Armored Vehicles

OT-90

Also known as
  • OT-90 APC
  • BVP-1 with OT-64 turret
  • Havel's Tiger
  • Havluv tygr
  • OT-90 AMB-S

The OT-90 is a Czechoslovak tracked armored personnel carrier converted from BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicle hulls after the 1990 CFE arms-control limits. It replaced the BMP-1/BVP-1 gun turret with an OT-64 SKOT-derived machine-gun turret, producing a lighter-armed troop carrier later documented with Ukrainian forces during the full-scale phase of the Russia-Ukraine War.

OT-90, Tracked armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles
Image source: Wikimedia Commons OT-90 at PanzerMuseum East

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Czechoslovakia
Type
Tracked armored personnel carrier
Service note
Late Cold War conversion; documented Ukrainian service in the 2022 phase of the Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Czechoslovak defense industry
Designed
Around 1990 conversion program
Unit cost
Not publicly disclosed
Produced
1990-1991 conversions
Number built
About 620 converted armored vehicles reported across OT-90 and related tracked variants
Developed from
BMP-1 / BVP-1

Specifications

Crew
3
Troop capacity
6 to 8 troops reported for the base APC
Armament
OT-64A/SKOT-style turret with 14.5 mm KPVT and 7.62 mm SGMT/PKT machine guns, replacing the BVP-1 73 mm gun turret
Combat weight
12,400 kg
Dimensions
6.735 m long, 2.94 m wide, 2.105 m high
Armor
6-19 mm reported armor range
Engine
UTD-20 liquid-cooled diesel, 220 kW at 2,600 rpm
Road speed
65 km/h
Road range
745 km
Amphibious speed
At least 7 km/h forward in water
Protection notes
Light tracked armored hull; the Ukrainian example reported by Defense Express carried added side grilles and an improvised rear anti-drone cover
Variants

The OT-90 family centers on Czechoslovak BVP-1 hull conversions, with armed APC, medical, command, maintenance, observation, and other support-vehicle derivatives reported in open sources.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
OT-90 AMB-SArmored ambulance

Czech Army source describes an amphibious tracked medical vehicle based on the OT-90, with the turret removed and the troop area rebuilt for stretchers, seats, and medical equipment.

Sources: Czech Army OT-90 AMB-S

OT-90M1Modernized prototype

Valka lists OT-90M1 as a 1992 modernized prototype based on the OT-90 family.

Sources: Valka OT-90 Profile

OT-90M2Modernized prototype

Valka lists OT-90M2 as a 1993 modernized prototype based on the OT-90 family.

Sources: Valka OT-90 Profile

Timeline

OT-90 Key Events

  1. CFE conversion pressure

    Valka links the OT-90 conversion program to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and Czechoslovak limits on infantry fighting vehicles.

    Sources: Valka OT-90 Profile

  2. OT-90 conversion run

    Valka identifies Vojensky opravarsky podnik 026 Sternberk as the producer during the 1990-1991 OT-90 conversion period and reports 620 vehicles produced.

    Sources: Valka OT-90 Profile

  3. OT-90 identified in Ukrainian service

    Defense Express reported an OT-90 in Ukrainian military use during the full-scale phase of the Russia-Ukraine War.

    Sources: Defense Express OT-90 Ukraine report

Media

OT-90 Videos

OT-90 Images

OT-90, Tracked armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons OT-90 pic2 image
OT-90, Tracked armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons OT-90 Kladno image
OT-90, Tracked armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles - view 3
Source: Wikimedia Commons OT-90 AMB-S image
Related Weapon Systems
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CV90, Tracked infantry fighting vehicle, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesCV90Tracked infantry fighting vehicleThe CV90 is a Swedish tracked infantry fighting vehicle family built by BAE Systems Hägglunds for protected troop movement, direct-fire support, and configurable combat-vehicle roles. Its Mk IV generation adds a higher-power drivetrain, upgraded digital architecture, D-series turret options, and active-protection integration, while Ukraine's documented wartime fleet is tied to Swedish-donated CV90s and later new CV9035 MkIIIC procurement rather than confirmed Mk IV deliveries.
BMP-1U Shkval, Infantry fighting vehicle modernization, Armored VehiclesArmored VehiclesBMP-1U ShkvalInfantry fighting vehicle modernizationThe BMP-1U Shkval is a Ukrainian modernization of the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle that replaced the original 73 mm turret with the KBA-105 Shkval weapon station. The upgrade centers on 30 mm cannon fire, a coaxial machine gun, a 30 mm automatic grenade launcher, and Konkurs anti-tank missile launchers, trading some troop capacity for a heavier remote combat module. Its most clearly documented wartime trail runs through Georgian vehicles captured by Russia in the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and later seen or lost in Russian service during the full-scale phase of the Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources

Wikimedia Commons OT-90 at PanzerMuseum EastPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and license details for the primary OT-90 photo by Kaffe42, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Defense Express OT-90 Ukraine reportPublisher: Defense Express | Note: Supports direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War use by Ukraine, including identification of an OT-90 in Ukrainian service, added field protection, BVP-1/OT-64 conversion context, CFE conversion rationale, and reported conversion scale. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Valka OT-90 ProfilePublisher: Valka.cz | Note: Supports OT-90 identity, VOP-026 Sternberk conversion work, 1990-1991 production period, reported production total, BVP-1 and OT-64A turret conversion context, dimensions, armor, mobility, armament, engine, and family variant background. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Czech Army OT-90 AMB-SPublisher: Army of the Czech Republic | Note: Supports the OT-90 AMB-S armored ambulance variant, its OT-90 basis, turret removal, medical-equipment fit, transport arrangements, and tactical-technical data. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons OT-90 AMB-S imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and license details for the OT-90 AMB-S photo by CS92, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons OT-90 pic2 imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and license details for an OT-90 photo by AlfvanBeem, published under CC0. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Wikimedia Commons OT-90 Kladno imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and license details for an OT-90 photo at Kladno, used as additional gallery media. | Accessed: 2026-07-13