The BTR-MD Rakushka (Objekt 950) is a tracked armored personnel carrier, designed specially for airborne troops.

Its development commenced in 2009. First batch of 10 vehicles is expected to be delivered in 2013.

The BTR-MD is seen a replacement for the ageing BTR-D air assault transporter. The new vehicle is also being proposed for the Russian naval infantry.

The BTR-MD Rakushka is based on the chassis of the airborne tracked armoured infantry fighting vehicle BMD-3, but turret has been removed and hull has been enlarged. The vehicle has more internal space and can be tailored to suit many roles. BTR-MD is fully amphibious and can be airdropped. The BTR-MD Raskushka can be used as:

• personnel carrier

• ambulance

• command post

• ammunitions cargo carrier

• fuel cargo carrier

The BTR-MD Rakushka is armed with one machine and one automatic grenade launcher. A PKTM 7.62mm machine gun is mounted on the commander hatch left top side of the hull. The automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 30mm caliber is mounted at the front right side of the hull. A range of two smoke grenade dischargers is fitted on each side front of the hull. Some variant of the vehicle is equipped with remote weapon station on the commander hatch.

Protection of vehicle is very light due to weight limitations. Hull of the BTR-MD is welded from aluminum armor. It provides protection only from small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.

The BTR-MD was designed with intention to have a maximum possible internal volume. Vehicle has a payload capacity of 2 000 kg. This air assault transporter can carry 13 fully-equipped troops, plus the crew of two. Driver is seated in the middle. Occupants enter and leave the vehicle via rear door and roof hatches. There are some firing port provided for the troops to fire their weapons. This APC can also carry at least three stretchers, ammunition or fuel in stead of the troops.

The power pack of BTR-MD Rakushka is at the rear of the hull and consists of a 2V-06-02 water-cooled diesel developing 450 hp, which gives a very high power-to-weight ratio of 34 bhp/t. The engine is coupled to a hydromechanical transmission with five forward and five reverse gears and a hydraulic steering unit. The suspension consists of each side with five rubber-tyred roadwheels, drive sprocket at the rear, idler at the front and four track-return rollers. Some of the variants will have a longer chassis with seven road wheels.

BTR-MD is also fitted with auxiliary power unit. On water it is propelled by two waterjets. It can operate up to a Sea State 3. Vehicle has a hydropneumatic suspensions with variable height control. Such suspension allows the vehicle to be paradropped on platforms.

The BTR-MD can be carried by and paradropped from most medium cargo aircraft with the crew of three inside. The Il-76 can carry two of these airborne APCs. A single vehicle can be carried underslung by the Mi-26 heavy cargo helicopter.

A whole host of BTR-MD variants is currently planned or under development. These include signals vehicle, Kornet-D anti-tank missile carrier, MRU-D air defense radar carrier, Poliot-K unmanned aerial vehicle control vehicle, Poliot-K UAE command post vehicle , Obzhimka reconnaissance and fire control post. Other versions, such as Lastochka-2 special signals vehicle and BMM-D Travmatizm armored ambulance are currently being trialed by the Russian airborne forces.

In 2013 an improved BTR-MDM was revealed at RAE-2013 exibition (Nizhniy Tagil, Russia), even though the first production vehicles were not yet delivered to the Russian airborne troops. The new vehicle uses a number of components of the BMD-4M and BMP-3M. Engine, transmission, waterjets and a number of other components are from the BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle. It is reported that the BTR-MDM is more reliable than the previous version.