Image source: topwar.ru
Ukrainian soldiers or "volunteers" converted the MT-LBu armored personnel carrier into an infantry fighting vehicle thanks to the installation of the BM-7 "Parus" combat module on its roof.
The BM-7 "Sail" system, known for the wheeled armored personnel carriers of the APU BTR-4 "Bucephalus", was placed on the hull. The main armament in the combat module is a 30-mm automatic gun ZTM-1, going in combination with a 7.62-mm machine gun CT.
A set of 4 anti-tank guided missiles or 2 launchers and a KBA-117 30 mm automatic grenade launcher can serve as additional weapons. Thus, thanks to this modernization, the APU received a car comparable in firepower to the BMP, but with insignificant armor.
MT-LBu is a Soviet armored personnel carrier created as an elongated version of the MT-LB, characterized primarily by a 40 cm high ceiling and a larger internal cubature. Armor with a thickness of 3-13 mm protects the crew only from shrapnel and small arms ammunition (and then not everywhere).
Image source: topwar.ru
The crew consists of 2 people, and the landing party is up to 6 soldiers. The power unit is the YAMZ-238N engine with a capacity of 300 hp, which allows you to accelerate a 15.5-ton car up to 61.5 km/ h on an asphalt road and up to 6 km / h when overcoming water obstacles by swimming. It is used as a base for many specialized versions, such as command vehicles, medical evacuation, communications, or electronic warfare.
