Swedish Pbv 302 carriers bolster Ukrainian defense in tough terrain

Armored personnel carrier Pbv 302, sent to Ukraine from Sweden, have been accepted into service in the Ukrainian army. We examine their capabilities in more detail.

As noted on the Ukrainian portal Militarnyj, the Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers were part of the 16th Swedish aid package announced in May of this year. Notably, the Swedes handed over all the Pbv 302 units to the Ukrainians (including spare parts and ammunition).

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has officially announced the entry of Swedish Pbv 302 armored personnel carriers into service in the Ukrainian army.

Pbv 302 vehicles were produced between 1966 and 1971, with a few hundred units manufactured by Swedish arms factories. For years, they were used only by the Swedes, serving as primary mechanized infantry vehicles until the introduction of newer CV90 vehicles.

Each Pbv 302 measures 17.6 feet in length and can transport up to 10 soldiers in addition to a three-person crew. It is equipped with a 20 mm automatic cannon with over 500 rounds of ammunition and a smoke grenade launcher.

The Ukrainians believe that despite their age, the Pbv 302 will be very useful. They emphasize the adaptation of these armored personnel carriers for movement in difficult terrain.

"The armored transporter, weighing over 29,000 pounds, has wide tracks that exert less pressure on the ground. As a result, this armored vehicle can move over difficult terrain, soft and loose soils, particularly swamps and sands, and can also overcome water obstacles," states the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense's communication.

The Pbv 302 has tracked traction and a Volvo-Penta diesel engine with just under 300 HP. It reaches a maximum speed of 41 mph and about 6 mph in water.