THE TANK BECOMES AN ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER (BTR-T Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier)

Dmitry Ageyev

General Designer of the Project

The BTR-T most distinguishing feature is its low-silhouette turret mounted on the tank chassis with a platform that mounts a modern gun-missile armament. The BTR-T can be used to transport motorized infantry subunits in eventual NBC and hostile fire environment and effectively defeat hostile targets.

xtensive experience gained from combat actions, including local conflicts, dramatically revealed the need to protect the personnel of motorized infantry elements from modern means of destruction.

Existing wheeled vehicles such as the BTR-80 and BRMD, and tracked vehicles like the BMP and MT-LB, cannot always provide protection for troops on the battlefield. While implementing the concept of maximum protection, the Design Bureau of Transport Machine-Building jointly with the Transport Mashine-Building Plant state-run production association developed and manufactured a prototype of the BTR-T heavy armored personnel carrier developed from the T-55 tank capable to fight modern means of destruction on a par with main battle tanks.

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF BTR-T
Base T-55

Weight, t
Crew
Troops 38.5
2
5

ARMAMENT
Automatic gun:
- type
- caliber, mm
- ammunition load, rds 2A42
30
200

ATGM:
- type
- caliber, mm
- ammunition load, rds Konkurs
135
3

PROTECTION:
- from RGR and ATGM:
- type built-in
- equivalent, mm ERA
600 (course angle +30o)

SMOKE LAYING SCREEN:
- type
- number of smoke chargers 902
12

MOBILITY
Max speed, km/h
Road endurance, km
Negotiated obstacles:
- gradients and slopes, deg.
- side-slope, deg.
- vertical obstacle, m
- ditch, m
- fording depth, m:
     w/o preparation
     with OPV snorkel tube 50
500
32
30
0.8
2.7
1.4
5

The T-55 tanks and their modifications became outdated and cannot be effective in current conditions. They were discarded from the inventory of Russia's Armed Forces. A great number of these tanks were delivered to many countries. And now they can be re-equipped to be used as heavy highly-protected armored personnel carriers.

The plant plans to carry out the modernization of outdated tanks to convert them into BTR-T heavy armored personnel carriers using the customer's production facilities and delivering components from Russia.

The BTR-T most distinguishing feature is its low-silhouette turret mounted on the tank chassis with a platform that mounts a modern gun-missile armament. The 30mm automatic gun and Konkurs ATGM are mounted on the turret. Such an armament is able to defeat both lightly armored ground and air targets and heavily armored ground targets.

Reconfiguration of the crew compartments created enough space in the hull to accommodate a commander, driver and five assault troops.

The vehicle's protection is dramatically increased due to installation of a smoke screen generating system, and improved anti-mine and built-in explosive reactive armor (ERA) protection systems.

The crew compartments are equipped with a modern survival system that allows the crew and troops to operate in NBC environment and in any climatic conditions.

Consequently, the BTR-T can be used to transport motorized infantry subunits in eventual NBC and hostile fire environment and effectively defeat hostile targets.

By implementing the engineering ideas incorporated in the BTR-T design, it is possible to equip vehicles of this type on the basis of any outdated Russian-made or foreign-made tanks.

The modular concept of combat compartments will allow manufacturers to equip the BTR-T with various armament systems to meet the customer's requirements.

At customer's request the following armament complexes are available*:

1. 2A42 automatic gun (caliber 30 mm);
Launcher of Konkurs ATGM (caliber 135 mm ; quantity 2 pcs);

2. 2A42 automatic gun (caliber 30 mm);
AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher (caliber 30 mm);

3. 2A38 twin-barrel submachine gun (caliber 135 mm ; quantity 2 pcs);

4. NSV anti-air-machine gun (caliber 12.7 mm);
Launcher of Konkurs ATGM (caliber 135 mm ; quantity 2 pcs);

5. NSV anti-air machine gun (caliber 12.7 mm);
AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher (caliber 30 mm).

* The installation of NATO armament complexes is also available