This article needs additional citations for
verification. (January 2013) |
BTR-4 | |
---|---|
Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
Place of origin | Ukraine |
Service history | |
In service | 2014–present |
Used by | See Operators |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau |
Manufacturer | Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau |
Specifications | |
Mass |
|
Length | 7.76 m (25.5 ft) |
Width | 2.93 m (9.6 ft) |
Height | 3.02 m (9.9 ft) |
Crew |
|
Armor | Welded steel |
Main armament | 2A72 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannon |
Secondary armament |
|
Engine | 3TD diesel engine or DEUTZ EURO III 489 hp or 598 |
Power/weight |
|
Suspension | wheeled 8×8 |
Operational range | at least 690 km (430 mi) |
Maximum speed |
|
The BTR-4 " Bucephalus" ( Ukrainian: БТР-4 «Буцефал», romanized: Butsefal, abbreviation of Бронетранспортер, Bronetransporter, 'armoured transporter') is an amphibious 8×8 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 and Ar-Rutbah from ISIL and in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The prototype, which was designed as a private venture, was unveiled at the Aviasvit 2006 exhibition held in Kyiv in June 2006. [2] [3] A serial production started in late 2008. The first series of ten BTRs entered service with the army of Ukraine in 2009. [4] 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. [5]
In 2012, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence ordered 420 Ukrainian BTR-4E IFVs. [6] However, only 88 vehicles were delivered from the order, as the Iraqi Ministry of Defense cancelled the contract due to quality issues. [7] The Ukrainian army thus took over 52 BTR-4E IFVs originally intended for Iraq. [6]
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 taken back by Ukrainian forces on 5 July 2014, with the separatists and Russians withdrawing to Donetsk. [8] During the fighting at Sloviansk, soldiers praised the new BTR-4E, especially for its armour, mobility, and optics. [8] Vehicles withstood enemy machine gun fire and RPGs, and the slat-armor and Kevlar layer also protected the crews from shrapnel. [7] On October 4, 2014, separatists posted a photo of a captured Ukrainian BTR-4K, a commander's version of the BTR-4. [7] The vehicle had a slat-armor and was repainted. [7] It served with the Vostok Battalion, which was composed mainly of Russian GRU officers. [8]
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. [9]
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.[ citation needed] 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.[ citation needed]
Up to 750 vehicles have been produced for all operators.[ citation needed]
During early trials and evaluation by the Indonesian Marine Corps, the BTR-4 has successfully passed the trials in Indonesia. [10] [11] 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, [12] though according to Ukroboronprom the news are part of informational warfare and black PR. [13]
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. [14] [15] [16]
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. [17]
50 BTR-4s was delivered to the Nigerian Army in 2014.[ citation needed]
Some BTR-4s that are being used by Ukrainian armed forces in the ATO operations come from the rejected batch for the Iraqi army. [14] [15] [16]
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. [18] Their original desert camo as seen on Iraqi BTR-4s can be viewed in pictures and videos from ATO operations. [19] The BTR-4 continues to see use during the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
BTR-4 is available in multiple different configurations:
Standard module:
GROM module:
SHKVAL module:
BAU 23×2 module:
BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle:
MOP-4K fire support vehicle:
This article needs additional citations for
verification. (January 2013) |
BTR-4 | |
---|---|
Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
Place of origin | Ukraine |
Service history | |
In service | 2014–present |
Used by | See Operators |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau |
Manufacturer | Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau |
Specifications | |
Mass |
|
Length | 7.76 m (25.5 ft) |
Width | 2.93 m (9.6 ft) |
Height | 3.02 m (9.9 ft) |
Crew |
|
Armor | Welded steel |
Main armament | 2A72 30 mm (1.2 in) autocannon |
Secondary armament |
|
Engine | 3TD diesel engine or DEUTZ EURO III 489 hp or 598 |
Power/weight |
|
Suspension | wheeled 8×8 |
Operational range | at least 690 km (430 mi) |
Maximum speed |
|
The BTR-4 " Bucephalus" ( Ukrainian: БТР-4 «Буцефал», romanized: Butsefal, abbreviation of Бронетранспортер, Bronetransporter, 'armoured transporter') is an amphibious 8×8 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 and Ar-Rutbah from ISIL and in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The prototype, which was designed as a private venture, was unveiled at the Aviasvit 2006 exhibition held in Kyiv in June 2006. [2] [3] A serial production started in late 2008. The first series of ten BTRs entered service with the army of Ukraine in 2009. [4] 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. [5]
In 2012, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence ordered 420 Ukrainian BTR-4E IFVs. [6] However, only 88 vehicles were delivered from the order, as the Iraqi Ministry of Defense cancelled the contract due to quality issues. [7] The Ukrainian army thus took over 52 BTR-4E IFVs originally intended for Iraq. [6]
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 taken back by Ukrainian forces on 5 July 2014, with the separatists and Russians withdrawing to Donetsk. [8] During the fighting at Sloviansk, soldiers praised the new BTR-4E, especially for its armour, mobility, and optics. [8] Vehicles withstood enemy machine gun fire and RPGs, and the slat-armor and Kevlar layer also protected the crews from shrapnel. [7] On October 4, 2014, separatists posted a photo of a captured Ukrainian BTR-4K, a commander's version of the BTR-4. [7] The vehicle had a slat-armor and was repainted. [7] It served with the Vostok Battalion, which was composed mainly of Russian GRU officers. [8]
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. [9]
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.[ citation needed] 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.[ citation needed]
Up to 750 vehicles have been produced for all operators.[ citation needed]
During early trials and evaluation by the Indonesian Marine Corps, the BTR-4 has successfully passed the trials in Indonesia. [10] [11] 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, [12] though according to Ukroboronprom the news are part of informational warfare and black PR. [13]
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. [14] [15] [16]
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. [17]
50 BTR-4s was delivered to the Nigerian Army in 2014.[ citation needed]
Some BTR-4s that are being used by Ukrainian armed forces in the ATO operations come from the rejected batch for the Iraqi army. [14] [15] [16]
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. [18] Their original desert camo as seen on Iraqi BTR-4s can be viewed in pictures and videos from ATO operations. [19] The BTR-4 continues to see use during the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
BTR-4 is available in multiple different configurations:
Standard module:
GROM module:
SHKVAL module:
BAU 23×2 module:
BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle:
MOP-4K fire support vehicle: