Ukrainian Military Adds Upgraded BTR-80 APCs, BTS-4 Tanks

Ukroboronprom, handed over a batch of upgraded BTR-80 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and BTS-4 tanks.

Mykolayiv Armoured Plant overhauled the Soviet-era armored personnel carriers, restored all components and units, as well as installed the latest Ukrainian-made surveillance, navigation and communication systems.

“Following improving the tactical and technical characteristics, armored personnel carriers have become more convenient to operate in a night-time, as they are equipped with the latest thermal sighting system. Visibility and target recognition has also been significantly improved. And the new BTR-80 digital communication devices comply with NATO standards. The upgraded armored personnel carriers have already been hand over to our military,” said Yuri Kravchenko, director of the Mykolayiv Armoured Plant.

The BTR-80 8×8 APC is manufactured by the Arzamas machinery Construction Plant of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. It entered service with the Soviet Army in the late 1980s. The vehicle is intended to carry personnel on the battlefield and provide close fire support. It can also carry out reconnaissance, combat support and patrol missions.

Meanwhile, Lviv Armored Plant, another subsidiary of Ukroboronprom, handed over BTS-4 tanks to the Army. The tank received a new crane with hydraulic drive, which gave the BTS-4 the ability to lift loads up to 12 tons for field installation and dismantling of components and units, including tank turrets, engines, gearboxes, support rollers and more. Electric welding equipment is installed, which is powered by the generator of the armored vehicle and allows electric welding. This equipment of the machine gives the crew the opportunity to perform a complete list of works on the current and average repair of armored vehicles in the field.

The machine was equipped with a traction winch with a cable with a working length of 200 m, for the evacuation of equipment weighing up to 100 tons. To facilitate the work of the crew, experts have installed an additional winch, which is mainly used to issue the cable of the main winch at a distance of up to 200 m.

For clearing of ways and the equipment of positions the tractor received the modern bulldozer equipment. Increased power reserve due to additional fuel tanks. In addition, the factory installed a 580 hp engine, which allows the 38-ton car to develop a maximum speed of at least 40 km / h. The car crew consists of 3 people.