BVP M-80

BVP M-80 ICV/IFV
Serbian M-80A in 2011
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Yugoslavia
Service history
In service	1979–present
Wars	Yugoslav Wars Russo-Ukrainian War Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Designed	1971, M-80 first version introduced in 1979
Specifications
Mass	13,850 kg
Length	6.42 meters
Width	2.90 meters
Height	2.20 meters
Crew	3+7
Armor	Aluminum/Aluminum oxide[citation needed]/Titanium boride[citation needed]
Main armament	20 mm M-55 (HS 804) cannon 400 rounds 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) ATGM 2 Missiles or ATGM launcher
Secondary armament	coaxial 7.62 machine-gun 2,000 rounds
Engine	Daimler Benz OM-403 320 hp
Power/weight	22.6 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	500 km
Maximum speed	65 km/h on land 8 km/h in water

The BVP M-80 (

Early research and development of the M-80 began in 1969, with testing of the first completed prototype in 1974. It was first presented publicly in 1975.^[1] First examples of the BVP M-80 rolled out in 1979 but full entry to service happened in 1982.^{[citation needed]}

The first production variant was the M-80 which was only made in small numbers. The vehicle used a French-built engine with an output of 260 hp, the same engine as used in

It was used extensively during the Yugoslav Wars.^[5]

The standard versions (BVP M-80 and M-80A) mounted a

In 1978 the technical-military council of Yugoslav People's Army decided that a larger caliber gun would be necessary to counter the increasingly heavy armor of possible enemy armored fighting vehicles and began development of a new turret to house the larger weapon. This requirement led to the development of the Zastava 30mm autocannon M86 in 1985^[6] and a new turret "Vidra" – later designated: M91. In addition to the new gyro stabilized 30mm auto-cannon, the new turret was equipped with smoke grenade launchers,^[3] improved day/night sights,^{[citation needed]} and the ability to fire SACLOS 9M14 Malyutka ATGMs.^[3] The turret is rotated by servo-hydraulics and the main gun is elevated and depressed by electric motor.

Incremental improvements were made to the design of the Vidra turret throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. These improvements would eventually be standardized and incorporated into a thoroughly updated turret and designated M91E. Besides being able to mount the original M86 30mm autocannon, the M91E-I and MM91E-II turrets able to accommodate the dual feed Zastava M89 30mm autocannon.^{[citation needed]}

Development is ongoing on a further modernized turret incorporating more effective ATGM armament. Besides BVP M-80 versions, the Vidra turret is offered for modernization or production with other vehicles such as BTR-50.^{[citation needed]}

The M-80A is armed with one 20 mm gun, co-axial machine gun 7.62 mm and twin launcher for wire-guided anti-tank missiles. It is

• M-80 – First production model with 260 hp engine, replaced after 1 year.^[8]
• M-80A – Improved version with 320 hp engine, full production.^[4]
• M-80A1 or SPAT 30/2 – Improved version with a dual 30mm gun system called "Foka".^[6] Prototype only.^[4]
• M-80A/98 – Further improvements of M-80A1 with new turret called "Vidra" first designated as M-96 later changed to M80A/98. Publicly presented in 2004;
• M-80A KC – Company commander's vehicle.^[4]
• M-80A KB – Battalion commander's vehicle.^[9]
• M-80A VK - Turretless commander's vehicle.^[3]
• M-80A Sn – Medical, no turret.^[9] Single oblong hatch in the roof and single rear door. Carries 4 stretcher patients or 8 seated patients.^[3]
• M-80A LT –
  Tank hunter version with six AT-3 launchers.^[3]
• Sava M-90 – SA-13 SAM version, designated Strela-10MJ, prototype.^[3]
• MOS – Self-propelled mine layer.
• M-80AK/M-98A – New gun turret with 30 mm M86 cannon^[3] or 30 mm dual feed M89 cannon.^[10]
• M-80AB1 – Latest upgraded variant including more advanced armour, turret gun control equipment, optronics package, smoke grenade launchers and the ability to mount and launch the most recent 9M14 Malyutka missile variants.^[11]
• SPAT 30/2 – Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
  M-53/59 Praga
  – 4 models produced.

• 
  BVP M80 SPAT 30/2 with Foka turret
• 
  BVP M80A1 with Vidra turret
• 
  Sava M-90 with Strela 10 launcher
• 
  BVP M80AB1
• 
  Croatian BVP M-80A

•  Croatia – 128; 104 IFV + 24 various support versions, to be replaced by M2 Bradley by 2025.
•  Serbia – 320; Serbian Army plans to upgrade 220 vehicles to BVP М-80АB1 standard.^{[12][citation needed]}
•  Ukraine – 38 M-80As donated by Slovenia during the Russo-Ukrainian War. 30 more will be given by Croatia in a swap deal with Germany.^{[13][14][15][16]}

•  Yugoslavia – Passed on to successor states.^[9]

•  Bosnia and Herzegovina: 30+ in 1998^[2]
•  North Macedonia: 2 in 1998^[2]
•  Slovenia: 62 in 1998,^[2] 52 in 2002,^[3] 35 vehicles were donated in 2022 as war aid to Ukraine.^[17] 3 more sent in 2023.^[18] It's possible that 14 are in reserve.
•  Serbia and Montenegro: 568 in 1998.^[2]

• Foss, Christopher F. (2000). Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide.
  Harper Collins Publishers
  .
• ISBN 9781857438352
  .
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (14 February 2022). The Military Balance 2022. Routledge.
  ISBN 978-1-000-62003-0
  .

• Media related to BVP M80 at Wikimedia Commons