BTR-3 (armored carrier "Guardian"): overview, description, characteristics and features

In modern conditions, not all countries can afford to buy new armored vehicles. Yes, and wealthy states have long been buying lots of several hundred pieces, limited to orders for 40-50-70 units of equipment. Therefore, the requirements for the manufacturer are extremely high. Ukrainian BTR-3 is among those models that have buyers even in the current difficult economic realities.

Start of development

The construction of new equipment began in 2000. The first car was created not in an initiative order, but for a competition where the selection of military equipment for the marines of the UAE was conducted. Do not assume that the BTR-3 is something really new, as they did it on the basis of the old BTR-80. More precisely, on the basis of BTR-94, which is a logical development of the "eighties" model. This machine was developed at the Kharkov machine-building plant. The design of the new model ended in 2002.

Four large defense concerns from the UAE, Germany, the United States and Ukraine took part in this process. About a dozen Ukrainian companies are engaged in the production of components. The project turned out to be a kind of "international".

Production

The production of the new BTR-3 hulls is not from scratch, but through the conversion of old BTR-70 and BTR-80, a huge number of which have been given to Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The assembly of a new armored car is conducted at the Kiev Armored Factory. Experts assume that the operating costs for one "three" are not more than five thousand hryvnia per month, which is several times less than the cost of maintaining one BTR-4.

Eliminating design deficiencies

As of 2015, it was reported that the country has mastered the production of not less than 90% of components for new equipment. This made it possible to reduce dependence on supplies and make the production of armored vehicles more cost-effective.

In the recent past, the management of the Kiev plant reported that since the start of production and at that time, almost 800 different changes had already been made to the design of the machine, which corrected the shortcomings identified during operation. In addition, it was possible to significantly improve the manufacturability of production, just having achieved the correct location of welded seams. In the past year, intensive work was begun to study the possibility of installing German engine MAN in an armored personnel carrier .

It is reported that in early November 2015, Thailand has achieved the signing of an agreement under which it can independently produce BTR-3 and its components on its territory. It is unclear, however, how the Thais are going to make hulls. Whether they will have their own foundry for BTR-3 hulls, or they intend to buy old BTR-70/80 from Ukrainians.

Design features

Considering the origin of the machine, it is not surprising that it is assembled with the front compartment of the control compartment. The landing and combat units are in the middle part of the armored personnel carrier, and the engine compartment is in the rear. Such an arrangement of the compartments of the BTR-3 armored personnel carrier has directly borrowed from its "ancestors".

Like them, this model is capable of forcing water obstacles. To move in this case, a water jet engine mounted on the stern is used. Much is done for the convenience of the driver. So, he does not need to leave the workplace to start the crossing of the lake or river: the flaps for reflecting water and pumps for pumping out its excess are switched directly from the cabin.

Thus, in a regular crew there should be only two people: directly a driver mechanic and a combat module operator. In the amphibious compartment is placed at least eight fighters in full ammunition, which can enter the car and leave it through the two-hatch hatches cut at the bottom of each side. The classical scheme is used: the lower part of such a door forms a convenient ledge, while the second partition, reclining along the way, covers the landing from possible firing from individual small arms. For supernumerary situations, hatches are provided on the roof of the armored car.

There is a regular installation for air conditioning, as well as an automatic fire-fighting system in the engine-transmission compartment.

Degree of protection

But this moment is most interesting for consideration. The fact is that the Ukrainian side positions this armored car as the most protected, comparing it almost with a full-fledged tank. How justified is this approach and how does BTR-3, the technical characteristics of which we consider, be able to withstand the various means of destruction?

This is the first armored car of Ukrainian manufacture, in the construction of which differentiated armor was used: steel protects the crew from the damaging effect of bullets, and the Kevlar rebuff is designed for braking and holding fragments. As we said, the hull is assembled from old Soviet-made armored personnel carriers by welding additional armor plates from rolled steel sheets. With the exception of the stern all of them are installed with rational angles of inclination, which increase the probability of rebound and provide increased security for the crew of the car.

