The Russian BTR-80A 8×8 Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle is the successor to the BTR-70, which had not fixed the design faults of the BTR-60. The BTR-80 however did address them and resolve them, being the maintenance of the engine and automotive train, the elevation of the main gun in the turret and finally the exits from the troop compartment. Fighting in Afghanistan had shown the lack of elevation in the main gun as it couldn’t fire at targets on the many hills, so was increased to 60°. The use of two engines was dropped in favour of one single diesel, this simplified the automotive train and made maintenance easier. The final design problem of troop disembarking was the introduction of a much larger opening of the old hatches with a clam style door. The top opened outwards and the bottom dropped down to form a step between the 2nd and 3rd tyres so the troops could exit with speed, avoid being crushed by the wheels by stepping out and allowed the BTR-80 to continue moving whilst troops were disembarking.
The BTR-80: Note the smaller turret and gun
Initially it was called the GAZ 5903, but after passing trials it entered production in 1984 under the designation BTR-80 and entered service with the Russian army in the same year. There are now over 5000 in service around the world.
The BTR-80A: Note the larger turret and larger gun
The BTR-80A aka the GAZ-59034, entered production in 1994 as an improved model the original vehicle. The focus was on an increase in lethality. The original smaller turret with its 14.5mm Heavy Machine Gun was replaced with a new BPPU turret, that had day and night sights.
It had a new main gun which was a 30mm dual feed chain gun capable of firing HE-FRAG and AP-T rounds as well as a coaxial 7.62mm Machine Gun.
Vehicle is armed with externally mounted 30-mm cannon and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. This dual-fed cannon uses HE-FRAG and AP-T rounds.
The vehicles armour was standard steel and thick enough to offer protection against 12.7mm rounds over the frontal arc and all round protection again 7.62mm MG fire. The crew are protected by an NBC system.
| Operator | number | Operator | number | Operator | number | Operator | number |
| Afghanistan |
?
|
Colombia |
107
|
Kyrgyzstan |
8
|
Tajikistan |
26
|
| Algeria |
?
|
Estonia |
21
|
Macedonia |
12
|
Turkey |
240
|
| Angola |
?
|
Georgia |
68
|
Moldova |
11
|
Turkmenistan |
?
|
| Armenia |
50
|
Hungary |
691
|
North Korea |
10
|
UAE |
90
|
|
Azerbaijan |
70
|
Indonesia |
20
|
Romania |
70 TAB
|
Ukraine |
456
|
| Bangladesh |
700+
|
Iraq |
98
|
Russia |
3500+
|
Uzbekistan |
290
|
| Belarus |
194
|
Kazakhstan |
99
|
Sri Lanka |
6
|
| Variant: |
Characteristics:
|
| M1989/1 |
Command vehicle with additional communications equipment.
|
| 120mm 2S23 |
Self-propelled artillery gun (turret of the 2S9).
|
| RKhM-4 |
Chemical and reconnaissance vehicle.
|
| BREM-K |
ARV.
|
| BTR-80A |
Has a new turret with an external 30mm auto-cannon.
|
| BTR-80K |
Command vehicle.
|
| SPR-2 |
Jamming vehicle.
|
| BMM |
Armoured medical vehicle.
|
The Russian BTR-80A 8×8 Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle Specifications
Weight 13.6 tonnes
Length 7.65 m
Width 2.90 m
Height 2.35 m
Crew 3 (+8 passengers)
Armour Classified
Engine 260hp diesel KamAZ-7403
Power/weight 19 hp/tonne
Suspension wheeled 8×8
Operational
range 600 km
Speed 80 km/h (swim 9 km/h)