BTR-4


The BTR-4 "Bucephalus" is an amphibious 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in Ukraine by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau.
They have seen action in both the War in Donbass, and the capture of Jurf Al Nasr from ISIL.

History

The prototype, which was designed as a private venture, was unveiled at the Aviasvit 2006 exhibition held in Kiev in June 2006.
A serial production started in late 2008, first series of ten BTR entered service in the army of Ukraine in 2009.
In 2009, BTR-4 has been presented to the tender for the next infantry combat vehicle for the Spain Ground Forces, to replace the Pegaso BMR.

Description

The layout of the BTR-4 represents 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, and one 30mm automatic grenade launcher. 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.
Ukrainian state defence manufacturer UkrOboronProm has taken the opportunity at the Arms and Security exhibition being held from 10 to 13 October to unveil a prototype wheeled armoured fighting vehicle that is presently known as the BTR-4MV1. The new BTR-4MV1 is the latest generation of 8×8 APCThe 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 to reach the fourth and fifth protection levels in accordance with the NATO standards. Apart from that, 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 armoured personnel carrier to transport various large-size cargoes, including additional ammunition, spare parts, etc.

Service history

Up to 500 vehicles produced for all operators.
;Indonesia
During early trials and evaluation by the Indonesian Marine Corps, the BTR-4 has successfully passed the trials in Indonesia. On 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, though according to Ukroboronprom the news are part of informational warfare and black PR.
;Iraq
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.
;Nigeria
The BTR-4 was delivered for Nigerian Army in 2014.
;Ukraine
Some BTR-4s that being used by Ukrainian armed forces in the ATO operations come from the rejected batch for the Iraqi army.

Combat use

;Iraq
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.
;Ukraine
On 4 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. Their original desert camo as seen on Iraqi BTR-4s can be viewed in pictures and videos from ATO operations. Two Ukrainian BTR-4 were captured by the pro-Russian separatists in repairable state.

Versions

BTR-4 is available in multiple different configurations.
Standard module:
GROM module:
SHKVAL module:
BAU 23x2 module:
BTR-4KSh command and staff vehicle:
MOP-4K fire support vehicle:

Current operators

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