Russian amphibious BT-3F APC armored personnel carrier ready for serial production.

Rostec announces that Kurganmashzavod is ready to launch mass production of a new amphibious armored personnel carrier BT-3F. The developer is completing preliminary tests of a new promising amphibious armored personnel carrier BT-3F, which lasted more than one year, TopWar.ru reports. As Rostec explained, quoted by TASS, Kurganmashzavod is ready to start serial production of its BT-3F as soon as a contract for its supply is signed.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

BT-3F APC displayed at Army 2019 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The armored personnel carrier has been designed by the Special Design Bureau for Machine Engineering (SKBM) and Kurganmashzavod company, which are part of the High PrecisionWeapons Holding. They used the BMP-3F IFV as the basis for the armored personnel carrier, but it was adapted for performing special tasks in extreme temperature conditions. It features an insulated body, an autonomous heating system capable of keeping cabin temperature above zero even when the main engine is stopped. In addition, BT-3F runs on special tracks with lower ground pressure. This has significantly extended its off-road performance.

The BT-3F can carry up to 14 people in full combat gear. Special energy-absorbing seats are provided as part of the mine-blast protection design.

The total combat weight is set at 18.9 tons. The range is 600 km. On the water, the vehicle can stay up to 7 hours.

Regarding its armament, the BT-3F has a remote-controlled weapons station (combat module) with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm Kord machine gun coupled to an integrated thermal imager and a laser rangefinder.

In addition to Russia, as reported by Army Recognition on April 24, 2019, the BT-3F has been purchased in 2019 by Indonesia, which is following its tests with great interest: the Marinirs (Marine Corps) are equipped with BMP-3Fs, which fully meet the requirements and already outdated Soviet BTR-50s, which need to be replaced.

BT-3F APC (Picture source: Army Recognition)