БТР-70: История, конструкция и характеристики бронетранспортёра

The BTR 70 is an eight wheeled armored personnel carrier (бронетранспортёр, БТР) originally developed by the Soviet Union during the late 1960s under the manufacturing code GAZ 4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into Soviet service and would later be widely exported. Large quantities were also produced under license in Romania as the TAB 77. The BTR 70 was developed as a potential successor for the earlier BTR 60 series of Soviet wheeled armored personnel carriers, specifically the BTR 60PB, which it most closely resembled. It evolved out of an earlier, unsuccessful project known as the GAZ 50 to design a new wheeled infantry fighting vehicle on the chassis and drive train of a BTR 60PB. It initially received the NATO reporting name BTR M1970.

In 1971, the Soviet Armed Forces began investigating the possibility of an updated BTR 60PB redesigned to make the vehicle more compatible with the BMP 1 in terms of tactical training. This resulted in the development of a BTR 60PB prototype essentially converted into a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, designated Obiekt 50 or GAZ 50. New hatches were also provided for debarking in the lower hull, between the second and third wheel stations. Other modifications included a slightly thicker hull, increased power to weight ratio, and additional firing ports. Another feature retained from the BTR 60 was the twin engine arrangement, although in the GAZ 50 torque produced by the right engine powered the first and third wheel stations, while the left engine powered the second and fourth. This alteration was to allow the vehicle to continue moving even if one engine failed.

The BTR 70 is powered by two petrol engines. Early production vehicles used 115 hp GAZ 69B 6 cylinder engines, but most vehicles have now been retrofitted with the more powerful ZMZ 49 05 V 8 engines. The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled when afloat by a single water jet mounted at the rear of the hull. To prepare the vehicle for water, the driver erects a trim vane and switches on the bilge pumps from within the vehicle. The standard equipment includes a central tire pressure regulation system that allows the driver to adjust the tire pressure to suit the terrain being crossed. Also fitted is an R 123M radio set and an R 124 intercom. The driver's optical equipment consists of three TNPO 115 vision blocks and a TNP B day vision device, which can be replaced by a TVNO 2B night vision device. The commander also has three TNPO 115s and either a TPKU 2B day sight or a TKN 1S night sight accompanied by an OU 3GA 2 infra red search light. The turret is fitted with a PP 61AM (or 1PZ 2) periscopic sight for the gunner and the infantry group in the troop compartment is provided with TNP B devices. The BTR 70 also has an FVU NBC filter system and a DK 3B detection device. The armaments consist of a KPVT heavy machine gun with 500 rounds and a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun with 2,000 rounds. Also on board are two "Igla" or "Strela 3" MANPADS, and optionally two AGS 17 grenade launchers at the expense of two infantry men.

BTR 70D: Upgraded from 2001 by NRMZ and fitted with a 300 hp diesel engine. Ukrainian army vehicles additionally have BTR 80 style two piece escape hatches in the hull sides. BTR 70DI (BTR 7): With Euro II 276 hp diesel engine from IVECO. Can be optionally fitted with "Ingul" or "Bug" modular turrets or with the "Zaslon" active protection system. The basic armament is augmented by an AGS 30 automatic grenade launcher and 2 AT rockets. BTR 70M: Upgraded by Marozov and powered by a 300 hp engine UTD 20. Might be fitted with a new turret, like the "Grom" or BAU 23x2. BTR 70SM: Unarmed ambulance with a re designed hull. Three different models have been observed.

SPW 70 (Schützenpanzerwagen): NVA designator for Romanian made BTR 70. 1,316 delivered between 1980 and 1990. SPW 70(S): Locally converted staff vehicle with two extra radios, two/three whip antennas and a slim telescopic mast on the right side of the hull roof. SPW 70(SL): Forward air control vehicle, equipped with an R 809M2 radio and fitted with four whip antennas. SPW 70(Ch): NBC reconnaissance vehicle with detection and marking systems. Prototype only.

Cobra K: Fitted with a 2A42 Cobra modular turret. Might be optionally equipped with a new KamAZ 7403 diesel engine.

BTR 70M A1: Proposed upgrade from Minotaur with a diesel engine and improved transmission. The vehicle might retain the original turret or can be fitted with a new one, for example the CM30/BM30 (2A42 Cobra) "combat module". BTR MK a. k. a. KM 70: Proposed command vehicle (komandnaya mashina) from Minotaur with a crew of six and R 123M and R 13M radios. It has been supplied to the Ivory Coast.

BTR 70M: Jihazgayirma Instrument Construction Plant in Baku presented some upgraded BTR 70s for the first time in March 2011. These vehicles have a new diesel engine and improved transmission. Optionally, the original machine gun turret might be replaced with the "Şimşek" (Lightning) one man turret. "Şimşek" was developed in partnership with South Africa's Emerging World Technologies (EWT) and appears to be a variant of EWT's Predator II light compact turret.

TAB 77 (transportorul amfibiu blindat): Romania not only built the BTR 70 under licence (for export), but also developed its own, improved version. While very similar, the TAB 77 has the same turret (with the LOTA aiming system) as the TAB 71. The original gasoline engines were replaced with Saviem 797 05M1 132 hp diesel engines. TAB 77 M1983: upgraded version with a 30 mm gun and 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM. Prototype. TAB 77 M1984: upgraded version with a 23 mm gun and 9M14M "Malyutka" ATGM. Prototype. TAB 77A PCOMA (punct de commanda şi observare mobil de artilerie): artillery command and forward observer vehicle with range finders in a big, unarmed turret. Armament consists of a single, pintle mounted 7.62 mm machine gun on the hull roof. TAB 77A R 1451/M: command vehicle with R 1070 and R 1451M radios. Similar to the basic APC, but with additional whip antennas and a rear mounted generator. TAB 77A R 1452: signals vehicle with an R 1452 radio, low profile "dummy turret, seven whip antennas, a telescopic mast, two generators at the rear and a pintle mounted machine gun on the hull roof. TERA 77L (tractor de evacuare şi reparat auto): recovery vehicle with a 5t crane and a dozer blade. TABC 79: shorter version with only four wheels. Several variants exist. Chinese TAB 77: Chinese license built TAB 77, with a small number entering Chinese service for evaluation purpose in the 1980s. China purchased the production license from Romania in 1984, and even retained the original Romanian designation TAB 77. The Chinese built TAB 77 is heavier, weighing more than 13 tons.

Shareef 3 Revealed in March 2019, replaced both engines with single diesel engine, while adding BMP 1 turret, capacity for six dismounts.

The BTR 70 first saw service during the Soviet–Afghan War. BTR 70s were deployed by the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars. BTR 70s of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been deployed in the War in Donbass, with some being captured by pro Russian militias of the Donetsk People's Republic. During 2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan clashes BTR 70s were deployed by Kyrgyzstan with at least one BTR 70M lost to enemy fire. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, BTR 70s were deployed by Russia with four BTR 70s lost (three destroyed, one captured) and three BTR 70M (two destroyed, one captured) visually confirmed by Oryx as of 4 September 2023.