- Yes!
- No!
BVP M-80AB1 (RCWS 20)
History and Description
In late 2021, Serbia presented yet another modernization of the BVP M-80A. The latest M-80AB1 like its predecessors features improved armor protection and an altered infantrymen’s seating configuration. What makes this one stand out is the RCWS 20 remote-controlled weapon station in place of the previous one-man turret. This change increased the gunner’s survivability who is now seated lower in the vehicle and freed up space for additional troops and ammo. In 2022, the asymmetrical prototype turret was replaced by a more elegant-looking one that is functionally identical. In 2023, the Serbian government announced serial production of BVP M-80AB1 armed with RCWS 20 turrets. However, this configuration is only a temporary solution until the development of RCWS 30 is completed. After that, all modernized M-80As will be equipped with RCWS 30s and RCWS 20s will be allocated to Miloš 2 multirole armored tactical vehicles.
Combat-ready RCWS 20 weighs around 1,400 kg and can be installed on vehicles such as Miloš 2, or in this case BVP M-80AB1. The main cannon remains the Zastava M55 20x110 mm autocannon with an ammo capacity of 60+60 rounds. A coaxial M86 machine gun produced by the same company and chambered for 7.62 mm ammunition is located to the right of the main cannon. The right side of the turret hosts two rails for Malyutka second-generation guided missiles. Two types of missiles are the 2F fitted with a thermobaric warhead and the 2T, which features a tandem-shaped charge warhead. The fourth weapon is the M93 30 mm automatic grenade launcher located on the turret’s roof. It can provide direct as well as indirect fire support. Last but not least two 3-tube 82 mm smoke grenade launchers are fitted on the front-right and front-left of the RCWS. Besides the ammo located in the turret, more can be carried inside the hull depending on the type of mission. Optics are the same as on BVP M-80AB1 (2020) and M-80AB2. They include a cooled medium wave infrared thermal imager and a daylight TV camera, both fitted with optical zooms exceeding 20x. A laser rangefinder is also installed. RCWS 20 is equipped with a modified DNS-1 optical backup day/night sight as well as with manual backup horizontal and elevation systems, allowing operation even in case of power failure.
Specifications
- Essentials
- Length; 6.42 m
- Width; 2.9 m
- Height; more than 2.20 m
- Mass; ca. 17.3 t
- Crew; 3
- Protection
- Armor;
- Hull;
- front: 14 mm + additional armor (protects from 30 mm rounds)
- sides: 9 mm + additional armor (protects from 14.5 mm rounds)
- rear: 9 mm + additional armor (protects from 7.62 mm rounds)
- Turret: 25 mm front, 13 mm sides, 8 mm rear + additional armor
- Hull;
- APS; N/A
- ERA; N/A
- Smoke; 6x BDK M79 smoke grenades, ESS
- Armor;
- Mobility
- Engine; OM-403, 320 hp
- Power/weight; 18.5 hp/t
- Top speed; 60 kph
- Amphibious; No
- Firepower
- Main;
- Zastava M55 20x110 mm autocannon
- Stabilizer; Yes
- Thermal imager; Yes
- Laser rangefinder; Yes
- Vertical guidance; -5° / +45°
- Gun elevation speed: 30 °/s
- Traverse; 360°
- Turret rotation speed; 50 °/s
- Fire rate; 650-730 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 60+60 rounds
- Ammo in storage; unknown
- Zastava M55 20x110 mm autocannon
- Secondary;
- Zastava M86 7.62 mm machine gun
- Fire rate; 700-800 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 2000 rounds
- Ammo in storage; 2000 rounds
- Penetration at 10 m; 10 mm
- Zastava M93 30 mm grenade launcher
- Fire rate; 50-400 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 29 rounds
- Ammo in storage; unknown
- Penetration at 10 m; unknown
- Zastava M86 7.62 mm machine gun
- Supplementary; U-10 ATGM launcher
- 9M14-2T Malyutka (SACLOS)
- Penetration; 800 mm behind ERA
- Speed; 120 m/s
- Max firing distance: 3000 m
- Weight; 12.9 kg
- Warhead caliber; 120 mm
- Wire-guided
- 9M14-2F Malyutka (SACLOS)
- Explosive mass (TNT equivalent); 8 kg
- Speed; 120 m/s
- Max firing distance: 3000 m
- Weight; 12.5 kg
- Warhead caliber; 120 mm
- Wire-guided
- 9M14-2T Malyutka (SACLOS)
- Main;
Gallery
Sources
SRPSKI OKLOP DOBIO NOVO BORBENO VOZILO PEŠADIJE: Naslednik čuvenog jugoslovenskog BVP M-80 (VIDEO)
Partner 2023 - Serbia Military Technical Institute showcases its new remotely controlled weapon stations - EDR Magazine
RTS :: Društvo :: Vojska Srbije modernizuje borbeno vozilo pešadije – šta je sve promenjeno
https://www.balkansec.net/post/srbija-počela-serijsku-modernizaciju-jugoslovenskih-borbenih-vozila-pešadije-m-80a
BVP-M80AB1 U NOVOM SVETLU! Srpski vojni gigant sada jači, brži i neprobojniji - Otkrivamo sve tajne spektakularne modernizacije! - Srbija danas
[PARTNER 2021] Sve o oklopnim premijerama, modernizacijama i modifikacijama - Tango Six
