The army of the Russian Federation received a restored experimental armored personnel carrier 502tb "Altaet" (photo)
During the 1990s, four prototypes were involved in state tests as part of the Altaep Complex. The machine was designed on the basis of the command-staff machine "Flots-4 (1)", which used a large part of the components from the BMP-3. This machine had to become an alternative to MT-LB tracked conveyors. At the same time, it was the only one that was developed for this purpose.
Due to economic difficulties in the 1992s, the further development of machines was stopped, and all the prototypes built were sent to the storage base. Significant losses in armored vehicles forced Russia to move to the mass restoration of storage facilities. In addition to serial samples, research and experimental techniques are restored. It is likely that it will then be sent to Ukraine. It is known that Russia already uses research models of technology in the war against Ukraine.
In particular, in October 2023, an armored personnel carrier of BTR-90 "Rostock" was spotted in the temporarily captured territory of Ukraine. Subsequently, the same sample or other crew threw in the battles around Avdiivka. This machine was abandoned due to engine problems. Also near Krasnogorivka in Donetsk region recorded an abandoned Russian BTR-90.
On May 4, it became known that the Russian occupation army was moving two OSA SPRs as part of a military column together with two empty tractors in Donetsk region. Mayor Mariupol Advisor Petro Andryushchenko noted that the invaders were moving from the Berdyansk direction towards the Mariupol Metallurgical Plant named after Illich.