Serbia is modernizing russian-made BTR-80A armored personnel carriers, which it had previously purchased from Hungary. This development is hardly surprising, given the questionable quality of these vehicles from the very start. The main issue now is whether the upgraded machines will be able to surpass russian BTR-82A or even Ukrainian BTR-3 vehicles.
One of the most noticeable improvements is the addition of new armor plates on the hull, designed to protect against 12.7 mm rounds. The plates appear to be installed with care, leaving fewer vulnerable zones and giving the vehicle a solid overall appearance. This represents a significant step forward compared even to russian BTR-82A vehicle, which continues to be mass-produced for the russian army but has barely improved its protection compared to Soviet designs. While this may have kept costs low, it left survivability in question.
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Another striking detail is the installation of a gun mantlet together with a hydrostabilization system. This is an important upgrade because Soviet-russian 30 mm 2A72 cannon was never designed for independent use. As a result, it has poor stabilization and terrible accuracy, sometimes failing to hit an the M113 system even from 500 meters. Serbian modernization could theoretically reduce this problem significantly.
Still, currently available footage complicates the assessment. The only published videos from June show the vehicle equipped with hydrostabilization but no gun mantlet. In those clips, the cannon still shakes heavily during firing, though the situation looks slightly better than on russian models where no stabilization is present. Without video of the final configuration, it is difficult to provide a definitive evaluation.
Like any modern armored vehicle, the upgraded BTR-80A will be fitted with a digital fire-control system, including day-night and TV sights. Additional visualization systems such as cameras and indicators are also part of the package, helping to improve situational awareness. Communication has been modernized with digital radios, while crew comfort has been enhanced with the installation of an air conditioner. There are also reports of plans to integrate electronic warfare systems for countering UAVs.
Overall, this modernization represents a solid upgrade of the BTR-80A carrier, one that clearly outperforms russia's BTR-82A vehicle. The only unchanged element is the rather questionable design with uncomfortable side doors for the dismounting infantry. Interestingly, Serbia's upgraded vehicles even manage to compete with Ukrainian BTR-3E and BTR-3DA systems, offering better situational awareness and perhaps even stronger protection. At the same time, questions remain about the cannon's stabilization, an area where Ukrainian industry still provides one of the best Soviet-derived solutions.
Between 2024 and 2025, Serbia acquired up to 50 BTR-80A from Hungary, which is in the process of replacing them with the KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicle. Production of the Lynx vehicle is also planned in Ukraine. For Serbia, the purchase was seen as a stopgap measure to fill immediate needs until its own Lazar 3 vehicles, which are much closer to Western standards, can be built in sufficient numbers.
In summary, Serbia's modernization of the BTR-80A vehicle looks impressive on paper, provided that all the announced upgrades have indeed been carried out. Reports suggest that the vehicles will be delivered to an armored reconnaissance battalion headquartered in Niš, which already operatesrRussian-made BRDM-2MS vehicles.
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