Rare Russian Ladoga Armored Vehicle Spotted on the Frontline

A rare Ladoga reconnaissance and command vehicle, built on the T-80 tank chassis, has been spotted on one of the frontlines.

The appearance of the vehicle was reported by the specialized resource BTVT.INFO.

It is known that a similar vehicle had previously been targeted by Ukrainian FPV drones in March 2024. However, there is currently no confirmation whether it is the same unit or a different one.

Due to a shortage of armored vehicles, the Russians may have converted the Ladoga combat vehicle into an armored personnel carrier in an attempt to provide maximum possible protection for their troops.

The crew of the combat vehicle consists of 2 people, with an additional 4 in the infantry compartment; however, after the possible modification, the number of infantry could have been increased.

The Ladoga vehicle was developed in 1982 by the Omskransmash specifically for operations in areas contaminated by radiation, chemical, or biological contamination.

The vehicle was built on the chassis of the T-80 tank, equipped with the GTD-1250 gas turbine engine producing 1,250 horsepower, developed by the Kirill Klimov Experimental Design Bureau.

This engine features a unique dust-blowing system using compressed air from the turbine nozzle guide vanes, which allows for rapid decontamination after operating in a contaminated area.

The vehicle is equipped with an additional gas turbine power unit with an output of 18 kW, located at the rear, above the left shelf. It provides power to all systems while stationary.

For crew life support, there is an air supply system using cylinders placed in the rear part of the hull, allowing operation even without the standard filtration and ventilation system. The interior of the hull is covered with special neutron protection elements.

The Ladoga vehicle is equipped not only with periscopes and night vision devices but also with two video cameras.

In total, the Soviet industry produced only about four such vehicles.