Macedonia Purchasing 200 BTR Armored Vehicles From Ukraine / Macedonia May Buy 200 BTR Armored Vehicles

Macedonia Purchasing 200 BTR Armored Vehicles From Ukraine / Macedonia May Buy 200 BTR Armored Vehicles

(NSI News Source Info) March 12, 2009: The Macedonian government is prepared to purchase 200 BTR 4 "Bukefal," armored personnel carriers (APCs) from Ukraine's Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau, according to reports in Interfax.

The BTR-4 armoured personnel carrier (APC) is intended to transport personnel of mechanized infantry units and to provide fire support in combat. The APC is used for equipping military units capable of carrying out combat actions in various conditions, including NBC environment. The APC can be used as a basic vehicle for equipping quick reaction forces and marine corps. The APC can fulfil its tasks both by day and at night, in various climatic conditions, on hard surface roads and in cross-country. The operating temperature range of the APC is -40 to +55°C.

While the Macedonian Defense Ministry was not able to completely verify Interfax's account, a spokesperson did confirm that an APC purchase will be forthcoming in the near future.

The size of the reported order, however, is sure to draw criticism, since the Macedonian Army needs no more than 110 APCs to fill outs its ranks as the country tries to gain acceptance into the NATO Alliance. In order to comply with NATO requirements, Macedonia will procure 30 new APCs by the end of 2009, with a total of 80 in service by year-end 2015.

The Finnish Patria AMV, the Austrian Steyr Pandur, and the Swiss MOWAG Piranha are all preferred options at the moment. The BTR-4 is modeled after the Russian BTR-80, 12 of which the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM) currently has in its service.

The Ukrainian deal seems to hinge on two things: good relations between the two countries, and the possibility of building a new plant in Macedonia where final assembly of the new vehicles would occur. Once this step has taken place and the requisite technical skills of the workers and proper infrastructure are in place, the plant would then move toward full production of the BTR 4s.

The Macedonian government will likely need the offsetting industrial work share in order to justify the project to its public at a time when the economies of Europe are in a tailspin and numerous infrastructure needs remain for the country.

Ukraine Improved Variation Of BTR-80, The New BTR-94

Ukraine Improved Variation Of BTR-80, The New BTR-94

(NSI News Source Info) March 10, 2009: Ukraine is now offering another variation of the Cold War era BTR-80 wheeled armored personnel carriers that were built on its territory. The new model is the BTR-4, which is a slightly larger version of the earlier BTR-3. The BTR-4 is a 25 ton vehicle that is safe from RPG rockets. It is armed with a 30mm autocannon, a 7.62mm machine-gun, and a 30mm grenade launcher (or two anti-tank missiles).

The BTR-94 Armored Personnel Carrier (on the basis of BTR-80 armored carriers) is an amphibious multipurpose armored vehicle, which has effective missile-gun and machine gun armament and heavy-duty power unit. The BTR-94 is intended for accompishment of the delivery of mechanized infantery personnel to the battle field; provision of fire support with personnel small arms. It can destroy with turret weapons ground targets such as artillery batteries, armored vehicles, field fortifications, strong points and launchers. It can also combat enemy living force who disperse on large area of plain or highlands, and low-flying air targets. It can conduct radar and optronic reconnaissance of ground and air targets by its own instruments. The BTR-90 is for use as a combination armored personnel carrier and scout vehicle. In this role, the BTR-94's turret is somewhat larger and armed with a ZU-23-2 twin 23mm autocannon and a coaxial PKT machinegun. In addition, the turret has mounted on it a combination ground surveillance/air surveillance radar with a range of up to 20 km against ground targets and 30 km against aerial targets. The night vision suite has been improved, and a video camera system with a data link to higher headquarters has been added. The guns are equipped with a laser rangefinder that also doubles as a laser designator. The engine has been upgraded to a multifuel type. The multipurpose armament provides heavy destruction ability of personnel, armored and fortified land-based sites and low-flying air-borne targets. The heavy-duty power unit on the base of the multi-fuel diesel engine provides high speed and manoeuvrability of the combat vehicle. The internal hull and turret Kevlar liner provides the additional protection of crew, troops and internal equipment against bullets and fragments, ensures high temperature proof even being attacked by enemy with incendiary ammunition and mixtures. In 1997, Jordan purchased Ukrainian armored personnal carriers from Jordan. They consisted of an order of 50 BTR-94 armored vehicles. The contract to supply the weaponry was signed early 1999 with Ukrspetsexport mediation and completed in February 2000. Ukraine supplied 50 BTR-94 personnel carriers to Jordan in February of 2000, and has recently signed a contract to supply spare part for this equipment. In mid-2000 the state-run Bronetechnika Ukrayiny (Ukraine's Armor) concern was negotiating with Jordan to set up a joint company for the production, modernization and repair of military equipment in the countries of the Middle East. The proposed Ukrainian-Jordanian JVC may open the door for the Malyshev Plant's entry to Middle Eastern markets

