Russia already fulfilled almost 80% of the BTR-80 upgrades to the BTR-82AM TASS 41410154

Defence & Security News - Russia
 
Russia already fulfilled almost 80% of the BTR-80 upgrades to the BTR-82AM
Russia’s 81st Armored Repair Plant, integrated into Uralvagonzavod Research and Production Corporation, has fulfilled almost 80% of the annual plan for upgrading the BTR-80 armored personnel carrier to the BTR-82AM standard, Uralvagonzavod’s press office said on Wednesday.
     
     
"The military representatives at the plant have accepted another batch of armored personnel carriers, which is ready for shipment. For now, we have fulfilled 78% of the annual plan," the press office said.

During the upgrade, the armored personnel carriers’ operational characteristics, including their firepower, maneuverability and controllability, were considerably improved.

Servicemen from the units that are due to receive upgraded BTR-82AM armored personnel carriers were trained on the premises of the 81st Armored Repair Plant.

The upgraded BTR-82AM armored personnel carrier surpasses the baseline BTR-80 considerably in terms of its firepower. Unlike the BTR-80, which was equipped with the 14.5mm and the 7.62mm machineguns only, the upgraded BTR-80AM is armed with the 2A72 30mm automatic gun and the PKTM 7.62mm coaxial machinegun in a combat module.

The upgraded BTR-80AM armored personnel carrier is equipped with a digital two-axis guns stabilizer.
The BTR-80AM is powered by a 300 hp engine. The upgraded BTR-80AM armored personnel carrier is furnished with new-generation communications equipment, such as the R-168 digital radio station and the Trona-1 positioning system.

The BTR-80AM has an additional spall liner.
     
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