The BTR-90 is a wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle used exclusively by the Russian Armed Forces in ArmA 2.
Overview[]
- Roles:
- Troop transport
- Fire support
« | The BTR-90 is an 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle developed in Russia. It is armed with 30 mm 2A42 auto cannon, 7.62mm PKT machine gun, AT-5 Spandrel ATGM and AGS-17 30mm grenade launcher. The BTR-90 is capable of achieving a maximum speed of 100 km/h and has cross-country driving capability. It has an inner capacity of 12 m3 and can carry a load up to 7000 kg. Armoury Description[1]
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Design[]
The BTR-90 is a wheeled infantry fighting vehicle that was first designed in early 1990s for the Russian military. It is designed to fulfil a wide range of roles ranging from providing fire support for dismounted troops to reconnaissance duties.
Armament
The baseline BTR-90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle configuration is armed with multiple weapon systems:[CfgVh 7][CfgVh 8]
- A 30 mm autocannon that can load and fire either armour-piercing (AP) or high-explosive (HE) shells
- An anti-tank missile launcher that can fire SACLOS-guided missiles
- A 7.62 mm medium machine gun (mounted coaxially)
- An automatic grenade launcher that fires 30 mm high-explosive grenades
The 2A42 autocannon has access to a total pool of 500 shells, split into two 250-round "magazines" for AP and HE-type shells. The Konkurs ATGM launcher has access a total of eight 9M113 missiles, while the 7.62 mm PKT coax MG feeds from a single 2,000-round linked belt (it has no spares to reload from). Lastly, the AGS-17 30 mm AGL is fed with a single 400-round grenade "magazine" (it also has no spare "magazines").[CfgVh 8]
Features
The BTR-90 is available in two configurations: the baseline IFV and a deployable mobile headquarters (MHQ) designed specifically for setting up Forward Operating Bases (FOB) on the battlefield.[CfgVh 12]
A highly versatile troop carrier, the BTR-90 packs a superior weapons and munitions loadout when compared to its USMC counterpart, the LAV-25. Whereas the latter only has a 7.62 mm coaxial MG and 25 mm autocannon, the BTR-90's combination of an ATGM launcher and 30 mm AGL alongside its 7.62 mm coax/30 mm autocannon turns it into one of the most heavily armed ground vehicle platforms in ArmA 2. Only its tracked cousin, the BMP-3, matches the BTR-90 in pure firepower.
Thanks to this combination of weapons, the BTR-90 can decimate infantry by raining down a hail of 30 mm grenades. It can easily destroy other light-medium armoured vehicles like the LAV-25 in a straight up fight with its 30 mm autocannon. In addition to this, its ATGM launcher allows it to threaten Main Battle Tanks like the M1A1/T-72M4 CZ if the latter's crews are not paying attention to their surroundings.
Mobility
The BTR-90 is fully amphibious and can ford across any body of water at a decent speed of up to 11 km/h.[CfgVh 13] It has an identical top speed of 92 km/h (on turbo) with the U.S. Army's Stryker APC. It also shares the exact same turn rates, acceleration and off-road capability with both of its American counterparts.[CfgVh 14][CfgVh 15]
Drawbacks
Despite its impressive weapons suite, the BTR-90 is nothing more than an up-gunned APC. Its armour plating is not particularly thick, and with a base armour value of only 150[CfgVh 16], it cannot withstand a direct hit from most medium-heavy anti-armour weapons.
Furthermore, even though the BTR-90 theoretically has the ability to fight MBTs with its ATGMs, it can only realistically do so if the crew are safely behind defilade or are preparing to set up an ambush. This is because the BTR-90's 9M113 ATGMs are not infrared-homing and can only be guided by SACLOS up to a maximum distance of 4,000 metres.[CfgAm 1][CfgAm 2] Attempting to hit moving targets like an MBT while the BTR-90 itself is on the move will be difficult since the main turret isn't fully stabilised (it is only stabilised for traverse and not elevation).[CfgVh 17] This necessitates that the driver either keep the vehicle still or drive slowly; neither of which are ideal when fighting against MBTs since the BTR-90's crew will be a sitting duck.
Crew Capacity
The baseline IFV has a crew of three that comprises of the driver, a gunner, and the commander. The mobile HQ variant on the other hand, only require a driver and a commander who doubles as the vehicle's gunner. Passenger capacity is identical on both variants, allowing for up to seven pasengers to be seated in the troop compartment.[CfgVh 1][CfgVh 2]
Variants[]

