New BM-7 Parus Turret Enhances Ukrainian BTR-7 Combat Vehicles.

Ukraine has started retrofitting its BTR-7 infantry combat vehicles with the new BM-7 Parus turret, as reported on X by @praisethesteph. This modification significantly enhances the firepower compared to the original turret configurations equipped with the 14.5 mm KPVT machine gun. The BM-7 Parus turret, featuring a 30 mm ZTM-1 autocannon and modern optoelectronic systems, provides a more powerful and technologically advanced alternative.
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The BTR-7 typically mounts a 30 mm automatic cannon, a coaxial machine gun, and grenade launchers (Picture source: X channel @praisethesteph)

The updated turret system also allows the installation of two anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), thereby boosting their combat effectiveness. This enhancement could be a game-changer for the Ukrainian military by significantly improving the combat value of their aging BTR fleet. The integration of these advanced turrets is part of ongoing efforts to modernize and strengthen the Ukrainian armored forces amid persistent regional tensions.

The deployment of these upgraded vehicles, currently in service with the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK), demonstrates the potential of modernization to extend the operational life and effectiveness of existing military assets. This strategy not only optimizes defense spending but also ensures that the armed forces remain equipped with competitive and capable weaponry.

The BTR-7 is a Ukrainian upgrade of the older BTR-70 armored personnel carrier, originally developed by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau in the late 1990s. Known as "Bucephalus," the BTR-7 was put into service in the early 2000s with the primary role of enhancing the operational capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces by providing more robust and flexible infantry transport.

The vehicle features significant improvements over its predecessors, including enhanced armored protection, increased firepower, and modernized equipment. The BTR-7 is equipped with a powerful diesel engine, which provides better mobility and speed than the BTR-70. It typically mounts a 30 mm automatic cannon, a coaxial machine gun, and grenade launchers. The vehicle can also be fitted with anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), significantly increasing its combat effectiveness.

As of the latest updates, the exact number of BTR-7 vehicles in service is not publicly disclosed, but they are an integral part of Ukraine's mechanized and armored units. The BTR-7 continues to receive upgrades and modifications aimed at improving its survivability and combat capabilities in response to changing battlefield conditions and operational requirements.