The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has approved distribution of locally upgraded Khorunzhy armored personnel carriers to the armed forces to defend against Russia’s aggression.
This comes after a “deep modernization” effort of the Soviet-made BTR-60s in April.
The Bulgarian government donated part of the fleet in February. The following month, Sofia confirmed the delivery of about 100 BTR-60s to Kyiv.
Under the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the revamped BTR-60s have been designated “Khorunzhy.”
The Khorunzhy Vehicle
Ukraine’s defense agency noted that the armored vehicle has improved features compared to its base system through the integration of a single 330-horsepower diesel engine in front of the hull instead of a twin gasoline engine.
A larger fuel tank and engine supports a range of more than half a thousand kilometers (over 310 miles) and a speed exceeding 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour.
The carrier’s chassis is made of lightweight Finnish steel with enhanced ballistic protection against 7.62-millimeter weapons. The platform’s frontal armor incorporates an additional steel core to withstand large-caliber machine guns firing 10 meters (33 feet) away.
Khorunzhy’s landing capability was also upgraded through the reconfiguration of ergonomic features in the rear, enabling convenient troop deployment on the battlefield.
The vehicle is fitted with new surveillance cameras, modern electronics, an air conditioning system, and autonomous generators, allowing the platform to function in case the engine receives damage.
Similar to its predecessor, the Khorunzhy can carry a 14.5-millimeter machine gun, which complements a newly-equipped 30×113-millimeter cannon.
The modified BTR-60 is available in standard personnel carrier, linear armored personnel transport, medical evacuation, command-staff, repair support, and self-propelled mortar variants.
Soviet Union’s BTR-60
The original BTR-60 was produced from 1960 to 1976 under the Soviet Union’s Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod and from the 1970s to early 1990s by Romania’s state-owned defense company Regia Autonomă Pentru Producția De Tehnică Militară.
Approximately 25,000 BTR-60s have been operational since its debut, with multiple nations in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East as users.
The vehicle measures 7.56 meters (24.8 feet) long, weighs 10.3 tons, and has the capacity for up to 15 personnel.
