The
BTR-90 has a standard internal arrangement of the BTR family. It has engine
compartment located in the hull rear. Driver is seated at the front of the
hull, turret controls and troop compartment are located in the middle. Vehicle
has increased external dimensions, as well as internal volume. It can carry
loads up to 7 000 kg in place of the troops.
The
development of the BTR-90 was carried out at the Arzamas Machine Building Plant
(AMZ), a subsidiary of GAZ Joint Stock Company.
Development was commenced in the early 90s, and the first prototype was
completed and displayed to the public in 1994. The vehicle was intended for the
use ofmechanized units of the Russian
Army as
well as marine units of the Russian Navy, as a vehicle for
fire support, transportation of personnel, surveillance, reconnaissance, and
patrolling tasks. A wide range of vehicles suiting various requirements can be
developed on the basis of the BTR-90 chassis.
The BTR-90 has a
pointed nose, somewhat similar to that of the LAV-25. The hull
is made of welded steel armour plate, and is slightly larger and higher than
the BTR-80, from which it is developed.
A turbo charged,
liquid cooled, multi-fuel diesel engine is used, which can develop a power of
510 bhp. The vehicle is eight-wheel driven and has an automatic reversible
hydro mechanical transmission, which is capable of providing different speeds
to each side of the vehicle. Duplicated electrical and compressed air engine
start systems are also used. The wheels are utilized with independent torsion-bar suspension and the traverse arms have
high capacity telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers.
Communication
equipment installed in the BTR-90 include a R-163-50U radio set for external
communications, R-163UP receiver, and R-174 intercom device for communication
among the crew members.
The layout and
positioning of equipment and parts in the BTR-90 is similar to those of the
BTR-80 and BTR-80A. The commander and gunner are accommodated in a fighting
compartment in the turret. This compartment also houses a BPKZ-42 gunner’s
day/night sight and 1P-13 commander’s optical sight. Optionally, a BPK-Z15 thermal imaging sight can be fitted in this
compartment as the gunner’s sight.[1]
The driver is
located somewhat to the middle of the hull, just in front of the turret. The
troop compartment is located behind the driver’s position and the turret. The
engine compartment is at the rear of the hull.
Hatches are
provided on the top of the turret and hull, and side doors are available on the
middle of the vehicle. These are designed to allow quick dismounting and
boarding of troops even while the vehicle is on the move.
The eight wheels
are located as two sets, with two pairs at the front of the hull and two pairs
at the rear. Split side doors are located between these two sets of wheels. The
two forward pairs of wheels are utilized with power steering.
This
armored personnel carrier provides seating for 7 fully equipped troops.
Occupants enter and leave the vehicle via side entry doors and roof hatches.
There are a some firing ports in the vehicle hull.
The
BTR-90 armored personnel carrier is powered by a turbocharged diesel engine,
developing 520 hp. Vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox. This APC has
8x8 configuration and two front pairs of wheels are steering. Vehicle is fitted
with a central tyre inflation system. The BTR-90 is highly mobile and maneuverable.
It can move even when 4 wheels are totally destroyed.
The BTR-90 is
capable of achieving a maximum speed of 100 km/h, and has cross-country
driving ability comparable to that of tracked vehicles, with an average speed of
50 km/h.
The vehicle is
fully amphibious and can negotiate water obstacles without any preparation. Two
water jet propellers power the vehicle in water,[5] and it
can achieve a maximum speed of 9 km/h. It can enter and be deployed from amphibious
assault ships from the
water. The BTR-90 can be deployed by truck, rail and also by water and air
transportation means.
Its hydro
mechanical transmission helps to increase its maneuverability by providing
different speeds to each side of the vehicle. This allows the BTR-90 to have a
low turning radius of 6 m. When turning with only the front four wheels, it has
a turning radius of 14 m. It can cross up to 2.1 m wide trenches and can
negotiate 60% gradients, 30% side slopes and 0.8 m vertical steps.
The
vehicle has an inner capacity of 12 cubic meters, and can carry a load of
7000 kg. An air conditioning system can be added
optionally. The commander has the ability to carry out all-round surveillance
and can take full control of the weapons from the gunner. An onboard
information control system (OICS) enables automatic control over the
transmission, engine and other important parts of the BTR-90, and it is the
first armoured
personnel carrier to
have such a system. A centralized tire pressure control system is also
available, and allows the vehicle to move even if four of its wheels are
destroyed.
Additional
armoured plates can be installed on the vehicle to increase protection. Active
protection methods can also be used, such asexplosive reactive armour. These can be
added over the existing armour of the vehicle. To increase protection,
periscopes are installed instead of windscreens and vision blocks.
Collective NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical)
protection is available which can protect the occupants from shock waves and
penetrating radiation from nuclear attacks, radioactive dust, and bacteriological and
chemical weapons.
Its combat tires
are capable of enduring anti-personnel
mine explosions and small arms fire. If the vehicle is damaged while
afloat, a drainage system is capable of removing incoming water. The BTR-90
also features an automatic fire fighting system, and a system for remote laying
of smoke screens. The smoke discharge system includes six smoke grenade
launchers, three on each side of the vehicle.
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The main gun of
the BTR-90 is a 30 mm Shipunov 2A42 auto cannon. The vehicle carries an
ammunition load of five hundred rounds for this weapon.
A 7.62 mm PKT coaxial
machine gun with 2000 rounds and a 30 mm AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher are the secondary armaments of the
BTR-90.
A guided missile system is also available for engaging
armoured targets. This consists of four AT-5 Spandrel (Konkurs) missiles mounted on the
turret. The launching unit is detachable, and can be used to launch missiles
from the ground.
All the weapons
are mounted on the turret and are assisted by a fire control
system.The
fire control system allows the weapons to be used while the vehicle is moving,
and in all weather conditions. The turret can be traversed 360 degrees with an
elevation range of −5 to +75 degrees. The
vehicle’s weaponry allows it to engage targets at ranges up to 4 km.
Helicopters and fortifications can be engaged at ranges up to 2.5 km.
In addition to the
vehicle’s weapons, its occupants have the ability to fire their weapons through
available firing ports and hatches, increasing its firepower.
A prototype
designated BTR-90M was built (see photo) with a larger
turret derived from the BMP-3, mounting a coaxial low-velocity2A70 100mm rifled gun/missile launcher
system (which can fire conventional shells or laser beam-riding 9M117 anti-tank missiles(ATGM) such as AT-10 Stabber), a 30mm Shipunov 2A72 cannon, and a 7.62mm PKT machine gun. The BTR-90M was first
displayed publicly in 2001, and is not currently in service.
Another variant of
the BTR-90 was produced with the low pressure 120 mm 2S9 Nona weapon,
as with the BTR-80 Nona-SVK.
In
October 2011 the Ministry of Defence refused to buy the BTR-90 and did not
include them in the list of the state program of armament until 2020, and
waived exports for the BTR-90