In modern conditions, not all countries can afford to buy new armored vehicles. And we althy states have not been acquiring batches of several hundred pieces for a long time, limiting themselves to orders for 40-50-70 pieces of equipment. That is why the requirements for the manufacturer are extremely high. The Ukrainian BTR-3 is one of those models that have buyers even in the current difficult economic realities.
Begin development
The design of new technology began in 2000. The first machine was not created on an initiative basis, but for a competition at which the choice of military equipment for the UAE marines was carried out. You should not assume that the BTR-3 is something really new, since it was made on the basis of the old BTR-80. More precisely, on the basis of the BTR-94, which is a logical development of the "eightieth" model. This machine was developed at the Kharkov Machine-Building Plant. Construction of the new model ended in 2002.
Four large defense concerns from the UAE, Germany, the USA and Ukraine itself participated in this process. They are engaged in the production of componentsabout a dozen Ukrainian companies. The project turned out to be a kind of "international".
Production
The production of the new BTR-3 hulls is not carried out from scratch, but by reworking the old BTR-70 and BTR-80, a huge number of which went to Ukraine for nothing after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The new armored car is being assembled at the Kiev Armored Plant. Experts suggest that the operating costs for one "troika" amount to no more than five thousand hryvnia per month, which is several times less than the cost of maintaining one BTR-4.
Elimination of design flaws
As of 2015, it was reported that the country mastered the production of at least 90% of components for new equipment. This made it possible to reduce dependence on supplies and make the production of armored personnel carriers more cost-effective.
In the recent past, the leadership of the Kyiv 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 by achieving the correct location of the welds. Last year, intensive work began to study the possibility of installing German MAN engines in an armored personnel carrier.
It is reported that at the beginning of November 2015, Thailand achieved the signing of an agreement according to which it can independently produce the BTR-3 and its components on its territory. It is not clear, however, how the Thais are goingmake hulls. Either they will open their own foundry of hulls for BTR-3, or they intend to buy old BTR-70/80 from Ukrainians.
Design features
Given the origin of the machine, one should not be surprised at its layout with a front-mounted control compartment. The troop and combat compartments are located in the middle part of the armored personnel carrier, and the engine compartment is in the rear. The armored personnel carrier BTR-3 directly borrowed such a layout of compartments from its "ancestors".
Like them, this model is capable of forcing water barriers under its own power. For movement in this case, a jet engine mounted on the stern is used. Much has been done for the convenience of the driver. So, to start forcing a lake or river, he does not need to leave his workplace: shields to reflect water and a pump to pump out its excess are switched on directly from the cab.
Thus, only two people should be in the regular crew: directly the driver and the operator of the combat module. At least eight fighters in full ammunition are placed in the landing compartment, who can enter and leave the vehicle through double hatches cut into the lower part of each side. A classic scheme was used: the lower part of such a door forms a convenient ledge, and the second partition, reclining in the direction of travel, covers the landing force from possible shelling from individual small arms. For emergency situations, hatches are provided on the roof of the armored car.
Availablestandard installation for air conditioning, as well as an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment.
Degree of security
But this point is the most interesting to consider. 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 is the BTR-3, the technical characteristics of which we are considering, actually capable of withstanding various weapons?
This is the first Ukrainian-made armored car, in the design of which differentiated armor was used: steel armor protects the crew from the damaging effects of bullets, and the Kevlar lining is designed to slow down and hold fragments. As we said, the hull is assembled from old Soviet-made armored personnel carriers by welding on additional armor plates from rolled sheet steel. With the exception of the stern, they are all installed with rational angles of inclination, which increase the likelihood of a rebound and provide increased security for the crew of the vehicle.
The hull of the BTR-3, the drawings of which repeat the characteristic features of the BTR-80 in almost everything, is distinguished by a noticeable smoothness of contours. According to Ukrainian designers, this was done in order to facilitate the overcoming of water barriers. Again, there is information that, at the request of the customer, a troop compartment with a height of 150 mm can be mounted, which facilitates the entry and exit of fighters, as well as the evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield.
Characteristicsmobility
To simplify control and reduce the load on the driver, a powerful hydraulic power steering is structurally provided. Four (!) front wheels are steering, which significantly improves the maneuverability and cross-country ability of the car. There is a centralized tire pressure indication system and a mechanism for controlling it, which allows you to quickly adjust its performance without leaving the car. This is especially convenient if you need to overcome swampy and wetlands on the move.
Power plant and transmission
At present, the German Deutz BF6M1015 engine is installed on the BTR-3 "Dozor", delivering power up to 326 hp. with. The machine is equipped with a fully automatic transmission Allison MD3066. There is a more budgetary option, when an armored personnel carrier receives a UTD-20 engine, which develops a power of about 300 hp. with. But it is not in great demand either in the country itself or among foreign customers, since the mobility of such equipment is not satisfactory.
The MTU 6R106TD21 engine is installed on the latest and newest model, the internal volume is 7.2 liters. This motor can already produce up to 325 hp. with. And this time, the manufacturers decided to mount the Allison 3200SP fully automatic transmission. It is reported that by the beginning of 2015, a (theoretically) prototype of a completely Ukrainian automatic transmission was ready. Most likely, if this project is implemented in the current economic realities, then we are talking only about licensed production of a foreign model.
Characteristics of running gearparts
BTR-3E1 is equipped with bulletproof French Michelin tires[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
The KBA-105 Shkval combat module was developed especially for this technique, the main striking force of which is the modern 30-mm cannon of the ZTM-1 model. It is paired with a 7.62-mm KT-7, 62 machine gun. What can the crew of the BTR-3 (a modern armored personnel carrier, after all) do when meeting with an enemy tank? For this purpose, the vehicle is equipped with two 9M114M Konkurs-M ATGM launch canisters. A 30 mm automatic grenade launcher can be used to attack or repulse infantry.
The OTP-20 complex is responsible for fire control and stabilization of the main gun, the design of which includes the latest gun stabilizer SVU-500. Its use made it possible to significantly increase the accuracy of shooting even at long distances.
Another version of the combat module
There is an option to equip an armored car with a BM-3M Sturm combat module. It is distinguished by the stabilization of the entire armament unit in two planes at once. This system was developed under the direct supervision of M. D. Borisyuk. As in the previous case, the basis of the module is an automatic 30-mm cannon of the ZTM-1 model (ammunition - 350 rounds), as well as a 7.62-mm KT machine gun with an ammunition of 2000 rounds. On the right side of the module there is a launch container "Barrier" with four anti-tank missiles, and on the left there is a 30-mmKBA-117 (automatic grenade launcher).
As in the previous case, the OTP-20 complex, which is fully integrated into the Barrier anti-tank systems, is responsible for targeting and firing accuracy. The SVU-500 acts as a weapon stabilizer. Since stabilization is carried out simultaneously in two planes, the BTR-3 "Guardian" (armored personnel carrier) can deliver effective fire immediately, without wasting time stopping and aiming. The turret also has small mortars (81mm) designed to eject "Cloud" smoke bombs.
SLA and sights
What fire control device (FCA) is used? Equipment brand - "Trek-M". Produced at the Chernihiv Radio Engineering Plant. The tasks of this system include the timely detection of ground targets and helicopters with low flight altitude, the implementation of aiming, as well as remote control of the entire complex of the combat vehicle.
The commander has a separate device (with the same functions) "Panorama-2P". It can also carry out duplicated control of weapons through a special remote control. The wide-angle panoramic camera, which is part of both combat modules, can rise to a height of up to half a meter, providing the commander and gunner with the highest possible view. This system is also produced at the Chernihiv Radio Engineering Plant.