The HQ variant also has the ability to carry up to seven passengers at once.[CfgVh 2]
(*) The BTR-90 (HQ) is completely non-functional in normal gameplay and serves only as a deployable command vehicle in Capture The Island (CTI) scenarios created with the Warfare module.
Protection: Hitpoints[]
Both variants of the BTR-90 have the same base armour value of 150.[CfgVh 16]
Successful strikes to any of the following highlighted sections will inflict full damage to the component:

LEGEND
Green = Body
Orange = Engine
Violet = Fuel tank
Maroon = Turret (IFV only)
Note that with the exception of the turret, component hitzones remain identical on the BTR-90 (HQ) variant.
Body[]
The BTR-90's hull can withstand up to 150 points of damage.[CfgVh 19][Formula 1] Depletion of its integrity will always result in the vehicle's destruction.[CfgVh 20]
Engine[]
The BTR-90's engine can take up to 300 points of damage before it suffers from failure.[CfgVh 21][Formula 2] Only 20% of incoming damage will be shared with the vehicle's main "health" pool. The BTR-90 can potentially explode if it is at critical "health" status at the time of the engine's destruction.[CfgVh 22]
Fuel tank[]
The BTR-90's fuel tank can withstand a maximum of 150 points of damage before it ruptures.[CfgVh 23][Formula 3] No damage inflicted upon the fuel tank is shared with the BTR-90's main "health" pool.[CfgVh 24]
Wheels[]
All eight of the BTR-90's wheels can only take 60 points of damage before their tyres burst.[CfgVh 25][CfgVh 26][CfgVh 27][CfgVh 28][Formula 4] Up to 30% of incoming damage to any of the wheels will be shared with the BTR-90's main "health" pool. The BTR-90 can potentially explode if the vehicle is at critical "health" status after one or more wheels are destroyed.[CfgVh 29][CfgVh 30][CfgVh 31][CfgVh 32]
Turret: Traverse[]
Traverse mechanisms for the main turret on IFV configurations of the BTR-90 can take up to 120 points of damage before they fail.[CfgVh 33][Formula 5] 100% of incoming damage to the main turret will always be shared with the BTR-90's main "health" pool. Destruction of the main turret's mechanisms can potentially result in the BTR-90 exploding if it is at critical "health" status.[CfgVh 34]
Turret: Elevation[]
Elevation mechanisms for the main turret on IFV configurations of the BTR-90 can take up to 60 points of damage before they suffer from failure.[CfgVh 35][Formula 6] Only 10% of incoming damage to them will be shared with the BTR-90's main "health" pool.[CfgVh 36]
Protection: Armour[]
.bisurf | Density[2] | Thickness[2] | bulletPenetrability[3] | bulletPenetrabilityWithThickness[3] |
---|---|---|---|---|
armour.bisurf | 7840 | N/A; based on vehicle fire geometry thickness | 1 | N/A; not used by armour.bisurf |
metalplate.bisurf | 7800 | 2 | 200 | 10 |
IFV[]

LEGEND
Green = armour.bisurf
Maroon = metalplate.bisurf
The majority of the baseline IFV's hull and turret are protected by metal armour plates.[rvmat 1][bisurf 1] On the other hand, a small section of the frontal hull, the autocannon, missile launcher, and automatic grenade launcher are made out of various metals that have a thickness of just 2 millimetres.[rvmat 2][bisurf 2]
HQ[]

LEGEND
Green = armour.bisurf
Maroon = metalplate.bisurf
Most of the HQ variant's hull and the (unarmed) turret are protected by metal armour plates.[rvmat 1][bisurf 1] For the rest of the vehicle's components (a small portion of the frontal hull, radio antennas, mounted machine gun, and the turret hatches), they are protected by various metal that retain a thickness of only 2 millimetres.[rvmat 2][bisurf 2]
Armament[]
NOTE: For specifics on the 2A42's munitions, see its related section listed here.
The gunner position controls all weapon systems on the IFV variant.[CfgVh 7] In the case of the HQ variant, the commander handles the externally fitted PKT 7.62 mm medium machine gun instead.[CfgVh 9]
Control over the defensive smoke launchers varies depending on the BTR-90's configuration. On the baseline IFV, the commander has access to the smoke launchers[CfgVh 10] whilst on the HQ variant it is the driver who has control over them:[CfgVh 11]
2A42[]

