Basic Information

Name

BTR-D (BMD M1979) Russian Amphibious/Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Designation

BTR-D, BMD 1979

Alternate Designation

BTR-D, BMD 1979

Equipment Type

Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Manufacturer

Volgograd Tractor Plant

Date of Introduction

1974

Description

The BTR-D (BMD M1979) Russian Amphibious/Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is a Soviet airborne multi-purpose tracked armored personnel carrier that was introduced in 1974 and first seen by the West in 1979 during the Soviet-Afghan War. BTR-D stands for Bronetransportyor Desantis (БТР, Бронетранспортер Десанта, literally "armored transporter of the Airborne"). It is based on the BMD-1 airborne IFV. NATO gave it the designation BMD M1979. 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 Although the turret with all of the main armament was removed, the two bow-mounted machine guns have been retained. However, the original PKT tank machine guns have been replaced by PKB general-purpose machine guns.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, "Utyos" or "Kord"). Maneuverability The BTR-D is powered by the same engine as the BMD-1, however, its suspension is longer because the entire vehicle has been lengthened by 60 mm. Because of this, the vehicle has six road wheels on each side instead of five. It also has five return rollers on each side unlike the BMD-1, which has four. Armour protection The armor protection is slightly better on the BTR-D than on the BMD-1. That's because the upper front armor has a dual slanted angle. Troop compartment Because the turret has been removed, the troop compartment has been enlarged and can carry up to ten fully equipped soldiers. It's also linked with the crew compartment in the front. Also, there are two firing ports on 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 but also has towing equipment for ZU-23-2 twin AA autocannon.

Ground Specifications

Crew 1

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon PKB general-purpose machine guns

Engine V-6 Diesel (240 hp)

Active Protection None

NBC Protection Yes

Range 450.0 km

Variants

BTR-DG (Ob'yekt 925G) Cargo variant without bow machine guns, firing ports and periscopes. The troop compartment was modified to serve as a cargo compartment.

BTR-DG converted into an airborne SPAAG fitted with a specially built three-legged ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon mount over the roof of the cargo compartment.

BTR-D San BTR-D converted into an airborne armoured ambulance.

BREM-D (BREM-D stands for bronirovannaya remonto-evakuatsionnaya mashina desanta – armoured maintenance-recovery vehicle of the airborne) (Ob'yekt 932) – BTR-D converted into an airborne ARV. It carries specialized equipment for the repair and recovery of BMD-1 type vehicles. This equipment includes a light collapsible crane stored on the roof of the personnel compartment, which can be traversed through 180°, a recovery winch, a combination spade and dozer blade, a generator, towing equipment, electric welding system, tools and ready use spares. One of the 7.62 mm bow PKT tank machine guns was eliminated. This entered service in 1989 in very small numbers

BTR-RD "Robot" BTR-D converted into an airborne ATGM team carrier with two 9P135M-1 ATGM launchers capable of firing 9M113 "Konkurs" (AT-5 Spandrel), 9M113M "Konkurs-M" (AT-5B Spandrel B), 9M111 "Fagot" (AT-4 Spigot) and 9M111-2 "Fagot" (AT-4B Spigot B) ATGMs. They can be used by the dismounted ATGM squad or fitted on a pintle mount on the right side of the hull. This is basically a BTR-D with a pintle mount added and with missile racks inside the troop compartment

BTR-ZD "Skrezhet" (ZD stands for zenitnaya ustanovka) – BTR-D converted into an airborne air defense vehicle for carrying two MANPAD teams. The vehicle is fitted with racks for spare MANPAD missiles. It also is fitted with external stowage rails for a MANPAD on the right hand side of the roof of the troop compartment. It can also carry a complete ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon mount on the roof of the troop compartment.

NPDU "Sterkh" (NPDU stands for nazemnyj punkt distantsionnogo upravleniya) – BTR-D converted into an airborne unmanned aerial vehicle carrier and launch vehicle of the "Stroy-P" set. It is used to launch Yak-061 "Pchela-1T" UAV for reconnaissance or jamming at ranges up to 60 km. The single-rail launcher is mounted on left hand side of the roof of the hull. It has large three-piece tube on forward right hand side of the roof of the hull. It entered service in 1990.

