The main difference between the BTR-82A (left) and the BTR-82 (right) is that the former has a more powerful weapon station.

Enhancements include also the replacement of the original Kamaz 260 hp diesel engine with a 300 hp turbodiesel from the same company, which gives a maximum road speed of up to 100 km/h (10-20 km/h faster than the BTR-80, depending on variant) and a road range of up to 600 km.

The transmission and suspension have also been upgraded to support a growth in gross vehicle weight (GVW) from the BTR-80A's 14.55 tonnes to 15.4 tonnes.

An electrically operated "commonised fighting module" is mounted on the roof of the vehicle, armed with a two-axis stabilised 30 mm 2A72 dual-feed cannon and a 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun (MG), all aimed through TKN-4GA-02 sights. A bank of three forward-facing 81 mm grenade launchers is sited on each side of the weapons.

The module's design represents an improvement itself, as the weapons are mounted externally so ammunition fumes do not enter the crew compartment. Their location also enables a high degree of movement, with elevation ranging from -7 to +70°.

Although the army has adopted the BTR-82A, it has not gone for the more lightly armed BTR-82, which is fitted with a 14.5 mm KPVT heavy MG and PKTM.

The BTR-82A's overall layout and ballistic protection is the same as the BTR-80A, but crew survivability has been increased with the installation of spall liners, blast-attenuating seating and an improved fire detection and suppression system. The crew are also protected by a nuclear, biological, and chemical filtration system and a full air conditioning system.