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BTR-4M
Hello everyone! Today I would like to suggest an Indonesian variant of the BTR-4. This suggestion is primarily to complement the already suggested Indonesian Ground Forces sub-tree.
The BTR-4M is an indonesian variant of the Ukrainian BTR-4 8x8 APC specifically modified to meet the operational requirements of the Indonesian Marine Corps. The BTR-4M retains the core design of the BTR-4 but also incorporates enhancements for improved seaworthiness and tropical operations. The BTR-4M features a modular steel hull with a STANAG level 2 protection. The Indonesian variant is armed with either a 7.62mm machine gun turret or the BM-7 Parus RCWS which include a 30mm ZTM-1 autocannon, coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun and a 30mm AGS-17. Although the Barrier ATGM was present on the BTR-4M during trials in Ukraine, these missiles are lacking in Indonesian service, as presumably they were not purchased. The BTR-4M is powered by a Deutz BF6M1015CP (500hp) diesel engine giving it a top road speed of over 110 km/h.
In regards to the missile, though the Indonesian vehicle has the ATGM Module as well as being tested with them equipped in Ukraine, the Barrier Missile is presumably not in use by the Marine Corps since there was no report or evidence of it being acquired or used by the Indonesian Marines. The uncertainty of the ATGM, its ammo selection (APDS being its best belt), and its fire control system and mobility, these factors would put the vehicle somewhere at around Rank 6 with a BR of around ~8.0. If the barrier missile was to be added though the rank and BR would consequently be increased.
A. Background
Details
The BTR-4 8x8 armored personnel carrier was developed in the early 2000s by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KhKBM). Unlike the Soviet-era designs like the BTR-60/70/80, the BTR-4 was a completely new Ukrainian development, adopting a western-oriented layout similar to the German Fuchs APC. The vehicle featured a side-by-side driver and commander compartment in the front with a central engine and transmission section and a rear troop compartment with access through the rear doors and roof hatches as well as side doors for the front cabin. It’s prototype was first showcased in June of 2007 at the Aviasvit-21 exhibition in Kyiv. Following the landing test and approval from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, serial production began in 2008 and on July 24th, 2012 the BTR-4E was officially adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Mass production of the vehicle initially took place at the Morozov KhKBM, with later expansions to the Zhytomyr Armored Plant in 2015-16.
BTR-4
The Ukrainian BTR-4 features a modular and fully steel hull with STANAG Level 2 protection, capable of resisting small arms fire as well as explosive shrapnel. The vehicle is also amphibious, capable of traversing waters using its two water jets on the rear of the hull for propulsion. The BTR-4 is also capable of being fitted with various weapons modules, including the BM-7 Parus, Thunder, Squall, or BAU 23x2 modules. The engine typically uses a 3TD-3 diesel engine (500hp) or a 400hp version. It can also be fitted with a German Deutz (442-450hp) or Italian Iveco (430hp) engines. The transmission is either manual or an Allison automatic, with a all-wheel drive and independent torsion suspension.
The BTR-4M is an Indonesian variant of the BTR-4 with an improved seaworthiness modification as well as tropical modifications designed for the Indonesian Marine Corps. It is armed with either a 7.62mm machine gun turret or the BM-7 Parus RCWS featuring a 30mm ZTM-1 autocannon, 7.62mm PKT machine gun, as well as the 30mm AGS-17 grenade launcher. Though the vehicle was tested with the Barrier ATGM in Ukraine, in Indonesian service this missile is presumably not acquired as they are never fitted in the photos. The Indonesian BTR-4 also uses a different engine with the Deutz BF6M 1015CP providing 500hp with an Allison 4600SP 6-speed automatic transmission, giving the vehicle a top road speed of around 110 km/h.
BTR-4M for Indonesia being tested in Ukraine
The 8x8 BTR-80A Wheeled APC is proven to be very reliable in supporting the mission of the Indonesian Armed Force’s mechanized battalion in the UN peacekeeping force. As such, this platform was deemed ideal to be used as the backbone for the Indonesian Marine. The BTR-4 was to be chosen as a replacement for the aging fleet of the Marine Corps’ PT-76 as quoted by the then Navy’s Chief of staff, with around 55 BTR-4 units being brought in to form a battalion, and another batch to be brought in down the line.
