Thailand Used Three Modifications of Ukrainian BTR-3 in Battles with Cambodia

In battles with Cambodia, the Thai military successfully used several modifications of Ukrainian BTR-3 armored personnel carriers.

A video posted on the Telegram channel BTVT.INFO showed the use of BTR-3E1 and BTR-3RK, as well as BTR-3M1/M2 mortar systems.

Ukrainian armored personnel carriers were used during battles for settlements at the end of 2025.

The offensive was supported by modernized American M60A3 TIFCS tanks.

Modifications of the BTR-3 cover a wide range of specialized vehicles, including variants with different combat modules.

Description of the BTRs used:

• BTR-3E1 — the basic and most common combat version of the Ukrainian BTR-3.
• BTR-3RK — a version with anti-tank systems.
• BTR-3M1 / M2 — self-propelled mortar systems based on the BTR-3, designed for artillery support of units.

In 2007, Ukraine won a tender to supply 96 armored personnel carriers to Thailand for a total of about four billion baht (approximately $117 million).

The first two Ukrainian-made BTR-3E1s arrived in Thailand in 2010 by Il-76 aircraft.

In December of the same year, a second batch of 12 BTR-3E1s arrived by sea. All the equipment was accepted into service by the 2nd Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army.

In August 2011, another contract was signed for the supply of 121 armored personnel carriers and support vehicles, bringing the total value of the contracts to $256.27 million.

In August 2013, the next contract was signed for the supply of 21 vehicles — 15 BTR-3E1 and 6 BTR-3RK — with the condition of partial localization of production in Thailand.

The final batch of armored vehicles, consisting of 11 BTR-3E1 units, was delivered to the Thai customer in March 2016.