The original production BTR-80 8x8 armoured personnel carrier (APC) entered service in the mid-1980s and is fitted with a one-person turret armed with a 14.5mm KPVT and a 7.62mm PKVT coaxial machine gun.

Further development by the Arzamas Machinery Construction Plant resulted in the BTR-80A, first fielded in the mid-1990s. This is similar in layout to the BTR-80 but has a new power-operated turret armed with one 30mm 2A72 cannon containing a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun. Mounted either side of the turret is a bank of three electrically operated 81 mm smoke grenade launchers.

The 30mm 2A72 cannon is also installed in the tracked BMP-2 infantry

combat vehicle and when installed in the BTR-80A has a high elevation of+70°.

The driver and commander are seated at the front with the troop compartment in the centre together with the weapon station and the power pack at the rear.

Firing ports and associated vision devices are provided for the infantry who dismount through roof hatches or two part doors that are positioned between the second and third axles.

The BTR-80A is fully amphibious: a single propeller mounted at the rear drives the vehicle through water at a maximum speed of 9km/h. Before entering the water the bilge pumps are activated and the trim vane erected at the front of the vehicle.

Standard equipment includes a nuclear, biological and chemical defensive system, night-vision equipment, front-mounted winch, powered steering on the front four wheels and a central tyre-pressure regulation system, which allows the driver to adjust the tyre pressure to suit the terrain.

A number of variants of the BTR-80A exist, including the BTR-80ASK command vehicle and the BTR-80S, which has the 30mm cannon replaced by the older 14.5mm KPVT machine gun.