Belarus receives first BTR-82A APCs

The Belarusian Armed Forces received their first batch of BTR-82A APCs, the MoD announced on 30 September. (Belarusian MoD)

The Belarusian Armed Forces received their first batch of BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers (APCs), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on its website on 30 September.

The APCs are to be deployed to an unspecified Belarusian unit, with the 72nd Joint Training Centre and Belarusian military academy receiving several vehicles for training purposes. The BTR-82As have been fitted with Belarusian components: communications suites by JSC Agat-System and sighting systems by JSC Peleng, according to the MoD.

The Belarusian military has also received two BREM-K wheeled armoured recovery vehicles based on the BTR-80.

A second batch of BTR-82As to equip a battalion is expected to be delivered to Belarus in November.

The BTR-82A APC is designed by Russia's Military-Industrial Company (VPK). It weighs about 16,000 kg, carries seven service personnel, and is armed with a 2A72 30 mm automatic cannon and Kalashnikov PKTM 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun.