The BT-3F armored personnel carrier of the Rostec State Corporation's High-Precision Complexes holding was originally intended for arming Marine corps units. It was demonstrated for the first time at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army" in 2016. 5 years later, it appeared in the version for the Arctic, having received a number of fundamentally new improvements.
Created on the basis of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle, the BTR has an armored body that protects against bullets from large-caliber machine guns and fragments of shells and mines. The crew consists of two people. The landing force includes fifteen servicemen.
Four-stroke UTD-29 diesel engine with a capacity of 450 hp. The maximum speed on the highway is 70 km/h, when moving backwards-20 km/h, afloat-10 km/h. The "Troika" can swim with excitement up to 3 points. The fuel reserve is 600 km. The total combat weight is 18900 kg.
Initially, a 7.62-mm machine gun was used as an armament. Then, in a remotely controlled module stabilized in two planes, a 6P49 "Cord" of 12.7 mm caliber appeared, capable of destroying ground targets at a distance of 2000 meters, and air targets at 1500 meters. The ammunition includes 1000 rounds.
The sighting fire control system is equipped with tele-thermal imaging cameras, a laser rangefinder and an automatic target tracking system.
It is possible to install a 14.5-mm machine gun or a 40-mm automatic grenade launcher.
There are also two course 7.62-mm PKTM machine guns with a stock of 4,000 rounds.
There are six television cameras for all-round viewing, the driver has also been provided with a thermal imager.
The machine is constantly being improved, adapted to perform a wider range of tasks. The Arctic version is well adapted for service in severe frosts: an independent heater allows people behind the armor to feel comfortable even at temperatures below fifty degrees. The track belts are now wider, which significantly improves the cross-country ability on snow. There is an unmanned vehicle for targeting the performance of reconnaissance tasks.
Serial production of the BT-3F is expected to begin at the end of this year.
Alexey Moiseev
