Azerbaijan APC and IFV armored vehicle crews increase combat readiness.

According to the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Azeri Minister of Defense, the combat readiness of the Armored Personnel Carrier crews and other wheeled combat vehicles is getting increased. Live-fire training on the combined-arms training range is intensifying.

BTR-82A of Azeri Army during live-fire training. (Picture source: Azerbaijan MoD)

The Azeri land forces are equipped with various armored wheeled vehicles. The last figures available indicate over 70 BTR-80As and 76 BTR-82As in active service, 132 BTR-70s equipped modern "Shimshek" gun turret, fire-control system and thermal sights (more BTR-70s in storage), 10 BTR-60s (more in storage), 3 BTR-3s, 88 BRDM-2s (23 vehicles were modernized and renamed ZKDM).

According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ) arms trade database, Azerbaijan has ordered 118 Russian made BMP-3 tracked IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), 100 T-90S main battle tanks delivered in 2013-2015 as well as 76 Russian-made BTR-82A 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carriers that were delivered in 2017-2018.

The BMP-3 is a Russian-made tracked IFV which is in service with armed forces of Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Nicaragua, Russia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

The BMP-3 is a Soviet tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, a successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2, which entered service with the Soviet army in 1990 and made its first public appearance the same year. The firepower of the BMP-3 includes one 100mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun able to fire standard ammunition as well as anti-tank guided missile. The second armament consists of one 30mm 2A72 automatic gun mounted in parallel with the 100mm cannon, and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. One 7.62 mm PKT machine gun is mounted either side of the hull, firing forwards and these are operated by one of the front three crew members.

The BTR-82A is an upgraded version of the BTR-80A wheeled armored vehicles with new features including higher-capacity power plant, an armament stabilizer, a combined (day/night) sight, as well as improvements to transmission and running gear units. Production of the BTR-82A APCs for the Russian Army was started in September 2013.

The firepower of the BTR-82A is increased by the use of a new unified fighting module with an electric drive armed with one 2A72 30mm cannon coupled with a 7.62 mm machine gun. The turret is fully stabilized on the two axes and fitted with new sights. The BTR-82 can fire on the move in day and night operations. It has a crew of three and accommodates 7 fully equipped infantrymen.

Azeri Army BMP-3 tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle. (Picture source Azeri MoD)