{
  "id": "btr-70",
  "name": "BTR-70 (BTR M1978)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1972,
  "operators": [
    "ARM",
    "AZE",
    "BGD",
    "BIH",
    "BLR",
    "GEO",
    "KAZ",
    "KGZ",
    "MEX",
    "MKD",
    "MLI",
    "MNG",
    "PAK",
    "RUS",
    "SDN",
    "SLE",
    "TJK",
    "TKM",
    "UKR",
    "UZB",
    "ZMB"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 22,
  "summary": "The BTR-70 is a Russian-made 8x8 armored vehicle personnel carrier which was shown for the first time to the public in November 1980 during a military parade in Moscow. The vehicle was originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Configuration",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "8x8",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Dedkov Design Bureau in Gorky-Arzamas",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 7.535,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 2.8,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.235,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 11.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Weight"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "2 × ZMZ-4905",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 120,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "torsion bar with hydraulic shock-absorbers",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Armor (turret front)",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The maximum thickness of the hull is believed to be 10 mm, and the thinnest sections are thought to be 6 mm. This is sufficient to protect against standard 7.62 mm rounds fired at the front of the vehicle from most ranges and against the sa",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "6 x Smoke grenade launchers",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "1 × turret-mounted 14.5mm KPVT machine gun 1 × coaxial-mounted 7.62mm PKVT machine gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "BTR-70",
      "text": "The BTR-70 is the base variant of the family. It is an APC designed to traverse a fire zone with a section of infantry dismounts and provide them with limited fire support from the rear.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-70MB",
      "text": "The BTR-70MB is an upgraded BTR-70 that is in service with an undisclosed country. It is essentially the same as the BTR-70 and designed to perform the same function.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-70MB1",
      "text": "The BTR-70MB1 is based on the BTR-70MB with some modifications for Belarusian service, it is intended to replace older APCs such as the BTR-60PB and the BTR-70.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-70V",
      "text": "This variant was also known as the BTR-70 M1986/1 and has a reworked troop compartment that can be used to transport two 30 mm AGS-17 AGLs or stretchers. It can carry a total of 10 infantrymen or eight infantrymen and tw",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-70MS",
      "text": "This is a turretless communications vehicle with the MS standing for Mashina Svyazi (signals vehicle). Its status is uncertain.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-70 KShM",
      "text": "This is a command/staff vehicle. The KShM stands for Komandno-Shtabnaya Mashina. It was originally fitted with the R-145BM communications system but it is unclear if this is retained in any vehicles that remain in servic",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-70"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "apc8",
  "image": {
    "file": "btr-70.jpg",
    "thumb": "btr-70-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "RG72",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BTR-70_en_vila%C4%9Do_Uporovo.jpg",
    "title": "File:BTR-70 en vilaĝo Uporovo.jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 4.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/btr-70.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-btr-70": {
      "title": "BTR-70 (BTR M1978) Russian 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/BTR-70_BTR_M1978_Russian_8x8_Amphibious_Armored_Personnel_Carrier",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}