BTR-90 goes into Production for Russian Forces

[slobo]

Novosti reported that the BTR-90 was cleared for production:

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2004-12-01 21:12 * RUSSIA * NIZHNY NOVGOROD * APC * PRODUCTION *
NEW GENERATION ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER TO BE PRODUCED IN RUSSIA


NIZHNY NOVGOROD, December 1 (RIA Novosti-Volga region, Zhanna Voronova) - Interdepartmental commission has completed the state tests of a new generation armored personnel carrier, GAZ-5923 - BTR-90. Serial production will be organized, RIA Novosti was told Wednesday by the Gorkovsky automobile plant (GAZ) press service.

Now the APC is being prepared to enter inventory in the Russian Federation troops.

The BTR-90 APC, to be produced by GAZ affiliate - OAO Arzamassky mashinostroitelny zavod (Arzamas machine-building plant) is a new stage in manufacturing 8x8 armored vehicles.

The press service noted that the BTR-90 surpasses its predecessors in mobility, armament and protection. The all-wheel drive armored personnel carrier is equipped with a 510-hp engine, a hydromechanical transmission and an independent suspension. The use of a new transmission scheme allowed reduce the turning radius of the vehicle considerably, which increased its maneuverability.

The vehicle is highly mobile, possesses a high cross-country ability, can force water barriers, move forward and backward with the same speed smoothly.

The BTR-90 is the first one among Russian wheeled APCs to utilize a two-seat turret system with stabilized armaments as part of the 30-mm automatic gun, a twin PKT machine-gun, a grenade launcher and a complex of anti-tank guided missiles. The APC is designed for a crew of ten. A high degree of protection and bulletproof tires keep the vehicle moving even if four wheels are completely out of order.

A high carrying capacity makes it possible to create on the basis of a BTR-90 a family of vehicles for different combat arms. Various auxiliary armament and equipment systems may be mounted.

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5158838&startrow=1&date=2004-12-01&do_alert=0

[Hellfish]

Very cool. woot

I wish I had one. :(

[kutter]

Good looking vehicle. For those of you who don't know what it looks like:
http://www.ifrance.com/ArmyReco/Russe/vehicules_a_roues/BTR-90/BTR-90_Russie__diaporama.htm

[NicNZ]

What the hell happened to the BTR-T plan? :\

[Firefly26]

The BTR-T is nice, but the BTR-90 has some strongpoints too, mainly, its sound signature. Have you ever heard a BTR-80? That's the thing, you don't. I remember when I was on an exercise in Kekskemet, Hungary, next to the airstrip, to turn around and find out that 3 BTR-80s had already driven by behind me. They are very quiet and fast. Although its inferior armor is evident, its usefulness is urban and rather domesticated terrain can easily overlook the armor of the BTR-T. BTR-80s are good, but those big windscreens and the armor that covers them look pretty transparent. better do away with them with the BTR-90. And this is among the many other improvements of the BTR-90. It's great, but do make sure you keep some BTR-Ts in stock!;)

[Imshi-Yallah]

BTR-T won't win you any friends for Peace Keeping type ops either, ripping up the roads does not a happy native make.
Is BTRT not meant more for the IFV role rather than APC?

Making an assumption here but the BMP series have a poor record for protecting their occupants against mine and IED explosions, whereas current generation wheeled AFVs have a rather good one, so I'd guess that in Russia's planned future army the majority of troops will use BTR-90s while the BTRT would be concentrated in high mobility high tech armour based formations.

[Hellfish]

I think the BTR-90 is a perfect IFV for this day and age - and it's closer to what I think the Stryker should have been. You cram the Stryker's intel and comms gear into the BTR-90 and I think you'll have and outstanding, flexible weapon for the modern low and mid-intensity wars. And I believe it's still transportable in most Russian airlift assets (IL-76, Mi-26, An-124, etc.)

Whats the troop capacity on the -90? Eight dismounts and three crew?