{
  "id": "btr-d",
  "name": "BTR-D (BMD M1979)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Amphibious/airborne armored personnel carrier",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1974,
  "operators": [
    "AZE",
    "BLR",
    "KAZ",
    "KGZ",
    "MDA",
    "RUS",
    "TKM",
    "UKR",
    "UZB",
    "VNM"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 11,
  "summary": "The BTR-D (BMD M1979) Russian Amphibious/Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is a Soviet airborne multi-purpose tracked armored personnel carrier that was introduced in 1974 and first seen by the West in 1979 during the Soviet-Afghan War.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Volgograd Tractor Factory",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 1,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 5.88,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 2.63,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.05,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 8.2,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "5D20 V6 Diesel",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 240,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "hydropneumatics",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 450,
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "+30° (533 mils)/-4° (-71 mils)",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "650 rds/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Vehicle Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Built from welded aluminum armor and the turret from welded steel. It is thought to be capable of stopping 12.7 mm rounds fired at the front of the vehicle from a range of 200 m. The sides are likely to provide protection from 7.62 mm round",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Type 920G Toucha 81 mm smoke grenade launchers that are used to obscure the vehicle from view.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "2 × Bow-Mounted 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 7.62 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "BTR-DG (Ob'yekt 925G)",
      "text": "Cargo variant without bow machine guns, firing ports and periscopes. The troop compartment was modified to serve as a cargo compartment.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-DG",
      "text": "converted into an airborne SPAAG fitted with a specially built three-legged ZU-23-2 twin anti-aircraft autocannon mount over the roof of the cargo compartment.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-D San",
      "text": "BTR-D converted into an airborne armoured ambulance.",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BREM-D",
      "text": "(BREM-D stands for bronirovannaya remonto-evakuatsionnaya mashina desanta – armoured maintenance-recovery vehicle of the airborne) (Ob'yekt 932) – BTR-D converted into an airborne ARV. It carries specialized equipment fo",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-RD \"Robot\"",
      "text": "BTR-D converted into an airborne ATGM team carrier with two 9P135M-1 ATGM launchers capable of firing 9M113 \"Konkurs\" (AT-5 Spandrel), 9M113M \"Konkurs-M\" (AT-5B Spandrel B), 9M111 \"Fagot\" (AT-4 Spigot) and 9M111-2 \"Fagot",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "BTR-ZD \"Skrezhet\"",
      "text": "(ZD stands for zenitnaya ustanovka) – BTR-D converted into an airborne air defense vehicle for carrying two MANPAD teams. The vehicle is fitted with racks for spare MANPAD missiles. It also is fitted with external stowag",
      "src": [
        "weg-btr-d"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "apc8",
  "image": {
    "file": "btr-d.jpg",
    "thumb": "btr-d-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 2.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ilyushin_IL-76MD_RF-76716_(42707677984).jpg",
    "title": "File:Ilyushin IL-76MD RF-76716 (42707677984).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 2.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/btr-d.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-btr-d": {
      "title": "BTR-D (BMD M1979) Russian Amphibious/Airborne Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/BTR-D_BMD_M1979_Russian_Amphibious_Airborne_Armored_Personnel_Carrier",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}