Belarusian Army will soon receive the second battalion set of BTR-82A 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier (APC) from Russia. Belarusian Army have received one battalion set of BTR-82A 8×8 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier, which came in service in the 120th mechanized brigade. The second battalion set of these state-of-the-art vehicles will reach Belarus within a month. It will go to the Belarusian Army 6th mechanized brigade. The first batch of Russian BTR-82A helicopters was delivered to Belarus in later September. Such vehicles are used in the Azerbaijani and Kazakh Armies.
The BTR-82A is an advanced 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier (APC) being manufactured by Military Industrial Company of Russia for use by the armies of Russia and Kazakhstan. The BTR-82A APC was developed based on the design of BTR-80A. The vehicle offers improved protection capabilities than its predecessor. The first prototypes of the vehicle were unveiled in December 2009. The APC’s features were demonstrated during the 15th Interpolitex State Security Materiel Show at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre in Moscow in October 2011. It was also displayed at the Russian Expo Arms 2011 show in Nizhny Tagil.
The BTR-82A is powered by KAMAZ 740.14-300 turbo diesel engine, which generates a power of 300hp. The vehicle can accomplish a maximum speed of 100km/h on road and has a maximum range of 600km. The upgraded transmission components ensure increased average speed on uneven surfaces. The fully amphibious vehicle also integrates a central tyre-pressure monitoring system and is propelled by a water-jet when on the water. The gunner’s station is equipped with TKN-4GA day / night fire control system. The commander is provided with advanced communications and topographic maps.
The BTR-82A APC can perform combat operations 24 hours a day. The main armament of the APC is 30mm dual-feed automatic cannon. The gun can fire armour piercing-tracer (AP-T) projectiles, high-explosive fragmentation-incendiary (HEF-I) and high-explosive-tracer (HE-T) ammunition. The secondary armament of the vehicle includes a 7.62mm PKTM coaxial machine gun. The turret incorporates two-axis stabilisation, new sighting channels, and three forward-facing 81mm smoke grenade launchers on each side. The firing elevation ranges from -7° to +70°. The armoured hull of the APC is made up of Kevlar laminated synthetic material to provide ballistic protection.
