The BTR-3DA is fitted with a BM-3M "Shturm-M" weapon station which is armed with one ZTM-1 30mm automatic cannon able to fire APT (Armor-Piercing Tracer)and APIT (Armor-Piercing Incendiary Tracer) ammunition at a maximum range of 2,000m and HEI (High-Explosive Incendiary) and FT ammunition at a maximum range of 4,000m. A 7.62mm PKT machine gun is mounted to the left of the main armament. Second armament includes 30mm automatic grenade launcher KBA-117 (AG-117) and three smoke grenade discharger mounted on each side at the front of the turret. Two launchers of the Barrier Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) which can be used to destroy combat vehicle with composite armor, active protection system, spaced armor or explosive reactive armor (ERA), and is capable of penetrating 800mm of Rolled Homogenous Armor (RHA) behind ERA. It has a range from 100 to 5,000m.

The layout of the BTR-3DA is very similar to the Russian-made BTR-80 8x8 armoured personnel carrier but with some specific features. The hull of the BTR-3DA is of all-welded steel armour construction offering protection against firing of small arms and artillery shell splinters. The body of the vehicle is higher than the BTR-80, there are two hatches at the front of the turret. The commander on the right side has a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the front. The driver on the left side has a single-piece hatch cover that opens at a 45º angle towards the centre of the vehicle. Both the commander and driver have a window to their front which is covered in combat by an armoured hatch cover hinged at the top. The BTR-3DA has a crew of three including driver, commander and gunner and the rear part of the hull can accommodate 6 infantrymen. There is one single door on each side of the hull between the second and third axles, the upper part of which opens to the front while the lower part folds down to form a step. There is three storage boxes mounted on the rear left side of the troops compartment. The first storage box is used to store an auxiliary power unit.