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A BTR (bronetransporter) is an armoured personnel carrier (APC), but a BMP (boyevaya mashina pekhoty) is an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). Put very simply, the distinction is between a battlefield taxi which delivers infantry to where they are needed (APC) and a fighting vehicle which carries infantry (IFV). IFVs, therefore, can be expected to be more heavily armed and armoured than APCs.

• The BMP, BRM and BMD (boyevaya mashina desanta, airborne combat vehicle) can all be described as IFVs.
• The BTR is an APC.
• The BRDM (boyevaya razvedyvatelnaya dozornaya mashina) is a scout vehicle.
• None of these should be called a tank.

Although there are significant differences between modifications of BMP (BMP-1, 2, 3), to the non-expert their appearance is quite similar give or take a gun:

But the differences between these and a BTR should be clear:

BTR-80A

See also:

• Telling them apart
• Video

• OR p 195