History:

In 1994 the Russian Army presented the BTR-90 (BTR = Bronyetransporter = Armored Transporter) for the first time in public. This vehicle has a larger and higher hull than its predecessor, the BTR-80. Its closed hull is made of welded armoured steel plates. The pointed nose is similar like that seen on the LAV-25 of the US Army. The engine is located in the aft, while the combat compartment is in the middle of the body. The commander and gunner are located in the turret while the driver and seven mounted soldiers are seated in the middle part of the vehicle. The commander is responsible for surveillance, target designation and, if necessary, control over the weapon systems. The members of the crew and the soldiers can use the top hatches of the turret and the hull or the middle side doors as entrance/exit, even on the move.
The BTR-90 is an armored personnel carrier of the new generation with a complete weapon set instead of a single gun. This weapon set is located in the rotating turret and includes the 30-mm 2A42 automatic gun, a 7.62-mm PKT coaxial machine-gun, and a 30-mm AG-17 grenade launcher. Additionally, the launcher of an ATGM system is installed on the turret to engage heavy armoured tank-type targets. This weapon set makes it possible to fight against tanks, artillery pieces, mechanized infantry combat vehicles, helicopters and infantry at a distance of over 4 kilometers. The system is capable of engaging targets on the move, due to a fire control system which ensures 360° aimed shooting capability. The firepower is supplemented by assault rifles and light machine-guns of the assault team. Additionally, mounted soldiers could also carry the “Igla” or “Strela” man-portable air defence system. The assault team can fire its weapons through the side portholes of the hull, the open hatches, or from the ground while being dismounted. The BTR-90 is an 8x8 vehicle and can move at a speed of 100 km/h on roads and over 50 km/h in rugged terrain. It can move even if four of its eight wheels have been damaged. Despite its relatively big weight (about 21 tons), the BTR-90 can move across water obstacles without any preparations due to two water-jet propellers. It is also capable of landing from assault amphibious ships and entering into them from the water. The BTR-90 APC is equipped with NBC protection facilities and an onboard information control system (OICS) which provides an effective automatic control over the transmission, the engine and gives always a diagnosis of the other main vehicle parts.