More than 30 BTR-82A armored personnel carriers (APCs) have been delivered to Russian Caspian Flotilla Marine units, Southern Military District spokesman Vadim Astafyev said. "Caspian Flotilla Marine units have received 32 BTR-82A armored personnel carriers transported from the Kostroma Region to Astrakhan by rail," Astafyev said. "The BTR-82A APCs were delivered to Marine units under the 2020 rearmament program," he added.

BTR-82A (Picture source: Army Recognition)

After detraining, the vehicles came to the unit on their own and their crews started to prepare them for forthcoming field maneuvers. The servicemen checked technical fluids and the operation of the vehicles’ systems. In May, Marine units based in Dagestan in the North Caucasus received 29 BTR-82A armored personnel carriers. More than 60 new armored vehicles will be involved in the summer training session.

The BTR-82A is an upgraded version of the BTR-80A wheeled armored vehicles. In December 2008, Russia's Military Industrial Company (MIC) was already testing the prototypes which were unveiled in December 2009. In April 2010, Russian defence industry started to market the BTR-82 and BTR-82A as a modernization program for existing BTR-80 operators. Russia will supply Kazakhstan until 2013, with 100 armoured vehicles BTR-82: 30 in 2011 and 70 in 2012.

Unlike the BTR-80 APC, the BTR-82A armored personnel carrier has increased survivability. The APC carries a sophisticated radio station, the Trona-1 geospatial survey system with combined inertial/satellite navigation subsystems, and a day/night sighting system. The BTR-82A vehicle’s firepower has been increased owing to a standardized electrically-driven combat module equipped with a two-axis gun stabilizer.