NOTE: Only available on the baseline IFV variant.
General-purpose 30 mm autocannon. Can load and fire either AP or HE-type shells.
It can toggle between two fire rates:
- 200 rpm: Fire rate of up to 200 rounds per minute.[CfgWp 1][Formula 7]
- 550 rpm: Fire rate of up to ~ 549 rounds per minute.[CfgWp 2][Formula 8]
No matter the selected fire rate, both of the 2A42's modes share the same dispersion value of 0.0005 rad.[CfgWp 3][CfgWp 4] There is no difference in muzzle velocity between its munition types as the 2A42 has a muzzle velocity of 960 m/s.[CfgMa 1][CfgMa 2] There is no delay for swapping between munition types.[CfgWp 5]
Manual zeroing is available, starting from a minimum of 100 metres up to a maximum of 1,800 metres (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800).[CfgVh 37] By default, the 2A42 is set to a zeroing of 600 metres.[CfgVh 38]
The 2A42 can be freely swivelled in any direction horizontally as the BTR-90's main turret has no traverse limits.[CfgVh 39][CfgVh 40] However, vertical rotation is restricted to a maximum elevation of 74 degrees[CfgVh 41] and a depression of just 4.5 degrees.[CfgVh 42]
Konkurs 9M113[]

NOTE: Only available on the baseline IFV variant.
Parameter | Value |
---|---|
Base damage value | 480[CfgAm 3] |
Splash damage value | 12[CfgAm 4] |
Warhead type | High-Explosive Anti-Tank |
Blast radius (metres) | 1.2[CfgAm 5] |
Launch velocity (m/s) | 80[CfgMa 3] |
Maximum speed (m/s) | 200[CfgAm 6] |
Anti-tank missile launcher. Fires missiles that are guided by SACLOS.[CfgAm 1] They can be manually controlled up to a maximum distance of 4,000 metres.[CfgAm 2]
The 9K113 launcher unit can load and fire a 9M113 missile once every 30 seconds (fire rate of 2 RPM).[CfgWp 6][Formula 9] Upon depleting its "magazine", it will take the launcher another 30 seconds to fully reload after rearming from a supply truck/ammunition crate.[CfgWp 7]
9M113 missiles are always fired with an initial launch velocity of 80 m/s.[CfgMa 3] An additional 1.5 seconds[CfgAm 7] of flight time will be needed for the missile to attain a maximum speed of 200 m/s.[CfgAm 6] The missile's 9N131 warhead is high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) based and has a blast radius of just 1.2 metres.[CfgAm 5]
The 9K113 launcher unit cannot have its zeroing manually adjusted. Due to being attached onto the BTR-90's turret roof, the 9K113 launcher unit shares the same rotation limits with the rest of the turret's weapon systems. It can be swivelled freely in any direction horizontally[CfgVh 39][CfgVh 40] but has a vertical rotation limit of 74 degrees elevation[CfgVh 41] and 4.5 degrees depression.[CfgVh 42]
AGS-17[]

NOTE: Only available on the baseline IFV variant.
Parameter | Value |
---|---|
Base damage value | 13[CfgAm 8] |
Splash damage value | 10[CfgAm 9] |
Warhead type | High-Explosive |
Blast radius (metres) | 5.5[CfgAm 10] |
Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 185[CfgMa 4] |
30 mm automatic grenade launcher.
It can attain a fire rate of up to 400 RPM[CfgWp 8][Formula 10] and has a muzzle velocity of 185 m/s.[CfgMa 4] Accuracy-wise, the AGS-17 has a dispersion of 0.006 rad.[CfgWp 9] Once depleted, it will take up to 30 seconds to reload the AGS-17 with a fresh belt of grenades or to fully rearm from a supply truck/ammunition crate.[CfgWp 10]
Its 30 mm grenades use a HE warhead[CfgMa 5] that has a blast radius of 5.5 metres.[CfgAm 10] The warhead has a minimum fuse distance of 15 metres. Grenades that hit the terrain under this distance will not detonate upon impact.[CfgAm 11] The fuse also has a maximum timer of 20 seconds; the grenade will automatically explode if it does not hit a hard surface within that timeframe.[CfgAm 12]
The AGS-17 uses the same manual zeroing limits as the 2A42, starting from a minimum of 100 metres up to a maximum of 1,800 metres (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800).[CfgVh 37] By default, the AGS-17 utilises a zeroing setting of 600 metres.[CfgVh 38]
Due to being attached onto the roof of the BTR-90's turret, the AGS-17 also shares the same rotation limits with the rest of the BTR-90's weapon systems. It can be freely swivelled in any direction horizontally[CfgVh 39][CfgVh 40] but has more restrictive vertical limits: a maximum elevation of 74 degrees[CfgVh 41] and a depression of only 4.5 degrees.[CfgVh 42]
PKT[]

