The BTR-4 eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier began as a in-house endeavor through the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau concern - otherwise known by the initials KMDB - based out of the Ukraine. The firm was founded in 1927 and continues today as a state-run, military-oriented entity largely being responsible for production of various heavy vehicles including both armored personnel carriers and main battle tank classes. During the Cold War, Ukraine fell under the Soviet sphere of influence and the firm was called upon to produce Soviet tanks including the fabled T-34 Medium Tank of World War 2 fame as well as the excellent T-54 series. Additionally, production of the T-64, T-80 and T-84 marks were also undertaken over the decades.
The BTR-4 itself, therefore, is obviously inspired by the Soviet/Russian series of BTR eight-wheeled armored carriers and continues the relatively recent tradition of in-house, indigenous Ukrainian military equipment and weaponry meant to keep the nation as independent as possible. The BTR-4 was first displayed in June of 2006 and entered production in 2008 with limited deliveries to the Ukrainian Army beginning in 2009. At its core, the BTR-4 is intended as a modular battlefield system able to mount various weaponry "modules" and undertake multiple mission roles as needed with little or no modification to the basic chassis. This makes for a versatile, multi-faceted battlefield implement that can be procured in some number at reasonable cost.
Externally, the BTR-4 mimics much of the appearance of Cold War Soviet BTR vehicle designs. The vehicle is characterized by its arrangement of eight large road wheels, four to a hull side. Ground clearance of the BTR-4 is excellent and each suspended wheel is paired along individual axles with the front pair being steerable by an automobile-style steering wheel. The forward portion of the hull sports a near-flat glacis plate with a sloped windscreen and thick vision blocks for the driver. The lower forward hull is also extensively sloped downwards to help navigate cross-country terrain and provide for basic ballistics protection. The sides of the vehicle are angled inwards toward the vehicle's centerline. The roof is flat and mounts the optional weapons packages, troop entry/exit hatches and various communications and field equipment as needed. The base hull is amphibious, allowing the BTR-4 the ability to traverse deep water sources with some ease and is powered in such fashion by way of two integrated waterjets located at the rear of the vehicle hull. A standard fire suppression system and NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) suite protect the crew from various battlefield hazards. Additional armor blocks can be added for point defense against enemy missiles and projectiles. Navigation is assisted by a TIUS-NM satellite navigation system, an inertial navigation support system and the SN-3003 series Bazalt portable satellite navigation support system. Night-vision is included as is a target illuminator.
The BTR-4 series features a modular armaments package that can be edited to suit customer or mission needs (and directly can dictate the variant type in the process). The standard fitting is a turreted 30mm autocannon with a 1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. Additionally, the armament display is backed by up to 4 x anti-tank guided missile launchers - in particular, support for the 9P135M "Konkurs" or "Baryer" ATGMs is noted. In place of two of these launchers can be a 1 x 30mm automatic grenade launcher for enemy infantry suppression through use of High-Explosive (HE) lopped grenades. The basic BTR-4 is crewed by three personnel - the driver, vehicle commander and dedicated gunner (the latter two in the powered turret) - as well as seating for up to eight personnel in the passenger compartment.
In its dedicated BAU 23x2 air defense form, the BTR-4 system is primarily armed with 2 x 23x115mm automatic cannons for close-in defense work against low flying aircraft. This armament is backed by a 1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and seats three crew along with eight passengers. A command vehicle - designated as the BTR-4KSh - sports extra communications equipment and is armed with just a single 12.7mm TKB-01-1 heavy machine gun for self-defense work. The crew consists of seven personnel including the driver and vehicle commander as well as applicable mission specialists. One of the more interesting forms of the BTR-4 is the MOP-4K Fire Support Vehicle which sports a turreted 120mm main gun to counter threats from enemy tank systems. The vehicle is further defensed by a 12.7mm heavy machine gun in a trainable ring mounting on the turret roof. In this variant, the BTR-4 is essentially converted into a mobile tank destroyer with limited armor protection. The crew is consists of four personnel - the driver, vehicle commander, gunner and an ammunition handler. Other variants in the BTR-4 family line include the BREM-4K battlefield repair and recovery vehicle, the BSEM-4K medical vehicle with room for litters and equipment and the BRM-4K dedicated reconnaissance platform with additional communications equipment.
To date, the armies of Ukraine and Iraq are the sole operators of the BTR-4. Iraq has only recently placed a procurement order of approximately 420 vehicles to help beef up their decimated mechanized forces following the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. The order began delivery in late 2013 but quality issues with the vehicles led to the order being cancelled after just 88 BTR-4s were delivered.
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September 2022 - The BTR-4 has been actively featured with Ukrainian ground forces in the ongoing war with Russia.
Specifications
Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau - Ukraine Manufacturer(s)
INFANTRY SUPPORT
Support allied ground forces through weapons, inherent capabilities, and / or onboard systems.
25.1 ft (7.65 meters) Length
9.8 ft (3 meters) Width
9.2 ft (2.8 meters) Height
44,092 lb (20,000 kg) Weight
22.0 tons (Medium-class) Tonnage
1 x 3TD diesel-fueled engine developing 500 horsepower driving conventional eight-wheeled arrangement. Drive System
68 mph (110 kph) Road Speed
429 miles (690 km) Road Range
STANDARD:
1 x 30mm Automatic Cannon in turret.
1 x 7.62mm co-axial anti-infantry machine gun in turret.
2 OR 4 x 9P135M "Konkurs" OR "Baryer" Anti-Tank Guided-Missile (ATGM) launchers.
1 x 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL - replacing one ATGM launcher).
12 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers (twin banks of six launchers to each side of turret).
AIR-DEFENSE:
2 x 23mm Automatic Cannons in turret.
1 x 7.62mm co-axial anti-infantry machine gun in turret.
12 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers (twin banks of six launchers to each side of turret).
COMMAND VEHICLE:
1 x 12.7mm TKB-01-1 Anti-Aircraft Heavy Machine Gun (AAHMG).
12 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers (twin banks of six launchers to each side of turret).
FIRE SUPPORT:
1 x 120mm turreted Main Gun.
1 x 12.7mm AAHMG.
12 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers (twin banks of six launchers to each side of turret).
Also any personal weapons carried by passengers (gun ports provided).
AMMUNITION
Dependent upon variant and armament fit.
BTR-4 - Base Series Deisgnation; standard armament of 1 x 30mm autocannon, 1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and 2 to 4 x Konkurs/Baryer anti-tank guided missile launchers; crew of 3 with 8 passengers.
BTR-4 (Up-Armored) - Additional Armor Protection; passenger seating of 7; same armament as base BTR-4.
BTR-4 (GROM)
BTR-4 (SHKVAL) - 1 x 30mm cannon; 1 x 30mm automatic grenade launcher; 1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun; 2 to 4 x Konkurs or Baryer ATGMs.
BTR-4 (BAU 23x2) - 2 x 23mm cannons; 1 x 7.62mm machine gun.
BTR-4K/BTR-4KSh - Command Vehicle; fitted with additional communications and sensor equipment; crew of 7.
MOP-4K - Fire Support Vehicle; fitted with 1 x 120mm main gun and 1 x 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun; crew of 4.
BRM-4K (Recon) - Reconnaissance Vehicle; additional communications equipment; crew of 6.
BREM-4K (R&R) - Repair and Recovery Vehicle; crew of 4; fitted with powered crane, winch and cable; welding equipment; towing equipment.
BSEM-4K (MEDEVAC) - Medical Vehicle; crew of 3; room for medical litters, equipment and staff.
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