Sea Trials of the BT-3F Armored Personnel Carrier Began to Replace the MT-LB

18 Februari 2019

BT3F amphibious APC (photos : Yuripasholok)

MOSCOW - RIA News. Sea trials of the newest Russian armored personnel carrier BT-3F, designed to replace the Soviet MT-LB, have started, told Abralov Sergey Avtolov, chief designer of the Special Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (SKBM, is part of the Kurganmashzavod structure, told RIA Novosti)

"Sea trials began, they will be completed in the autumn of 2019," said Abdulov.

The new amphibious tracked armored personnel carrier BT-3F was first presented at the Army 2016 forum. It can navigate and parachute from transport aircraft. The crew of the BT-3F - three people, while the armored personnel carrier takes on board up to 14 paratroopers.

A remote-controlled combat module with a 7.62-millimeter machine gun with a thermal sight and a laser rangefinder is installed on the roof of the combat vehicle. The diesel engine with a capacity of 500 horsepower allows it to reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour on land and up to ten kilometers per hour afloat.

Earlier, the deputy general director of Rosoboronexport, Sergei Goreslavsky, said that Russia was negotiating with Indonesia about the supply of BT-3F. In addition, the intention to purchase the latest armored personnel carrier was also expressed by the Russian military department.

(RIA Novosti)