Russia Turns Soviet-Era Tanks into Heavy APCs for High Intensity Warfare.

According to information published in the Telegram channel “Военный осведомитель” ("Military informant") on August 10, 2025, Russian military sources have suggested a low-cost modernization program aimed at improving troop protection on the battlefield. The proposal involves converting decommissioned Soviet-era T-55 and T-62 tanks into heavy infantry fighting vehicles designated BTR-T. The concept seeks to utilize existing armored hulls to create platforms capable of safely transporting infantry under heavy fire conditions, offering a significant improvement over lightly protected BMP and BTR models currently in service.
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Heavily armored troop carriers based on T55 and T62 hulls could transport 8 to 10 soldiers with superior protection, enhanced mine resistance, and optional remote weapon stations for urban and frontline assault operations (Picture source : Vitaly Kuzmin)

The T-55, introduced in 1958, was the first Soviet tank to integrate full NBC protection and a stabilized main gun, features that made it a dominant design during the Cold War. With over 95,000 units built, it remains one of the most produced tanks in history. Its successor, the T-62, entering service in 1961, brought the 115 mm U-5TS smoothbore gun, improved frontal armor, and a more powerful V-55 or V-55U diesel engine, delivering up to 580 hp. Both tanks were designed with simple, rugged mechanical systems, making them easy to maintain and operate in harsh environments. Even without modern active protection, their 100 mm and 115 mm gun mantlets, thick frontal glacis plates, and steel hulls offer far superior protection than current Russian wheeled APCs or tracked IFVs in equivalent weight categories. Many of these hulls are preserved in Russian storage facilities, often requiring only moderate refurbishment before being ready for conversion.

The T-62, introduced in 1961 as a successor to the T-55, was the first main battle tank to enter service with a smoothbore gun, the 115 mm U-5TS, capable of firing high-velocity armor-piercing fin-stabilized projectiles. It featured a welded steel hull with frontal armor up to 100 mm thick on the glacis plate and a cast turret offering 214 mm of protection at the front. Powered by the V-55V 12-cylinder diesel engine producing 580 hp, the T-62 could reach road speeds of 50 km/h with an operational range of around 450 km. Its torsion bar suspension, combined with wide tracks, allowed for good mobility in soft terrain, while its simple mechanical systems made field maintenance straightforward. Although its original fire control and optics are outdated by modern standards, the tank’s robust hull and drivetrain remain suitable for heavy conversion work, providing a strong armored base for troop transport or support vehicle roles.

The proposed BTR-T conversion would involve removing the original turret and replacing it with a low-profile armored superstructure equipped with roof-mounted hatches or a rear troop compartment. The troop bay could be configured to carry 8 to 10 fully equipped soldiers, with seating arrangements designed for blast mitigation and quick egress. Armor upgrades would likely include Kontakt-1 or Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks on the frontal arc and side skirts, as well as slat or cage armor to counter rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). The hull floor could be reinforced with a V-shaped insert to improve resistance against anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bringing the platform closer to modern MRAP-level protection standards.

For armament, the heavy APC variant could be fitted with a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) such as the 30 mm 2A42 or 2A72 autocannon, co-axial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, and an automatic grenade launcher like the AG-17 or AGS-30. Integration of modern fire control systems, thermal imaging sights, and laser rangefinders would give the vehicle 24-hour combat capability in all weather conditions. Electronic warfare modules, such as jamming systems to counter drones and GPS-guided munitions, could also be integrated in place of heavy armament for specialized roles. Powerpack modernization with the V-46 or V-92 family of engines could restore mobility, giving the vehicle road speeds of 50 km/h and improved cross-country performance.

From a tactical standpoint, introducing BTR-Ts into mechanized formations would give Russian units a breakthrough and urban assault capability similar to that of Israel’s Achzarit, which was based on captured T-55 hulls. These vehicles could lead assaults into fortified urban areas, absorb the first wave of anti-armor fire, and deploy infantry directly into contested zones with greatly reduced exposure to small arms and fragmentation. Their heavy armor would also allow them to operate in combined arms teams alongside main battle tanks, providing close infantry support in environments where wheeled or lighter tracked IFVs would be at severe risk. Operationally, this would extend the endurance of Russian mechanized brigades in attritional battles by reducing personnel losses during dismounted assaults and improving survivability in contested zones.

While converting T-55 and T-62 tanks into heavy troop carriers offers greater protection, they have notable drawbacks. Interior space remains cramped even without the turret, limiting comfort and capacity. Their weight, over 36 tons for the T-55 and 40 for the T-62, reduces mobility in soft terrain, and fuel consumption is high despite engine upgrades. Without major structural changes, troops must exit through top hatches, exposing them to fire. These vehicles also remain large, slow targets for modern missiles, drones, and loitering munitions, and their powerful diesel engines generate a high thermal signature, making them easier to detect.

The war in Ukraine has created a global context where both sides have repeatedly modified existing weaponry to meet urgent battlefield requirements. Russian forces have adapted civilian trucks into mobile rocket launchers, converted old T-55s into artillery support platforms, and repurposed naval anti-aircraft guns for land-based air defense. Ukrainian forces have demonstrated similar ingenuity, mounting anti-tank guided missiles on civilian vehicles, turning agricultural tractors into armored recovery vehicles, and integrating Western-supplied turrets onto Soviet-era chassis. This widespread practice reflects a central reality of prolonged high-intensity warfare: the pace of combat and scale of attrition often outstrip the production capacity for new equipment, making battlefield adaptation and improvisation essential for maintaining operational capabilities.

This proposal also highlights the industrial and logistical realities of the current high-intensity conflict. The Russian defense industry faces production bottlenecks and significant attrition of frontline armor, with hundreds of modern MBTs and IFVs lost in combat. Manufacturing entirely new armored platforms like the T-90M or Kurganets-25 is both expensive and time-consuming, requiring specialized facilities and high-tech components in limited supply. By contrast, converting T-55 and T-62 hulls leverages existing stockpiles and proven manufacturing processes, allowing faster delivery of combat-ready vehicles at a fraction of the cost. It reflects a pragmatic adaptation to wartime constraints, where maintaining force numbers becomes as critical as technological advancement. This approach underlines a key lesson of modern high-intensity warfare: armies must adapt industrial capacity to meet urgent battlefield requirements, repurposing older but still viable platforms to sustain operational tempo and preserve combat power.