BTR-80A

The BTR-80A aka the GAZ-59034, entered production in 1994 as an improved model the original vehicle. The focus was on an increase in lethality. The original smaller turret with its 14.5mm Heavy Machine Gun was replaced with a new BPPU turret, that had day and night sights. It had a new main gun which was a 30mm dual feed chain gun capable of firing HE-FRAG and AP-T rounds as well as a coaxial 7.62mm Machine Gun. Vehicle is armed with externally mounted 30-mm cannon and coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun. This dual-fed cannon uses HE-FRAG and AP-T rounds. The vehicles armour was standard steel and thick enough to offer protection against 12.7mm rounds over the frontal arc and all round protection again 7.62mm MG fire. The crew are protected by an NBC system.

 

The BTR-70 had not fixed the design faults of the BTR-60. The BTR-80 however did address them and resolve them, being the maintenance of the engine and automotive train, the elevation of the main gun in the turret and finally the exits from the troop compartment. Fighting in Afghanistan had shown the lack of elevation in the main gun as it couldn't fire at targets on the many hills, so was increased to 60°. The use of two engines was dropped in favour of one single diesel, this simplified the automotive train and made maintenance easier. The final design problem of troop disembarking was the introduction of a much larger opening of the old hatches with a clam style door. The top opened outwards and the bottom dropped down to form a step between the 2nd and 3rd tyres so the troops could exit with speed, avoid being crushed by the wheels by stepping out and allowed the BTR-80 to continue moving whilst troops were disembarking

 

Specifications:

 

Weight: 13.6 tonnes

Length: 7.65 m

Width: 2.90 m

Height: 2.35 m

Crew: 3 (+8 passengers)

Armour: Classified

Engine: 260hp diesel KamAZ-7403

Power/weight: 19 hp/tonne

Suspension: wheeled 8×8

Operational range: 600 km

Speed: 80 km/h (swim 9 km/

 

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