BMD-1KSh "Soroka" (Ob'yekt 926) (KSh stands for komandno-shtabnaya – command and staff) – airborne command post equipped with the R-123M, R-111 and R-130M or R-134 radio sets, as well as an AB1 portable 1 kW generator, the TNA-3 navigation system, folding CLOTHES HORSE type antennae around the superstructure and two slim antenna masts. Bow mounted machine guns and firing ports were removed. The commander's hatch is offset to the left and does not project forward. It's sometimes called BMD-KSh or KShM-D

BMD-1R "Sinitsa" (R stands for radiostantsiya – signals vehicle) – Division-level command and signals vehicle equipped with R-161A2M radio set, one heavy telescopic antenna mast stowed along the left hand side of the roof of the hull and one slim elevatable antenna mast on the rear right hand side of the roof of the personnel compartment. Only a small number was delivered.

R-440-ODB "Kristall-BDS" BTR-D converted into an airborne satellite communications vehicle with R-440 system with a range of 15,000 km. The vehicle has a roof-mounted satellite dish AK-12 that is covered with a cage-like structure during transport.

1V119 "Reostat" BTR-D converted into an airborne artillery battalion fire direction vehicle. The vehicle is fitted with a turret equipped with NNP-21 and V-7 observation devices, three R-173 and R-159 radiosets, PAB-2AM aiming circle, three antennae mounts, DSP-30 and DAK-2 rangefinders. The turret was also equipped with PSNR-5K (1RL-133-1) "Tall Mike" ground surveillance radar mounted on the roof of the turret. Located over the turret front sights were the visors hinged in the center

2S9 Nona-S (Ob'yekt 925S) – Airborne self-propelled mortar, armed with a 120 mm 2A60 mortar. Entered service 1981.

System

Alternative Designation BTR-D, BMD 1979

Type Amphibious/Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

Manufacturer Volgograd Tractor Factory

Family BTR Series

Crew 1 ea

Passenger Capacity 13 ea

Note This APC can be paradropped from most medium transport aircraft.

Dimensions

Length 5.88 m

Width 2.63 m

Height 2.05 m

Track Width 230 mm

Length of Track on Ground 2.84 m

Weight, Combat 8,200 kg

Ground Clearance 0.4 m

Ground Pressure 0.50kg/cm² (49,033 Pa) (7.11 psi)

Automotive

Engine Name 5D20 V6 Diesel

Engine Type V-6, water cooled, diesel

Engine Power 240 hp

Power-to-Weight Ratio 29.26 hp/t

Fuel Capacity 280 liters

Electrical System 24 V

Gearbox Manual; Fwd: 5, Rev: 1

Suspension hydropneumatics

Maximum Land Speed 61 km /h

Maximum Water Speed 10 km /h

Range 450 km

Gradient 60%

Side Slope 40%

Vertical Obstacle 0.70 m

Trench 2.5 m

Main Gun

Turret Type electric/manual

System

Name 2 × Bow-Mounted 7.62 mm PKT machine gun

Type Genera-Purpose Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62 mm

Function In use as a front-line infantry and vehicle-mounted weapon with Russia's armed forces.

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

In Service 1961-Present

Proliferation +1 Million

Length 1,203 mm

Barrel Length 605 mm

Weight, Gun Only 9 kg

Weight, Tripod Only 7.7 kg

Action Gas-operated, open bolt

Elevation +30° (533 mils)/-4° (-71 mils)

Traverse 360°

Max Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Effective Rate of Fire 250-300 rds/min

Feed System Non-disintegrating metal 50 round belts in 100 and 200/250 round ammunition boxes

Sights Iron Sights

Ammunition

Type Rifle

Caliber 7.62 mm

Cartridge 7.62×54mmR km

Muzzle Velocity 855 m/s

Accuracy of fire at 300 m 90 mm

Basic Load 2,000 ea

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS No

Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander Yes

Thermal Sight Gunner Yes

Main Gun Stabilization No

Protection

Hull Armor Built from welded aluminum armor and the turret from welded steel. It is thought to be capable of stopping 12.7 mm rounds fired at the front of the vehicle from a range of 200 m. The sides are likely to provide protection from 7.62 mm rounds fired at typical combat ranges.

Turret Armor INA

Applique Armor Available

Explosive Reactive Armor No

Active Protection System No

Mine Clearing No

Self-Entrenching Blade No

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Type 920G Toucha 81 mm smoke grenade launchers that are used to obscure the vehicle from view.

IR Signature INA

Firing Ports All-round firing ports

Image Sources

Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTR-D; https://eng.mil.ru/en/structure/forces/air/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=33143@cmsPhotoGallery; https://weaponsystems.net/system/1016-BTR-D;