BTR-4

The BTR-4 "Bucephalus" (BTR; Ukrainian: Бронетранспортер / Bronetransporter, literally Armoured Transporter) is a 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) designed in Ukraine by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (SOE KMDB) as a private venture. The prototype, which was designed as a private venture, was unveiled at the Aviasvit 2006 exhibition held in Ukraine in June 2006.

Description

BTR-4 with Grom module

The layout of the BTR-4 represent a change compared to the older BTR-60/70/80 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 part 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 changed 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 is armed with one 30mm automatic cannon, 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 also be fitted with different turret weapons modules: the GROM module, SHKVAL module, and the BAU 23x2 module.

The BTR-4 has a maximum speed of 110 km/h and can cross water obstacles at a speed of 10 km/h. The vehicle is powered by a 3TD diesel engine with 500 hp. It was reported to 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.

A serial production started in late 2008, first series of ten BTR entered service in the army of Ukraine in 2009.^[1]

Combat history

On 4 June 2014, company officials revealed that the BTR-4E was being used in military operations in the Slaviansk 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.^[2]

BTR-4s that are actually being used by Ukrainian armed forces in the ATO operations come from the rejected batch for the Iraqi army. They were found with rust and damaged hulls and thus never accepted by Iraq. Likewise, Azerbaijan refused to purchase the BTR-4 over welding flaws and difficulty in transporting them.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]} Their original desert camo as seen on Iraqi BTR-4s can be noticed in pictures and videos from ATO operations.^[10] Two Ukrainian BTR-4 were captured by the pro-Russian separatists in repairable state.^[11]

The Iraqi army used BTR-4s in an operation to recapture Jurf Al Sakhar from ISIL forces on October 24, 2014, successfully repelling two road-side ambushes.^[12]

Versions

• BRM-4K reconnaissance vehicle,
• BTR-4K command vehicle,
• BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle,
• BTR-4E1^[13]
• 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 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 machinegun
  • 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 machinegun
  • 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 machinegun

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

BTR-4 operators map

Current operators

•  Indonesia — The Indonesian Marine Corps has ordered 55 BTR-4M with BAU 23×2 module.^[14][15]
•  Iraq — 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.^[16]
•  Kazakhstan — The Republic of Kazakhstan armed forces ordered 100 vehicles in 2012
•  Nigeria — 5 BTR-4 for the Nigerian Police.^[17]
•  Ukraine

• Armed Forces of Ukraine — Ukraine's Ministry of Defence made an initial order of 10 vehicles that entered service in 2009.^[18] In August 2014 two BMM-4S were ordered, they will be delivered in October 2014^[19]
• Ministry of Internal Affairs — since 25th of March 2014, 10 vehicles were transferred to the recently reconstituted National Guard of Ukraine. There were 40 vehicles delivered to NGU until July 2014^[20]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BTR-4.

• BTR-4 Technical data sheet and pictures
• BTR-4 Armoured Personnel Carrier at KMDB
• The Ukrainian BTR-4 APC Family at TankNutDave.com (includes video, pictures and drawings)