full control of the weapons from the gunner . An onboard information control system ( OICS ) enables automatic control over the transmission , engine and other important parts of the BTR - 90 , and it is the first armoured personnel carrier to have such a system . A centralized tire pressure control system is also available , and allows the vehicle to move even if four of its wheels are destroyed . Armour and protection . The armour of the BTR - 90 comprises welded steel armour plates . The armour can withstand hits from 14 . 5 mm rounds over the frontal arc . The side armour can provide protection against large caliber machine gun fire and shrapnel . Additional armoured plates can be installed on the vehicle to increase protection . Active protection methods can also be used , such as explosive reactive armour . These can be added over the existing armour of the vehicle . To increase protection , periscopes are installed instead of windscreens and vision blocks . Collective NBC ( Nuclear , Biological and Chemical ) protection is available which can protect the occupants from shock waves and penetrating radiation from nuclear attacks , radioactive dust , and bacteriological and chemical weapons . Its combat tires are capable of enduring anti - personnel mine explosions and small arms fire . If the vehicle is damaged while afloat , a drainage system is capable of removing incoming water . The BTR - 90 also features an automatic fire fighting system , and a system for remote laying of smoke screens . The smoke discharge system includes six smoke grenade launchers , three on each side of the vehicle . Armament . The main gun of the BTR - 90 is a 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 auto cannon . The vehicle carries an ammunition load of five hundred rounds for this weapon . A 7 . 62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun with 2000 rounds and a 30 mm AGS - 17 automatic grenade launcher are the secondary armaments of the BTR - 90 . A guided missile system is also available for engaging armoured targets . This consists of four AT - 5 Spandrel ( Konkurs ) missiles mounted on the turret . The launching unit is detachable , and can be used to launch missiles from the ground . All the weapons are mounted on the turret and are assisted by a fire control system . The fire control system allows the weapons to be used while the vehicle is moving , and in all weather conditions . The turret can be traversed 360 degrees with an elevation range of −5 to + 75 degrees . The vehicle ’ s weaponry allows it to engage targets at ranges up to 4 km . Helicopters and fortifications can be engaged at ranges up to 2 . 5 km . In addition to the vehicle ’ s weapons , its occupants have the ability to fire their weapons through available firing ports and hatches , increasing its firepower . Variants . A prototype designated BTR - 90M was built ( see photo ) with a larger turret derived from the BMP - 3 , mounting a coaxial low - velocity 2A70 100mm rifled gun / missile launcher system ( which can fire conventional shells or laser beam - riding 9M117 anti - tank missile s ( ATGM ) such as AT - 10 Stabber ) , a 30mm Shipunov 2A72 cannon , and a 7 . 62mm PKT machine gun . The BTR - 90M was first displayed publicly in 2001 , and is not currently in service . Another variant of the BTR - 90 was produced with the low pressure 120 mm 2S9 Nona weapon , as with the BTR - 80 " Nona - SVK " . Krymsk . On 30 July 2013 , Russia revealed it had developed and tested a hybrid - powered silent armored personnel carrier that could be turned into an unmanned ground vehicle . Called the Krymsk , it is based on the BTR - 90 and can move silently on a battery - driven electric motor when its diesel engine is turned off . Currently , it can only move short distances on electric power , but new types of batteries can increase the distances by " dozens of times . " During tests the Krymsk moved at a maximum speed of 97 kilometers per hour ( 60 mph ) , accelerating to 80 kilometers per hour in 33 seconds . The Krymsk is a remotely controlled platform and can be equipped with weapon systems , including future laser or electromagnetic weapon s . Cancellation . In October 2011 the Ministry of Defence refused to buy the BTR - 90 and did not include them in the list of the state program of armament until 2020 , and waived exports for the BTR - 90 . However about 80 pre - production models remain in Russian service .