The prototype, which was designed as a private venture, was unveiled at the Aviasvit 2006 exhibition held in Kyiv in June 2006.[2][3] A serial production started in late 2008. The first series of ten BTRs entered service with the army of Ukraine in 2009.[4] In 2009, the BTR-4 was presented as a candidate for replacing the Pegaso BMR as the next infantry combat vehicle of the Spanish Army.[5]
In 2012, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence ordered 420 Ukrainian BTR-4E IFVs.[6] However, only 88 vehicles were delivered from the order, as the Iraqi Ministry of Defense cancelled the contract due to quality issues.[7] The Ukrainian army thus took over 52 BTR-4E IFVs originally intended for Iraq.[6]
In April 2014, units of the National Guard of Ukraine received their first BTR-4E IFVs, and during late May and early June they were already involved in the siege of Sloviansk, which was liberated on 5 July 2014, with the separatists and Russians withdrawing to Donetsk.[8] During the fighting at Sloviansk, soldiers praised the new BTR-4E, especially for its armour, mobility, and optics.[8] Vehicles withstood enemy machine gun fire and RPGs, and the slat-armor and Kevlar layer also protected the crews from shrapnel.[7] On October 4, 2014, separatists posted a photo of a captured Ukrainian BTR-4K, a commander's version of the BTR-4.[7] The vehicle had a slat-armor and was repainted.[7] It served with the Vostok Battalion, which was composed mainly of Russian GRU officers.[8]
Description
A BTR-4MV1
The layout of the BTR-4 represents a change from the older BTR-60/70/80s designed in the Soviet Union. The vehicle has a conventional layout similar to Western designs like the German TPz Fuchs with the driver's and commander's compartment at the front of the hull, the engine and transmission compartment in the middle, and the troop compartment at the rear. The troops enter and leave the vehicle either through the rear doors or the roof hatches, and the driver and the commander are provided with doors located on the sides of the hull.[9]
The BTR-4 is a more flexible design than the older BTR-60/70/80s, as the altered layout makes it easier to adapt the vehicle to specialized roles. The vehicle can be armed according to customer requirements. The prototype is armed with the locally designed New Armament Module, which consists of one 30mm2A72 automatic cannon, a 7.62mm coaxial machine-gun, up to four 9P135M Konkurs or Baryer anti-tank missiles (two on each side of the turret), and one 30mm automatic grenade launcher (fitted in place of the AT missiles on one left-hand side of the turret). It can be fitted with different turret weapons modules including the GROM module,[10] PARUS module,[10] SHTURM-M module,[10] SHKVAL module, and the BAU 23x2 module.[10]
The BTR-4 has a maximum speed of 110 km/h. It can cross water obstacles at a speed of 10 km/h. The vehicle is powered by a 3TD diesel engine with 500 hp. There are reports of vehicles being hit by several RPG rounds and multiple small-arms fire with no consequences.[citation needed]Slat armor can be fitted for maximum protection against RPG attacks.
Ukrainian state defense manufacturer UkrOboronProm has unveiled a prototype wheeled armored fighting vehicle that is presently known as the BTR-4MV1. The new BTR-4MV1 is the latest generation of 8×8 IFV. The BTR-4MV1 is designed in accordance with NATO standards. The vehicle is based on the BTR-4 but with many new improvements.
It differs from the previous versions mostly in a modified configuration of the vehicle's hull, which makes it possible to install additional types of protection (including the ceramic plates and explosive reactive armor) to reach the fourth and fifth protection levels in accordance with NATO standards. The hull rear is fitted with a ramp that not only enables troopers to enter and leave the vehicle much quicker, but also enables the armored personnel carrier to transport various large-size cargoes, including additional ammunition, spare parts, etc.[citation needed]
Service history
Up to 750 vehicles have been produced for all operators.[citation needed]
During early trials and evaluation by the Indonesian Marine Corps, the BTR-4 has successfully passed the trials in Indonesia.[11][12] In April 2017, it was reported that the Indonesian Marine Corps had prepared a formal letter to withdraw from any further acquisitions of the BTR-4,[13] though according to Ukroboronprom the news are part of informational warfare and black PR.[14]
Iraq
Iraq has ordered 450 BTR-4s. 40 vehicles of the third batch delivered arrived with rust and damaged hulls and were not accepted by Iraq.[15][16][17]
The Iraqi army used BTR-4s in an operation to recapture Jurf Al Sakhar from ISIL forces on 24 October 2014, successfully repelling two road-side ambushes.[18]
A Ukrainian BTR-4 lost during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Nigeria
50 BTR-4s were delivered to the Nigerian Army in 2014.[citation needed]
Ukraine
Some BTR-4s that are being used by Ukrainian armed forces in the Russo-Ukrainian War come from the rejected batch for the Iraqi army.[15][16][17]
In June 2014, company officials revealed that the BTR-4E was being used in military operations in the Sloviansk area. Its armor had withstood hits from large-caliber machine guns, counter-HEAT side screens protected the crew from anti-tank grenade launchers, and armored glass sustained direct hits from sniper rifles.[19] Their original desert camo as seen on Iraqi BTR-4s can be viewed in pictures and videos from ATO operations.[20] The BTR-4 continues to see use during the ongoing 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
1× 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun (turret ring mount)
Operators
A map of BTR-4 operators in 2023
Current operators
Indonesia — The Indonesian Marine Corps ordered 5 BTR-4M with two vehicles with the BM-7 "Parus" turret with a 30-mm ZTM-1 automatic gun and 3 with 7.62 mm RCWS and began operating them in May 2017.[22] Subsequent orders for 55 vehicles were cancelled due to unsatisfactory performance.[23] In April 2019, an order was made for 21 BT-3F and 22 BMP-3F vehicles instead.[24]
Iraq — The Iraqi Ministry of Defence ordered 420 vehicles in 2012.[25] Only 88 out of an order for 420 were delivered by late 2013 and the contract has been canceled due to numerous quality violations. According to Ukraine the contract was resumed and as of September 2018 Iraq operates 270 vehicles.
Armed Forces of Ukraine — Ukraine's Ministry of Defence made an initial order of 10 vehicles that entered service in 2009.[27] Around 170 vehicles were in service as of August 2018[28] and over 200 as of January 2021.
Myanmar — In March 2019, a Ukrainian company and the Myanmar military signed a joint-venture agreement to build a plant capable of manufacturing armored personnel carriers (APCs) and self-propelled howitzers. The types of APCs that will be made in the plant are said to be eight-wheeled BTR-4E.[30]
Republic of North Macedonia — The tender for the Republic of North Macedonia Ground Forces is for an infantry wheeled vehicle, for replacement of the current BTR-60 and BTR-70 fleet. The estimated order can reach 200 units.[32]
Islamic State — 3 vehicles were seized by ISIL. 2 were captured from Iraqi Forces around October 2016 after ISIL conducted an offensive to retake the town of Ar-Rutbah where they were driven out. The other one was captured at an unknown location and date. [34][35][36]
