Ukraine Tests Upgraded BTR-4MV1 Armored Vehicle to NATO Standards

Ukraine’s state enterprise ‘Kharkiv Design Bureau for Engineering’, part of Ukroboronprom, has completed the full cycle of factory tests of armored fighting vehicle BTR-4MV1.

“This combat vehicle is built with a wide application of experience in using AP-4 in the ATO zone, NATO standards and technological solutions in accordance with the latest Alliance armament trends. We managed to achieve fundamentally new combat capabilities of BTR-4MB1,” the company said in a statement Friday.

The vehicle passed tests that included water barriers, swimming and drowning in addition to a series of fire tests on the elimination of conditional targets from standard armaments in various weather conditions.

The main feature of BTR-4MV1 was the use of a modular approach in the construction of armor protection of the vehicle and the separation of armor layers.  The new frontal part of the vehicle, constructed in accordance with NATO armored vehicles enhanced protection.

Specialists of the "Morozov KMBN" achieved a fundamentally new level of protection for BTR-4MB1, which exceeds any model of armored fighting vehicle or BMP currently in service with Ukrainian armed forces.

Combined with the possibility of using various combat modules to change the armament of a combat vehicle, it is possible to adapt the BTR-4MV1 for a short time to perform any task, from the amphibious sentinel-intelligence to the marines. The vehicles have new armchairs that provide protection against the consequences of mine and explosive charges, to a new air conditioning and heating system, the company stated.

The driver's seat is provided with a panoramic overview with five triplexes. It is also equipped with an additional 360 degree digital inspection system. The combat vehicle is operational in both day and night situations.

The BTR-4MV1 has 30-mm automatic gun, 30-mm automatic grenade launcher, 7.62 mm machine gun, as well as high-precision anti-tank complex "Barrier", and remains unchanged from the previous BM-7.

The combat vehicle has a new optical-electronic sight with a powerful thermal imagery, which is combined with digital fire control system.

A new sight was created by the State Enterprise "Izyum Instrument-Making Plant", which is part of the State Enterprise "Ukroboronprom". The main feature of the new sight, called OE-VN, is a new high-sensitivity thermal imager, capable of detecting targets at a distance of about 5 km. The new laser rangefinder of the Ukrainian production is also installed in the OEP-VN. 

This new sight allows the BTR-4MB1 crew to destroy the enemy at the maximum range of weapons, even at night and in difficult weather conditions.

Technological solutions adopted by specialists of the Kharkiv Design Bureau Morozov allowed to increase the weight of BTR-4MB1 to only 24-25 tons, which is 2-3 tons more than the usual version of BTR-4. All the driving characteristics that provide the 8x8 wheel formula in conjunction with the German engine from Deutz and the American Alisson transmission remain unchanged: top speed is 110 km / h. In addition, the BTR-4MV1 retained the possibility of forcing water obstacles to swimming, at speeds up to 10 km / h.