BTR-50PKM Armored Personnel Carrier

The BTR-50 family of vehicles (BTR-50P, BTR-50PU, BTR-50PK, PT-76/PT-76B and OT-62 Topaz) was first shown in public in 1957.

These vehicles are distinguished by high maneuverability, and superb cross-country and amphibious capabilities. However, they lack power-to-weight ratio and mobility. The driving ergonomics do not comply with up-to-date requirements. The majority of these vehicles have exhausted engine and transmission life-time.

Concept of the Upgrade

The goal of the upgrade is to extend service life of the BTR-50 family of vehicles (BTR-50P, BTR-50PU, BTR-50PK, PT-76/PT-76B) and vehicles having similar chassis (OT-62 Topaz) enhancing mobility, egronomics and repairability, ensuring the use of the upgraded vehicles in combat jointly with modern armored vehicles.

The upgrade is carried out through replacement of the obsolete engine, transmission, brakes and control linkages by modern components. The replacement does not affect the layout of the vehicle, its weight and center of gravity which allows to maintain the vehicles amphibious and cross-country capabilities. The upgrade is carried out with minimum changes of the original components of the vehicle.

Mobility

The BTR-50PKM advanced mobility is achieved through the installation of an uppowered diesel engine and transmission combined into a single powerpack unit. This gives the vehicle 20.7hp/t power-to-weight ratio and top speed of 60 and 45km/h on paved and earth roads respectively. As compared to the BTR-50 family vehicles the new engine features a higher efficiency with the average fuel consumption reduced by 8% and oil consumption by 53%. The fuel range has been increased correspondingly.

The transmission features a slow-down/delayed-action gearing making it possible to increase the gear-ratio of each gear by 1.44 times. The delayed-action gear is actuated by a lateral at the drivers seat.

Ergonomics

Enhanced ergonomics of the vehicle controls are achieved by:

installation of a T-bar steering
installation of a brake pedal
installation of a parking brake lateral
installation of delayed-action control laterals

The controls require less effort from the driver due to hydraulic boosters in gearbox, main clutch, steering and stopping brake control linkages, meeting todays ergonomic requirements.

The pneumatic system installed in the BTR-50PKM ensures compressed-air engine starting, operation of the main clutch and stopping brakes control linkages with the engine shut down. The compressed-air bottle is refilled from the traction engine-driven compressor.

Repairability

Improved repairability has been made possible due to the use of the powerpack unit providing its fast replacement as well as implementation of quick disconnect couplings in the supply systems.

The powerpack and auxiliary systems:

cooling and air-cleaning unit
air start-up system

have been used in the Russian BMP-1 and BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles. They feature a well worked out design and superb reliability.