The BTR-D is a Soviet airborne multi-purpose tracked armoured personnel carrier. It was introduced in 1974 and first seen by the West in 1979 during the Soviet–Afghan War. BTR-D stands for Bronetransportyor Desanta (БТР-Д, Бронетранспортер Десанта, literally "armoured transporter of the Airborne"). It is based on the BMD-1 airborne IFV. NATO gave it the designation BMD M1979.

Development history

In 1969, the BMD-1 airborne IFV entered service with the Soviet Army. The vehicle had many flaws, but the biggest one was that the troop compartment was extremely cramped and could only transport up to four infantrymen. This number was often reduced to three because it was impractical for four infantrymen to operate inside the troop compartment and dismount from the vehicle. At the beginning of the 1970s, the Volgograd Tractor Factory design bureau, who designed the BMD-1, began designing a new airborne APC based on the BMD-1. The prototype was completed in 1974. The same year it entered production and service with the Soviet Army as the BTR-D.

Description

Overview

While the BTR-D is based on the BMD-1, it is 60 mm longer and lacks a turret. Instead, it has a small flat superstructure with a hatch on top.

Crew

The crew consists of the driver, the commander and the left bow mounted machine gun gunner, all of whom are in the same positions and have the same equipment as in the BMD-1.

Armament

The turret with all of the main armament was removed. The two bow mounted machine guns were retained. The original PKT tank machine guns were replaced by PKB general purpose machine guns. The vehicle can also be fitted with pintle-mounted automatic grenade launchers (AGS-17, AGS-30 or AGS-57) and/or machine guns (PKM, 6P41 "Pecheneg", NSV-127 "Utyos" or 6P49 "Kord").

Maneuverability

The BTR-D is powered by the same engine as the BMD-1. Its suspension is longer because the entire vehicle has been lengthened by 60 mm. Because of this, the vehicle has six roadwheels on each side instead of five. It has five return rollers on each side unlike the BMD-1, which has four.

Amphibious ability

Armour protection

The armour protection is slightly better on the BTR-D than on the BMD-1 due to the upper front armour having a dual slanted angle.

Troop compartment

With the turret removed, the troop compartment was enlarged and can carry up to ten equipped soldiers. It's also linked with the crew compartment in the front. There are two firing ports in the sides and one in the rear, two of which are for RPK-74 light machine guns.

Equipment

The BTR-D has all the same equipment as the BMD-1, with added towing equipment for a ZU-23-2 twin AA autocannon.

Air-drop techniques

Service history

The BTR-D entered service with the Soviet Army in 1974. It was used by Soviet airborne troops during the Soviet–Afghan War, where it was seen for the first time by the West in 1979. As of now, the BTR-D and vehicles based upon it are used by the following units of the Russian Army or are stationed in following bases:

Variants

Operators

Current operators

Former operators