Serbia Unveils Modernized Russian BTR-80A Armored Vehicle at Partner 2025 in Belgrade.

Serbia unveiled an upgraded BTR-80A at the Partner 2025 defense show in Belgrade. The modernized APC features stronger armor, advanced weapons, and Electronic Warfare systems, while maintaining its amphibious capabilities.

At the Partner 2025 defense exhibition in Belgrade, Serbia’s defense industry unveiled a modernized version of the Russian BTR-80A armored personnel carrier. The upgraded 8x8 vehicle features reinforced armor, stabilized weapon systems, and integrated electronic warfare capabilities, while maintaining the amphibious performance of the original Soviet design. The debut underscores Serbia’s growing role in regional defense innovation and modernization efforts.
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The Serbian defense industry unveils the modernized version of the Russian BTR-80A at the Partner 2025 defense exhibition in Belgrade, featuring new armor plates, a stabilized 30 mm cannon, and a counter-drone jamming system, while retaining its full amphibious capability. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

A key feature of this modernization is the addition of new armor plates mounted to the frontal arc and along both sides of the hull. These plates offer enhanced ballistic and fragmentation resistance without compromising flotation. Serbian engineers confirm that despite the extra weight, buoyancy remains intact, ensuring the vehicle can still cross rivers and water obstacles as effectively as the baseline BTR-80A.

Internally, the modernized BTR-80A follows the traditional Russian configuration. A three-man crew operates the vehicle from the forward section: the driver sits on the left, the commander on the right, and the gunner occupies the turret position. The troop compartment in the rear is arranged with inward-facing bench seats for a full infantry section. Unlike many Western APCs with rear ramps, the BTR-80A family including this Serbian modernization retains the side entry door design, a single door split into two parts (an upper and a lower half) located on each side of the hull. This layout, inherited from Soviet design philosophy, allows troops to exit while the vehicle remains partially covered but also restricts egress compared to modern rear-ramp APCs.

Firepower has been sharply improved. The stabilized 30 mm 2A72 automatic cannon, fed by a dual-feed system, can engage armored targets at up to 2,000 meters in daylight and around 800 meters at night, while high-explosive rounds reach out to 3,000 meters. The coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun provides suppression at 1,500 meters. Full 360° traverse and elevation from -5° to +70° enable engagements across varied terrain, from urban zones to elevated targets. The vehicle is also wired for the integration of Kornet anti-tank guided missiles, extending strike capability to ranges up to 8 kilometers.

One of the most notable additions on the exhibition model is a counter-drone jamming system mounted across the roofline and rear of the vehicle. Designed to disrupt UAV control links and data transmission, it reflects Serbia’s intent to adapt even legacy vehicles to the realities of drone-centric modern battlefields. Fully integrated into the onboard electronics, the jammer can be operated by the commander without interfering with mobility or weapon systems.

When compared to NATO 8x8 designs, such as the American Stryker or the Finnish Patria AMV, the modernized BTR-80A reveals both its limitations and strengths. Western vehicles typically offer thicker baseline armor, digital battle networks, and higher capacity interiors, but they come at substantially greater cost. The Serbian upgrade offers a leaner, cost-effective solution: armor plate enhancements, stabilized cannon firepower, amphibious maneuverability, and organic counter-drone defense.

The modernized version of the Russian BTR-80A unveiled at Partner 2025 confirms Serbia’s strategy of extending the combat life of proven platforms. By adding survivability, lethality, and resilience against drones while keeping the amphibious hallmark intact, the vehicle offers both a strengthened option for the Serbian Armed Forces and an attractive modernization path for countries still operating legacy BTR fleets.

In the wider Eastern European context, Serbia’s approach reflects a broader regional trend. Ukraine has pursued deep BTR modernization programs with digital battle management systems, heavier appliqué armor, and Western weapon stations, while Belarus has leaned on incremental refits of BTR-70 and BTR-80 platforms with new optics and diesel engines. Hungary, having moved closer to NATO standards, has opted to procure Rheinmetall Lynx KF41s instead of Soviet designs, abandoning them altogether.

Serbia’s choice to keep the BTR-80A relevant through armor plate reinforcement, counter-drone protection, and missile integration positions Belgrade between these models: not discarding legacy fleets outright, but not limiting itself to minor upgrades either. This strategy delivers a capable interim solution that strengthens the Serbian Armed Forces while presenting an affordable export option to states that continue to rely heavily on Soviet-era 8x8 armored personnel carriers.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.