BTR "Bucephalus": characteristics and photos

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

At the end of 2013, at the world famous exhibition IDEX-2013, which is held annually in the UAE, Ukrainians presented a novelty of their weapons production. This is the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier, created on the basis of the BTR-4, but having numerous differences from its predecessor. The manufacturer reports that the new machine is a "fundamentally new" model, but it is much better protected.

Basic information

The appearance of the new machine is not so much the fruit of the work of the specialists of the Malyshev plant, but an attempt to meet the modern requirements that are imposed on equipment of this class on the world market at the present time. Let us immediately recall that the predecessor, the BTR-4, was adopted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine only in 2012, and its appearance is significantly different from the new modification. Both machines were developed by the Kharkiv Morozov Design Bureau.

Brief description of the standard BTR-4

If we talk even about the standard BTR-4, then even a layman will notice that it is very different frompreviously created armored personnel carriers. In particular, from the BTR-60/80. In addition, the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier has a lot of specific features that make it different from the latest Russian BTR-90.

In the old car, the control compartment was located in the bow section, and the power plant was located in the middle of the hull. The engine in the previous version of the layout was located immediately behind the driver's workplace, and the troop compartment (quite traditionally) was placed in the aft compartment by the designers. In principle, such an arrangement is considered ideal in world practice.

The fact is that you can quickly change the equipment and purpose of the compartments, in a matter of days turning standard armored personnel carriers into specialized reconnaissance, ambulance, flamethrower vehicles, radar reconnaissance models, etc.

Decision on further modernization

Of course, the adoption of such a promising model for service was a triumph for the military department. But already at that time it became clear that the machine needed to be urgently developed further, turned into advanced weapons for the complete re-equipment of ground army units. In particular, a complete rethinking of the design in the field of mine protection was urgently required. Kharkiv specialists to some extent managed to fulfill all these requirements. This is how the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier appeared.

Combat mission

Like all alternative vehicles, it is primarily designed to transport personnel. In addition, it is possible to provide fire support even in conditionsmodern highly maneuverable combat. Ukrainian media also emphasize that the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier (you will find a photo on the pages of this article) can be used by all ground units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in any conditions, including even radioactive contamination of the area after an enemy attack.

Especially stands out the ideal suitability of the machine for its use by special forces and marines. The specifications provided by the manufacturer indicate suitability for use in any climate, in complete off-road conditions and at any time of the day.

Main Specifications

The crew of the Bucephalus armored personnel carrier includes three people. This is the vehicle commander, driver and gunner. Depending on the installed combat module, the number of paratroopers transported can reach up to ten people.

It is still unknown what weight the BTR-4 "Bucephalus" has. It is only known that the standard weight is about 17 tons with standard equipment and conventional armor. Most likely, the mass of the vehicle reaches 22 tons, provided that new combat models and armor protection kits are installed on it.

Propulsion options

There are three options for installed engines. It all depends on what the particular customer wants. The German Deutz, the “independent” ZTD, or Iveco, which almost became the main supplier of armored vehicles to the Russian Armed Forces, can be installed. As a rule, in most cars you can see the Ukrainian ZTD-3A, which gives out not tooimpressive 400 l/s.

Included with it is an automatic transmission of hydromechanical type. By the way, at the arms exhibition in the UAE, which we mentioned at the very beginning of the article, the BTR-4 Bucephalus, equipped with Deutz BF6M1015CP, was presented. Its power is already 450 l / s at a maximum speed of 100 km / h. The range promised by the manufacturer is more than 650 kilometers.

Maneuverability and cross-country ability

These characteristics are completely identical to those of the old version of the machine. The developers, however, assure that even with enhanced booking performance, the new transporter has not lost the ability to overcome water barriers and ditches. It is reported that the Ukrainian armored personnel carrier "Bucephalus" can move through the water at speeds up to 10 km/h. However, one can doubt these characteristics: the number of cars of this class that have a similar level of armor and a similar speed of overcoming water obstacles is quite small.

At the same time, they are all equipped with very powerful engines and modern water jets. In principle, the German power plant is not bad, but the manufacturer is silent about the presence of jet equipment. Swimming at a speed of 10 km / h, when the actuation is carried out by the rotational force of the wheels alone, a car with such a mass is unlikely to be able to.

Difficulties in choosing

It should be borne in mind that with a further increase in combat mass, it is no longer necessary to talk about maintaining at least some positive buoyancy. Still needtake into account the simple fact that in recent years the main customers of weapons on the market do not care about this very buoyancy at all. The main criteria by which a combat vehicle is selected are only two circumstances:

• "survivability of the APC itself;
• the survival rate of his crew and troops.

