The BTR-3U armoured personnel carrier has been developed in 2000-2001 by an international consortium. The companies involved in the project include the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau of Ukraine, the ADCOM MANUFACTURING Company Limited WLL of Abu-Dhabi, UAE, the State Scientific Technical Centre of Artillery & Rifle Arms of Ukraine, the Deutz AG company of Germany, the Allison Transmission company of the USA and some other sub-contractors.

design and lay-out principles of the vehicle were determined by the ADCOM MANUFACTURING Company, acting as the whole project coordinator, while the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau was responsible for the development of the chassis and integration of all vehicle systems and weapons on the chassis (development of the designer documentation). The BTR-3U is also designated as the Guardian. Although somewhat similar in appearance to the Russian BTR-80, the BTR-3U is an all-new production vehicle rather than upgrade of the existing in-service vehicle.

consists of a Deutz BF6M1015 diesel developing 326 hp coupled to an Allison MD3066 fully-automatic transmission. The power pack and transmission are fitted by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (with technical assistance of the Deutz AG and the Allison Transmission companies). The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled when afloat by a single water jet mounted at the rear of the hull. To prepare the vehicle for water, the driver erects a trim vane and switches on the bilge pumps from within the vehicle.

accommodates six troops who enter and leave the vehicle by a door in either side of the hull. The lower part of the door folds downward to form a step, with the upper part opening forwards. There are also hatches in the roof and firing ports with associated vision devices provided in the sides and front of the vehicle.

The BTR-3U is fitted with the one-person Shkval unified fighting module

which accommodates a number of weapon systems including 30mm gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 30mm automatic grenade launcher and anti-tank guided weapons (wire-guided Red Arrow missiles of Chinese origin). The module was developed by the State Scientific Technical Centre of Artillery & Rifle Arms of Ukraine. The Shkval fighting module design is very flexible, which makes it possible to easily replace an existing weapon with another one (e.g. wire-guided Red Arrow missiles with laser-beam riding missiles, etc).

has 350 rounds of ready-use ammunition. A total of 2,500 rounds are carried for the 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The 30mm grenade launcher is mounted on the left side of the turret, having 29 rounds of ready-use ammunition, with additional 87 rounds being carried in reserve (three magazines, each containing 29 rounds).

Six 81mm electrically operated smoke/aerosol grenade launchers

are mounted three either side of the turret rear and firing forwards.

include a commander’s 1PZ-3 observation periscope and a TKN-4S Agat stabilised sight which is integrated with the missile fire control system.

of the BTR-3U also includes hydraulically amplified powered steering on the front four road wheels and a central tyre-pressure regulation system that allows the driver to adjust the tyre-pressure to suit the terrain being crossed. The BTR-3U is fitted with French Michelin tyres.

is fitted with an automatic double-action fire extinguishing system. An air conditioning system is fitted as standard to ensure crew comfort in hot conditions.