Ammo parameter | Value |
---|---|
Base damage value | 12[CfgAm 13] |
Aerodynamic friction | -0.00096[CfgAm 14] |
Muzzle velocity (m/s) | Coax: 855[CfgMa 6] Pintle: 825[CfgMa 7] |
Expected velocity (m/s) | 900[CfgAm 15][note 1] |
Deflection angle (degrees) | 10°[CfgAm 16] |
7.62 mm medium machine gun. It is mounted either as a coaxial weapon (baseline IFV) or onto a turret pintle (HQ).
Both PKT variants can attain a fire rate of up to ~ 800 RPM.[CfgWp 11][Formula 11] However, their muzzle velocity differs depending on the PKT's mounting position: the IFV variant's coaxial PKT has a muzzle velocity of 855 m/s[CfgMa 6], while the HQ variant's turret pintle-mounted PKT has a muzzle velocity of 825 m/s.[CfgMa 7]
Accuracy-wise, the PKT has a dispersion of 0.00125 rad.[CfgWp 12] It takes at least 5 seconds to reload the PKT with a fresh belt or to fully rearm from a supply truck/ammunition crate.[CfgWp 13] Every fourth round in the belt will emit a visible green tracer.[CfgMa 8][CfgMa 9]
Manual zeroing is only available for coaxial PKTs on BTR-90 IFVs (zeroing cannot be adjusted for turret pintle-mounted PKTs on the HQ variant). This starts from a minimum of 100 metres up to a maximum of 1,800 metres (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800).[CfgVh 37] By default, the PKT is set to a zeroing of 600 metres.[CfgVh 38]
Rotation limits also differ depending on the PKT's mounting position:
- For coaxial PKTs, their rotation limits are shared with the BTR-90's main turret limits. The main turret can be freely rotated in any direction horizontally[CfgVh 39][CfgVh 40], but vertical rotation is limited to a maximum elevation of 74 degrees[CfgVh 41] and a depression of just 4.5 degrees.[CfgVh 42]
- The HQ variant's turret pintle-mounted PKT can be freely rotated in any direction horizontally. [CfgVh 43][CfgVh 44] On the other hand, vertical rotation is limited to an elevation of 24.981 degrees[CfgVh 45] and a depression of 34.3775 degrees.[CfgVh 46]
Optics[]
Driver[]

The driver's periscope does not have the ability to toggle enhanced vision modes. However, the driver can wear their own night vision goggles whilst they are looking through it.
Gunner[]

