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BT-3F still has not beaten BTR-4M in the fight for the Indonesian contract
Extremely fascinating now is the battle that broke out between the Ukrainian BTR-4M and the Russian BT-3F for the Indonesian market. And it is used as a complete set of favorite methods of Russian propaganda for discrediting Ukrainian technology, and creating the appearance of victory where it is not yet close! But first things first.
In mid-August this year, all Russian media broadcast that during the military-technical forum "Army-2017" a military delegation from Indonesia can agree on the delivery of the Russian armored personnel carrier BT-3F, instead of "not justified the hopes" of Ukrainian BTR-4M . At that time, the theme of the failure of BTR-4M tests in Indonesia was persistently cultivated in the Russian media space, although no official statements were received from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense.
Well, since the delegation comes to the forum to conclude a treaty, so be it. However, the forum "Army-2017" was over, and there was no euphoria about the multimillion-dollar contract, but it's about $ 95 million, there was no Russian media ... A week, two, three, a month ... And silence. Well, how quiet? Not really.
So, at the end of September, 2017, it became known that the Russian concern "Tractor Plants" is declaring bankruptcy, because one of the leaders of machine building has amassed 1.5 billion US dollars of debts! And the concern includes, among other things, OAO Kurganmashzavod, which produces vaunted BT-3F!
Needless to say, if a multimillion-dollar contract with Indonesia were concluded, it would have already screamed all the information sites and thematic forums of the Russian Federation, and from the bankruptcy of "Tractor Plants" would not have made a tragedy? And to confirm that, almost two months later, Deputy Director General of Rosoboronexport Sergei Goreslavsky in an interview with journalists noted that negotiations with the Indonesian side are still under way ... Still?
Actually, sucking the victory out of your finger is a favorite occupation of the Russian side, but you need to be realistic, and that's why.
First of all, experts of the Indonesian Armed Forces can not talk about any purchase and conclusion of contracts without BT-3F tests. These tests are long and comprehensive. And did anyone even hear that Russian armored personnel carriers were sent for testing to Indonesia? No. Therefore, they did not even begin!
And now, a little bit about the tactical and technical characteristics. In particular, the Russian armored personnel carrier has a mass of 18.5 tons, is equipped with a diesel "heart" with a capacity of 500 hp, capable of dispersing it along the track to 70 km / h, and also provide buoyancy at a speed of up to 5 knots. BT-3F is adapted to transport 12 paratroopers, provides them with protection from small arms in caliber up to 14.5 mm and has a range of up to 600 km.
The BT-3F is equipped with a remote-controlled combat module, with a 7.62-mm PKTM machine gun. There are also options for equipping BMs with machine guns 12.7-mm, 14.5-mm, automatic grenade launchers 30-mm AG-17A or 40 mm AGS-40. True, there were no combat modules with this weaponry in operation of BT-3F.
In turn, the BTR-4M and the engine is more powerful (600 hp) and the speed along the highway is higher - up to 100 km / h, and the power reserve along the highway is up to 690 km. As for weapons, the BM-7 "Parus" combat module provides fire support for the assault with the following arsenal: a 30 mm ZTM-1 automatic cannon, a 7.62-mm KT-7.62 caliber machine gun, an automatic 30-mm KBA grenade launcher -17, as well as four 130-mm anti-tank guided missiles R-3C "Barrier", hitting targets at a distance of up to 5 km and piercing armor 800 mm behind the dynamic defense.
In this case, the BTR-4M with the BM-7 "Parus" combat module floats at a speed of up to 5 knots. Just like BT-3F, its combat module has a much more modest fire potential, and in case of its amplification, the buoyancy characteristics may be violated.
That's why the corresponding question arises on this background, if BT-3F has such an "unparalleled" then really, why is it still not on the tests in Indonesia, and BTR-4M are in operation?