It also has smoke grenade launchers. There is a three man crew, and space for seven troops or passengers in the back. There are firing ports and bullet-proof windows in the passenger compartment. The vehicle is air conditioned and amphibious. If you take away the anti-RPG armor, the vehicle only weighs 17.5 tons and can carry eight troops in the back. The heavier version costs about $1.7 million each. After the Cold War ended, Ukraine became independent and inherited the BTR factories on its territory. The updated BTR vehicles have proved to be popular export items. The BTR-3 has been sold to half a dozen countries. The BTR-3 is a 17 ton vehicle armed with a 30mm autocannon, a 7.62mm machine-gun, a 30mm grenade launcher and smoke grenade launchers. There is a three man crew, and space for six troops or passengers in the back. There are firing ports and bullet-proof windows in the passenger compartment. The BTR-3 sells for about $1.3 million each. The BTR-3 is air conditioned and amphibious. For both vehicles, max road speed is 110 kilometers an hour, and 10 in the water. Range, via road, on internal fuel, is about 600 kilometers.

Ukraine's MDB Unveils Its BTR-4 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier At IDEX'2009

Ukraine's MDB Unveils Its BTR-4 8x8 Armoured Personnel Carrier At IDEX'2009

(NSI News Source Info) February 21, 2009: KMDB, the leader of the Ukrainian armoured construction, will demonstrate the latest variant of its BTR-4 APC with PARUS weapon station. Due to the customer's requirements BTR-4 APC 8x8 can be powered with one of the three possible engines: Ukrainian 3TD, German Deutz, or Italian Iveco.

The layout of the BTR-4 represent a change compared to the older BTR-60/70/80 designed in the Soviet Union. The vehicle has a conventional layout similar to western designs like the German TPz Fuchs with the driver's and commander's compartment at the front part of the hull, the engine and transmission compartment in the middle, and the troop compartment at the rear. The troops enter and leave the vehicle either through the rear doors or the roof hatches, and the driver and the commander are provided with doors located on the sides of the hull. Due to its modular design the BTR-4 can be used for development of the family of fighting vehicles. It also offers high level of ballistic as well as anti-mine protection. Basic protection level can be increased with the help of add-on armour. The vehicle is amphibious and can develop 8-10 km/h speed in water.

The BTR-4 was developed and manufactured as a private venture. The developers hope that the vehicle will be of interest to Ukraine's Ministry of Defence as well as to foreign customers. The new Ukrainian APC has a conventional layout with the driver's and commander's compartment at the front part of the hull, the engine and transmission compartment in the middle, and the troop compartment at the rear. The troops enter and leave the vehicle either through the rear doors or the roof hatches, and the driver and the commander are provided with doors located on the sides of the hull. The BTR-4 can operate in a wide range of ambient temperatures (-40 up to + 55 degrees Centigrade), as well as under dusty conditions, and can move on hard surface roads at a maximum speed of 110 km/h and cross water obstacles at a speed of 10 km/h. The vehicle is powered by a 3TD diesel engine developing 500 hp. At customers' request, the vehicle can be fitted with a Deutz engine developing either 489 or 598 hp. The BTR-4 can be a basis for development of various types of vehicles: fire support vehicle, command vehicle, ambulance, air defence vehicle, combat reconnaissance vehicle, and recovery vehicle. In the standard configuration, the vehicle has a weight of 17 tonnes and provides protection against small arms fire and mine blasts. In the enhanced configuration (with the front armour being able of providing immunity against 30 mm gun rounds), the vehicle weight can reach 27 tonnes. Apart from the BTR-4, the SOE KMDB also demonstrates at the exhibition an improved version of the Dozor-B 4x4 armoured personnel carrier.