The gunner's sight has the ability to freely adjust magnification with a minimum of 1.25x zoom[CfgVh 47][Formula 12] up to a maximum of 5x zoom.[CfgVh 48][Formula 13] It can toggle between three vision modes: day, night, and black-/white-hot thermal.[CfgVh 49][CfgVh 50] A laser rangefinder is also available.[CfgVh 51]
It should be noted that operating the main turret will require that the BTR-90's engine be switched on as it is not powered by an auxiliary power unit (APU).[CfgVh 52]
Commander[]
The presence and type of optics available to the commander differs depending on the BTR-90's configuration:
- On the baseline IFV, the commander has access to a dedicated sight with variable zoom capability (minimum of 0.83x[CfgVh 53][Formula 14] up to a maximum of 10x[CfgVh 54][Formula 15]). This sight has the ability to toggle day, night, and black-/white-hot thermal vision modes.[CfgVh 55][CfgVh 56]
- On the mobile HQ variant, the commander's PKT machine gun has an anti-aircraft sight in lieu of enhanced vision-capable optics. This sight has no magnification capability.[CfgVh 57]
It should be noted that unlike the main turret on the baseline BTR-90 IFV, the commander's optics/mounted PKT does not require the engine to be running and can be used even if the vehicle's engine is turned off.[CfgVh 58][CfgVh 59]
Defensive sensors[]
Neither variant of the BTR-90 has access to defensive sensors. The crew will not be warned if there are guided weapon systems attempting to lock onto the vehicle, nor of any guided projectiles that have successfully locked onto it.[CfgVh 60][CfgVh 61]
AI[]
NOTE: The following information only applies to the AI.
Camouflage rating[]
- Main article: AI Basics: Detection
The BTR-90 has a camouflage[4] rating of 2.[CfgVh 62]
Cost[]
- Main article: AI Basics: Targeting priority
The BTR-90 has a cost[5] value of 40000.[CfgVh 63]
Threat values[]
- Main article: AI Basics: Targeting priority
The threat[6] value of the BTR-90 depends on its configuration:
- The baseline IFV is considered to be a medium-risk threat to AI-controlled infantry units and ground vehicles (0.5/0.5) while aircraft consider it to be a low-risk threat (0.1).[CfgVh 64]
- The HQ variant is considered to be a medium-risk threat to AI-controlled infantry units (0.5) and a low-risk threat to aircraft (0.2). Ground vehicles do not consider the HQ variant to be a threat at all (0) and will usually ignore it in favour of more valuable/more dangerous threats unless there are no other targets in range.[CfgVh 65]
Noise factor[]
- Main article: AI Basics: Detection
The BTR-90 has an audible[7] factor of 3.[CfgVh 66]
Trivia[]
- Unlike the LAV-25, the BTR-90's gunner position was not "upgraded" with the ability to use thermal optics even after the release of the Operation Arrowhead expansion pack.
- This was changed with the release of the latest Steam version patches (as part of the Community Configuration Project/CorePatch updates). Both the commander and gunner were finally given access to thermal vision optics.[8][9]
- CorePatch also granted the ability for the driver and gunner to switch positions (it was not possible to do so at release). Additionally, the HQ variant is now capable of carrying up to seven passengers (the HQ variant originally could not carry passengers).[8]
- Despite what its in-game Armoury Description states, ArmA 2's BTR-90 is capped to a maximum speed of 92 km/h on turbo and is unable to attain a top speed of 100 km/h.
- Before the release of Patch 1.03, passengers seated in the troop compartment had glitched animations that caused them to appear as if they were crouching rather than sitting down.[10]
- The BTR-90 is unauthentically portrayed in-game as the primary wheeled IFV of the Russian military. In reality, the BTR-90 was only procured in very small numbers, with the Russian Ministry of Defense (at the time) opting to upgrade the existing fleet of "BTR-80" IFVs to the "BTR-82A" instead.[11]
Gallery[]
Config/script references[]
CfgAmmo
CfgMagazines
CfgWeapons
CfgVehicles
.rvmat.bisurfFormulae
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Notes[]
- ↑ Damage will be reduced if the projectile's velocity drops below this value.
References[]
- ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2009, Wheeled military vehicles, Arma 2, viewed 9 March 2025, <https://www.arma2.com/arma-2-vehicles/wheeled-military-vehicles>.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Španěl, M et al. 2007, RVMAT – ArmA: Armed Assault, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 28 August 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ArmA:_Armed_Assault:_RVMAT#Surface_physical_properties>.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Foltyn, D et al. 2009, Bullet penetrability, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 28 August 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Bullet_penetrability>.
- ↑ Španěl, O, van 't Land, J.J. et al. 2006, CfgVehicles Config Reference, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 29 September 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/CfgVehicles_Config_Reference#camouflage>.
- ↑ Španěl, O, van 't Land, J.J. et al. 2006, CfgVehicles Config Reference, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 29 September 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/CfgVehicles_Config_Reference#cost>.
- ↑ Španěl, O, van 't Land, J.J. et al. 2006, CfgVehicles Config Reference, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 29 September 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/CfgVehicles_Config_Reference#threat>.
- ↑ Španěl, O, van 't Land, J.J. et al. 2006, CfgVehicles Config Reference, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 29 September 2024, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/CfgVehicles_Config_Reference#audible>.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 16 July 2023, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
- ↑ Foltyn, D, Španěl, M et al. 2013, Roadmap - Arma 2: Community Configuration Project, DevHeaven, viewed 16 July 2023, <http://web.archive.org/web/20130627131748/https://dev-heaven.net/projects/arma-2-ccp/roadmap>. (archived link)
- ↑ .kju et al. 2009, Arma 2: Version History, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 25 November 2023, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma_2:_Version_History#Version_1.03>.
- ↑ Koshchavtsev, A 2019, Ответвления Ростка, Warspot, viewed 6 August 2023, <http://web.archive.org/web/20200122144846/https://warspot.ru/3167-otvetvleniya-rostka>. (archived link)
External links[]
See also[]
Vehicles of comparable role and configuration[]
- LAV-25 (USMC counterpart)
- Stryker (U.S. Army counterpart, ArmA 2: OA only)
![]() | |
---|---|
Wheeled | BTR-90 • BM-21 Grad • Kamaz • Vodnik • UAZ-469 |
Tracked | 2S6M Tunguska • BMP-3 • T-72 • T-90 |
Rotor-wing | Ka-52 • Mi-8MTV-3 (Mi-8MT) • Mi-24P (V) |
Fixed-wing | Pchela-1T • Su-39 • Su-34 |
Aquatic | PBX |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |