Defense & Security Thailand 2019: BTR-3CS, a Thai-designed command post on BTR-3 IFV chassis.

The Thai Defense Technology Institute is showcasing an indigenous development based on the BTR-3 infantry fighting vehicle currently equipping the Royal Thai Army by the hundreds: the BTR—3CS, CS standing for Command Staff.

BTR-3CS (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Answering a need of the Royal Thai Army for about 17 or 18 mobile command posts, the Defence Technology Institute has designed a modification based on the BTR-3 that is already in use in the army. The armored hull modification of the showcased prototype has been manufactured in the UK following the plans provided by the Institute. The ACPC (armored command post carrier) is equipped with a Mercedes MTU turbocharged engine developing 326 hp, associated to an Allison automatic 6-speed transmission. Because of the hot and often (very) humid climate in which the vehicle is called to operate, it is also equipped with an air conditioner.

Being an 8x8 amphibious command post, the BTR-3C is equipped with all the radio equipment, data collector and a Battle Management System combined to enable the vehicle to fulfill its mission. The crew is composed of a driver and co-driver, a vehicle commander and six people to manage the specific command post equipment.

The vehicle gross weight averages 16.5 tons. It can reach 100 km/h on hard surface and 8 km/h on water. The autonomy provided by the two 160-liter fuel tanks is 600 km minimum on hard surface.

The armament consists of a 12.7mm NSVT machine gun (500 rounds) ad an 81mm smoke grenade launcher. The protection is STANAG 4164 level 2 or 3 at the front.

BTR-3CS (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The BTR-3CS is equipped with a Mercedes MTU engine and an Allison transmission (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Col. Chatchapong Punpay, Business Development Director and project director of the BTR-3CS, describes the Command post equipment (Picture source: Army Recognition)