Ukraine Completes Factory Testing of New BTR-4 Variant

14 Maret 2019

UkrOboronProm announced on 25 February that testing of the new BTR-4 armoured personnel carrier had been completed. (photo : UOP)

UkrOboronProm (UOP) announced at the end of February that its Malyshev Plant and Morozov Design Bureau had completed testing of the new BTR-4 armoured personnel carrier (APC), with serial production set to begin this year

Morozov Design Bureau's activities are concentrated on designing and planning production, while Malyshev operates manufacturing facilities. The two companies will manufacture the BTR-4 using their own production sources. This serial production approach will accelerate deliveries of the APCs to the Ukrainian army, according to UOP.

During factory testing, the vehicles drove hundreds of kilometres in difficult terrain, firing their weapons. Since the beginning of fighting in Donbas, BTR-4s have been successfully deployed by the Ukrainian army and repeatedly proven to be highly effective on the battlefield.

Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko confirmed the launch of serial production during a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council (RNBOU). "We are kicking off serial production of new types of arms, including armoured vehicles," he said. The president informed members of the RNBOU about ongoing reforms at UOP, including its transparency.

The new APC has a BM-7 Parus combat module with a 30 mm automatic cannon, Baryer anti-tank guided missile system, 30 mm automatic grenade launcher, and 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun. Fire control is digitised and the APC is capable of destroying enemy armoured vehicles at a range of 5 km. The new BTR-4 has a Deutz engine coupled with an Allison automatic transmission system.

(Jane's)