Why BTR-4 especially? Well during a visit in August of 2013, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense delegation got acquainted with the testing of the BTR-4 at one of the Ukrainian training grounds. The delegation highly appreciated the tactical and technical characteristics and capabilities of the APC. The State Enterprise “Spetstechnoexport” (which is a part of the ‘Ukroboronprom’) won the tender of the Indonesian Ministry of Defense for the supply of a batch of BTR-4 APCs of 5 units for the testing of the Indonesian Navy with the deliveries to be expected around the period of 2015-19. With the amphibious capabilities of the vehicle tested at the Saltivka Reservoir in 2016, the vehicle was shipped to Indonesia abroad a cargo ship. The first wave of the vehicle arrived at Tanjung Priok Port at North Jakarta on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.
BTR-4M Arriving in Indonesia
After arriving in Indonesia, the Cavalry regiment of the Marine Corps officially kickstarted the training of the BTR-4M in Cilandak, South Jakarta. The training and functionality test was attended by 25 personnel of the 2nd Marine Cavalry Regiment as well as 11 training personnel which started from the 14th to 24th of October 2016, though the vehicle wouldn’t officially receive its actual amphibious testing until the 18th of January, due to the vehicle unexpectedly participated in guard duty for the Indonesian Vice President during the December 2016 Jakarta protests. Two vehicle was driven entirely from the Marine Corps base in South Jakarta to the Tanjung Burung Beach in Tangerang. After arriving from the ~1 hour drive the two vehicle was prepared for the open water trials on the morning of January 19th. The clear skies and calm water is certainly appreciated by the Marine Corps and KMDB (Kharkiv Morozov Design Bureau) representatives. After testing, the two vehicle were remarkably stable and quiet, similar to when it was tested back in Ukraine.
Right after the amphibious trials, the vehicle was then moved to the Hambalang hill in Sentul for firing tests. On the afternoon of January 19th, the two vehicle and 3 others were sent to undertake the 2 hour journey. Since departure of the 18th, during amphibious tests and now arriving in Hambalang, the vehicle has not been refueled. The vehicle was noted to have an efficient fuel consumption for a 8x8 vehicle. In Hambalang, the vehicle was put through an off-road road to the firing range, with the off-road capabilities being tested due to a flood of rain which hit the area during the past week. A PT-76 was in standby to help tow the vehicle but that was not needed. The firing trials also succeeds without any issue.
Though the subsequent trials was reported as a success, the navy’s original testing in September of 2016 still result in some dissatisfaction with the vehicle. One of the primary concerns is regarding the vehicle being trimmed by the bow when operated at full speed resulting in the front of the vehicle being significantly lower than its rear during extreme amphibious operations, with some unconfirmed reports of it leaking as well. It’s worth noting that the Marine Corps especially is quite strict with its guidelines. In 1981 for instance, the AMX-10Ps were brought in to replace the PT-76, and they too failed to meet the amphibious requirements set by the Marine Corps. In 2019, the Indonesian Ministy of Defense signed a contract with Rosoboronexport for the purchase of 22 BMP-3F IFV and 21 BT-3F tracked APCs, becoming its first customer. The BTR-4M would serve alongside the BMP-3F in the Marine Corps service, with each vehicle still regularly participating in training and exercises, with the BTR-4 mainly operating on land and BMP-3F used for amphibious exercises.
two BTR-4Ms alongside a BMP-3F during a firing exercise in Sukabumi
B. Specifications
Details
General Specifications
- Crew: 3 (Commander & Driver in front seat, Gunner Rear)
- Length: 7.87 m
- Width: 2.93 m
- Height: 3.05 m
- Weight (Turret Weight only): 26 t ( 1.72 t)
- Armor: protection from 7.62mm All around (protection up to 12.7mm in the front)
- Transmission: Allison 4600SP Automatic Transmission
- Gear: 6 forwards, 1 reverse
- Gear: 6 forwards, 1 reverse
- Engine: Deutz BF6M 1015CP
- Horsepower: 500hp
- Max Road Speed (Cross-country): 110 km/h ( 70 km/h)
BTR-4 Information Panel | Naval Expo 2022 (In Indonesian)
Armament
- BM-7 Parus RCWS Combat Module
- 30mm ZTM-1 (2A72) Autocannon
- 400x Rounds (Standard Ammunition selection)
- 7.62mm PKT Machine Gun
- 2000x Rounds
- 30mm AGS-17 Grenade Launcher
- 87x Rounds
- presumably without Barrier ATGM
Parus turret figure & details
- “Barrier” ATGM
- PN-B ATGM Sight
- Maintenance Hatch
- Balancing Mechanism
- Commander’s Sight
- Optical-electronic Gunner Sight
- AGS-17 Grenade Launcher
- 7.62mm PKT Machine Gun
- Smoke Grenades
- Turret Housing
- 30mm ZTM-1 Autocannon
Systems
- Turret is entirely overhead
- Inside-hull reloading for turret
- Dual-axis stabilization
- Commander-Override for the turret
- 6x 81mm 902B Tucha Smoke Grenades
- -13° to +45° Vertical Guidance
- 360° Horizontal Rotation
- Arkan Fire Control System
- Optical-Television Sighting system
- OEM-B Laser Rangefinder
- Two Control Terminals
- Panorama-2P Sight
- Hunter-Killer option
- Camera has circular view & can rise up to 0.5m above the turret
C. More Images
Details
Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXUjGUmR9Ws
BTR-4M Walkaround
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qei9v52FhiY
Amphibious Test of the BTR-4M in Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeZE22Bq5po
Amphibious Test of the BTR-4M in Indonesia
BTR-4M firing in Hambalang Hill
BTR-4M firing in Sukabumi
BTR-4M during a Parade
BTR-4M During an exercise
The first (and only) batch of BTR-4Ms during initial trials in Indonesia
BTR-4M on the move
Closer look of the 30mm Gun
D. Sources
Details
- BTR-4 Information Panel. Naval Expo 2022 Static Display. Northern Jakarta, Indonesia. 2022.
- Blamm! Dahsyatnya Uji Tembak BTR-4M Milik Marinir
- https://www.indomiliter.com/btr-4m-ranpur-amfibi-terbaru-siap-memperkuat-resimen-kavaleri-marinir-tni-al/
- https://www.indomiliter.com/btr-4-intip-ranpur-amfibi-generasi-mendatang-korps-marinir-tni-al/
- Gelombang Pertama BTR-4M Tiba di Indonesia
- Korps Marinir Gelar Uji Fungsi dan Pelatihan Awak Ranpur BTR-4M
- https://www.indomiliter.com/tak-puas-dengan-performa-korps-marinir-pertimbangkan-kembali-pengadaan-btr-4m-8x8/
- Meski Pengadaan Lanjutan Belum Jelas, Kondisi BTR-4M Korps Marinir Terawat Baik
- Inilah Penampakan Ranpur BTR-4 Pesanan Korps Marinir TNI AL - Majalah Angkasa Online
- BTR-4 Armored Personnel Carrier | Military-Today.com
- Glavcom: Ukrainian combat module BM-7 Parus
- BTR-4E Bucephalus
- Indonesian Marines sea exercise with BTR-4M amphibious armored
- DEFENSE STUDIES: Indonesian Marine Corps Prepares to Pull Plug on Further BTR-4 Acquisitions
- DEFENSE STUDIES: Indonesia Reconsiders Further Acquisition of BTR-4 APCs After Early Trials
- Ukrainian Military Pages: «Укроборонпром» відправив першу партію БТР-4М для ВМС Індонезії
- Випробування БТР-4М на воді (відео)
- ХКБМ готує передачу першої партії БТР-4 для морської піхоти
- Тренування індонезійських морпіхів на БТР-4М: репортаж індонезійського видання DETIK NEWS
- Хомчак підтвердив переозброєння морської піхоти на БТР-4М
- «Укроборонпром» відправив першу партію БТР-4М для ВМС Індонезії
- Індонезійські морпіхи розпочали експлуатацію українських БТР-4М після завершення випробувань
- Индонезии планирует закупить 55 украинских бронетранспортеров БТР-4 | Украина промышленная
- «Укроборонпром» продасть Індонезії п ять БТР-4 | УКРІНФОРМ
- БТР-4 — Вікіпедія
- Парус (модуль) — Вікіпедія
Special thanks to @Yontzee for helping with the sources/references for this suggestion!
Any suggestions or corrections would be highly appreciated!Additionally, you can check out more Indonesian suggestions below!
