BTR-82A

Russia's mainstay modern wheeled armored personnel carrier — an amphibious 8x8 with a 30 mm autocannon, fielded widely in Ukraine and Syria.

Overview

The BTR-82A is a heavily modernized derivative of the ubiquitous Soviet-era BTR-80 8×8 armored personnel carrier. Produced by Arzamas Machine-Building and the Military-Industrial Company (VPK), it entered service in 2013 to provide Russian motorized rifle units with a more lethal, better-protected wheeled APC that retains full amphibious capability. The upgrade replaces the legacy 14.5 mm KPVT heavy machine gun with a stabilized 30 mm 2A72 autocannon, adds a Kevlar-type spall liner, and substantially improves day/night fire control — characteristics that have made the BTR-82A the backbone of Russia’s wheeled motor-rifle force and a frequent sight in conflicts from Syria to Ukraine.

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