The newest version of Ukrainian BTR-4, called the BTR-4MV1 had received a new increased armour and opto-electronic sight with a powerful thermal imager, coupled with a high-precision digital fire control system. The BTR-4MV1 armoured personnel carrier offers significant improvements over the BTR-4 series. An advanced modular armour protection system provides the vehicle with NATO STANAG-standard from bullets, guns, and weapons. Thanks to these measures, BTR-4MB1 protection significantly exceeds any APC or IFV sample, Ukrainian defenders are armed with.
Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau developers used a modular approach in constructing armor protection, using spaced armor. Such a modular approach allows to quickly replace elements of the upper layer of armor in the field conditions. The new engineering solution offers a high level of protection for the vehicle’s occupants against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mine blasts. The vehicle has mine-resistant seats and spall liners. The wheeled armouredfighting vehicle has a rear ramp with doors for troop entry and exit. 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 (including the ceramic plates and explosive reactive armour) to reach the fourth and fifth protection levels in accordance with the NATO standards.
Technological solutions – adopted by Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau specialists allowed to increase BTR-4MV1 weight by only 24-25 tons, which is 2-3 tons more than BTR-4. The running gear – the 8×8 wheel formula in conjunction with the German Deutz engine and the American Alisson transmission – remained unchanged: top speed is 110 km / h. In addition, the BTR-4MV1 retained the possibility of forcing water obstacles by swimming, at speeds up to 10 km / h.
The BTR-4 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 (two on each side of the turret), and one 30mm automatic grenade launcher (fitted in place of the AT missiles on one left-hand side of the turret). It can also be fitted with different turret weapons modules: the GROM module, SHKVAL module, and the BAU 23×2 module.