The BTR-3 hull, the drawings of which practically repeat the characteristic features of the BTR-80, is distinguished by a noticeable smoothness of the contours. As reported by Ukrainian designers, this was done for the sake of facilitating the overcoming of water obstacles. Again, there is information that at the request of the customer can be mounted landing compartment with a height of 150 mm, which facilitates the entry and exit of soldiers, as well as the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield.

Motility characteristics

To simplify the management and reduce the load on the driver mechanically, a powerful hydraulic power steering is provided. Four (!) Front wheel steering, which greatly improves the maneuverability and patency of the machine. There is a centralized system of indication of the pressure in the tires and the mechanism for controlling it, which allows you to quickly adjust the parameters without leaving the machine. This is especially convenient if you want to overcome the heat and swamp areas.

Power plant and transmission

Currently, the BTR-3 Dozor is equipped with a German engine Deutz BF6M1015, which produces a power of up to 326 liters. from. The machine is equipped with a fully automatic transmission Allison MD3066. There is a more budgetary option when an armored personnel carrier receives an UTD-20 engine developing a power of about 300 liters. from. But it is not too much in demand either in the country itself or among foreign customers, as the mobility of such equipment is not satisfactory to satisfactory.

The latest and newest model is installed MTU 6R106TD21 engine, internal volume - 7.2 liters. This motor can already produce up to 325 liters. from. And this time the manufacturers decided to mount a fully automatic transmission Allison 3200SP. It is reported that by early 2015 was ready (in theory) the prototype of a fully Ukrainian automatic transmission. Most likely, if this project is implemented in the current economic realities, then it is only a licensed production of a foreign model.

Chassis characteristics

BTR-3E1 is equipped with bulletproof French tires Michelin [9]. Tires are diagonal, tubeless, variable pressure and dimension 365/90 R18 or 335/80 R20.

What is armed with a new armored personnel carrier

Specially for this technique, the combat module KBA-105 "Shkval" was developed, the main strike force of which is the modern 30mm ZTM-1 cannon. With her, a 7.62-mm machine gun, CT-7.62, is working in pairs. What can the BTR-3 crew do (a modern armored personnel carrier, after all) when meeting an enemy tank? For this purpose, the machine is equipped with two launch containers PTMR 9M114M "Contest-M". To attack the infantry or repel its attacks, a 30-mm automatic grenade launcher can be used.

The OTP-20 complex is responsible for fire control and stabilization of the main gun, the design of which includes the newest stabilizer of the SVU-500 gun. Its use has significantly increased the accuracy of firing even at long distances.

Another version of the combat module

There is a variant of equipping an armored car with a combat module BM-3M "Sturm". It is distinguished by the stabilization of the entire armament block at once in two planes. This system was developed under the direct supervision of MD Borisyuk. As in the previous case, the module is based on an automatic 30mm cannon of the ZTM-1 (ammunition - 350 rounds), as well as a 7.62-mm KT machine gun with an ammunition of 2,000 cartridges. On the right side of the module there is a Starter container "Barrier" with four anti-tank missiles, and on the left there is a 30-mm KBA-117 (automatic grenade launcher).

As in the previous case, OTP-20 is responsible for aiming and shooting accuracy, which is fully integrated into the Barrier control systems. SVU-500 acts as an armament stabilizer. Since stabilization is carried out simultaneously in two planes, the BTR-3 "Guardian" (armored personnel carrier) can conduct effective fire immediately, without wasting time to stop and aim. On the tower there are also small mortars (81 mm), designed for the release of smoke bombs "Cloud".

MSA and sighting devices

What is the fire control tool (OMS)? The brand of equipment is Track-M. Produced at the Chernigov radio engineering plant. The tasks of this system include the timely detection of ground targets and helicopters with low altitude, the implementation of aiming, as well as remote control of the whole complex of the combat vehicle.

The commander has a separate device (with the same functions) "Panorama-2P". Also, he can carry out duplicated control of armament through a special remote control. A large-format panoramic camera, which is part of both combat modules, can be raised to a height of up to half a meter, providing the commander and the gunner with the greatest possible visibility. This system is also produced at the Chernigov radio engineering plant.