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Someone Ordered Modernization of 150 BTR-70s From Polish Maker of Oncilla, the Vehicles May End Up in Ukraine

Open-source illustrative photo
Open-source illustrative photo
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There are indirect signs that an unexpected cache of old equipment was opened up to strengthen the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Online magazine Aeromag shared information that the Polish defense plant MISTA, known as the manufacturer of Oncilla armored vehicles, has carried out the restoration and modernization of more than 150 BTR-70 armored personnel carriers, with the most likely recipient being Ukraine. The article, featured in the screenshot below, does not specify the timeline of deliveries, meaning they might have been returned long ago or are still being delivered.

While this data has no official confirmation yet, we can still explore if any other potential customers in Europe could commission such a large-scale modernization of the Soviet BTR-70 carriers, and we'll see there are not many other BTR-70 users besides Ukraine.

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Screenshot of the Aeromag's article mentioning the modernization of 150 BTR-70s / Defense Express / Someone Ordered Modernization of 150 BTR-70s From Polish Maker of Oncilla, the Vehicles May End Up in Ukraine
Screenshot of the Aeromag's article mentioning the modernization of 150 BTR-70s

But first, we must detail that the said modernization of BTR-70s at MISTA included replacing gasoline engines with diesel ones, integrating the latest satellite navigation systems and electronic warfare systems, sights, thermal imagers, and installing two additional side doors.

In other words, the very configuration of upgrades, intentionally or not, fits the challenges often encountered by armored vehicles on the battlefields of Ukraine's full-blown war against russia.

A BTR-70 modernized at the Polish MISTA plant / Defense Express / Someone Ordered Modernization of 150 BTR-70s From Polish Maker of Oncilla, the Vehicles May End Up in Ukraine
A BTR-70 modernized at the Polish MISTA plant / Open-source illustrative photo

Next, if we narrow the search by eliminating the countries from the list, there are clearly not many BTR-70 operators that could be interested in upgrading a whole 150 units at once, especially in Europe. Referencing last year's The Military Balance 2024 assessment from the London-based IISS think tank, the list looks like this:

  • Turkmenistan has 300 BTR-70 vehicles;
  • russia: 200 BTR-70s;
  • Azerbaijan: 132 BTR-70s;
  • Pakistan: up to 120 BTR-70s;
  • belarus: about 64 BTR-70 units;
  • North Macedonia: 56 BTR-70s;
  • Kyrgyzstan: 25 BTR-70s and 20 modernized BTR-70M;
  • Mongolia: 40 BTR-70Ms,
  • Armenia: 36 BTR-70s total;
  • Mexico: 26 BTR-70s;
  • Georgia and Uzbekistan: 25 BTR-70s each;
  • Ghana and Zambia: 20 BTR-70s each.
  • Tajikistan: up to 20 BTR-70s;
  • Nicaragua: four BTR-70Ms.

Evidently, only two countries in the world keep more than 150 operational BTR-70 carriers: russia and Turkmenistan. The russian federation is dismissed for obvious reasons, and as for Turkmenistan, there's a slim chance it could be interested in such a large-scale modernization effort, though it would be strange if Ashgabat turned to Polish MISTA for these services.

Further narrowing down to the options within Europe reveals that no one has as many as one and a half hundred BTR-70s. This, in turn, gives reason to assume that these armored vehicles could have been taken from older reserves, either across Europe and/or in Ukraine, and refurbished for the relevant needs of Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Moreover, there's been sightings earlier of BTR-70 units reportedly modernized by MISTA recorded in the ranks of the 151st Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A BTR-70 modernized at the Polish MISTA plant / Defense Express / Someone Ordered Modernization of 150 BTR-70s From Polish Maker of Oncilla, the Vehicles May End Up in Ukraine
A BTR-70 modernized at the Polish MISTA plant / Open-source illustrative photo
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