Of course, this implies a fire clash with the enemy, not only in conditions of more or less full-scale military operations, but also during peacekeeping operations. In the latter case, battles often take place in closed urban areas, where even modern tanks with active and dynamic protection systems have a very difficult time.

About ballistic protection

One of the main reasons for the pride of the Ukrainian "defense industry" is a significantly increased degree of ballistic protection, which demonstrates the new BTR-4E "Bucephalus". Fully compliant with STANAG-4269 requirements, it has the fifth level of protection. Simply put, the vehicle is theoretically capable of withstanding fire from a 25 mm automatic cannon from a distance of only 500 meters.

In the bow you can see those changes that were made to such a design as the BTR-4E "Bucephalus" solely to increase the "survivability" on the battlefield. So, frontal armor was noticeably strengthened, and all bulletproof glasses (which were subjected to severe criticism) were finally completely disposed of. This also provided an additional opportunity to install even dynamic protection. Note that gratings are structurally provided to protect against throws of hand grenades and bottles.with flammable liquids.

About mine armor

As for the requirements for mine protection, the BTR-4 E "Bucephalus" in theory copes simply incomparably with this. According to NATO standards, the machine is able to withstand the explosion of an explosive device, the power of which is about eight kilograms of TNT. These statements by the manufacturer raise serious doubts among experts: is a car with a mass of 17-22 tons and with a flat bottom capable of withstanding such a serious charge?

Of course, if the mine was made by a very useless sapper, then there are certain chances. But in the event that it was correctly made and installed, it is unlikely that the BTR-4 "Bucephalus", whose characteristics are far from those of the tank, will be able to somehow protect the crew inside the hull.

Car firepower

Here in this matter, the new armored personnel carrier definitely did not let us down. So, the designers have developed especially for him a lot of remote-controlled combat modules, which seriously increase the firepower of light armored vehicles. Particularly noteworthy are the Sturm, Grad and Parus models, BAU-32, as well as numerous foreign-made options that can be installed on vehicles such as the BTR-4 Bucephalus at any time. Photos of these options are partially available in this article.

Let's go back to the very beginning of our story. On the machine, which was presented in the UAE, there was a Parus combat module. Its composition inspires respect:automatic gun of the ZTM-1 brand with a caliber of 30 mm, two (coaxial) machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber, and one AG-17 grenade launcher, which is designed to destroy enemy tanks.

It should be noted that all firing modules can be controlled (remotely) not only by the shooter, but also by the commander of the vehicle. Observation of the enemy and aiming can be carried out both with the help of standard optical systems and with the help of powerful electronic systems that are able to effectively perform their task at night and in conditions of insufficient visibility.

In addition, the crew can focus on the image that will be received from the circular camera mounted on the armor. The picture is transmitted to the monitor arranged in front of the commander's workplace.

A separate observation module "Panorama-2P" is also intended for the latter, which provides the most extended and detailed picture of the combat situation around such a vehicle as the BTR-4E "Bucephalus". Photos do not convey this, but the view from the commander's seat is really excellent.

Expansion of opportunities for the transport of troops

If the combat complex "Sail" is installed, then at least seven people can fit in the landing compartment. The easiest way is for the commander and the driver, who can get to their jobs by using the upper hatches or climbing inside through the ramp. Especially for this purpose, the designers provided for a small passage between the paratroopers' seats and the control compartments.

Another curiousa feature is the new stern part, which distinguishes "Bucephalus". The BTR-3 and other old models did not provide such favorable conditions for landing. In particular, there is a special ramp, which not only extends from the stern, but gradually provides lowering across the entire width of the troop compartment. This makes landing and disembarking as easy as possible.

In addition, this structural element allows you to turn the armored personnel carrier into an excellent transporter of oversized cargo, simply by dismantling the landing chairs. The ramp itself also has a small armored door that can be used for discreet entry and exit of people.

Combat experience of use

The events unfolding in the East of Ukraine gave the Ukrainian security forces a chance to try their new machines in action. The results were quite contradictory. On the one hand, armored personnel carriers seem to meet all the stated requirements. On the other hand, all parties to the conflict repeatedly recorded serious damage, and even the complete failure of the Bucephalus, which were under fire from conventional heavy machine guns.

Recall that the manufacturer himself guarantees the protection of the crew even when they come under fire from a 25-mm automatic gun. All this gives grounds to assert that the state of protection of this armored personnel carrier is similar (or slightly higher) to the armor of domestic BTR-80/82. As for firepower, no reliable information has been received in this regard.