“The BTR-82s will now carry the AU-22M Baikal remotely-controlled combat artillery module, which will considerable add to its firepower,” the newspaper quoted a Russian Defense Ministry official as saying.
The BTR-82 is an upgraded version of the BTR-80A wheeled armored vehicles which were armed with a 2A72 30 mm automatic cannon, modern sights, digital communications gear and better anti-mine defense.
More than a thousand BTR-82s are currently in service. Apart from armored infantry brigades and division they are also used by combat reconnaissance units, Marine brigades and Special Operations forces.
The 57 mm Baikal automatic cannons will also be installed on Kazakhstan’s new Barys APCs, developed on the basis of the South African Mbombe fighting vehicle.
