BTR-D stands for Bronetransportyor Desanta (БТР-Д, Бронетранспортер Десанта, literally "Armored personnel carrier of the Airborne Forces").
The vehicle had many flaws[citation needed], but the biggest one was that the troop compartment was extremely cramped and could only transport up to four infantrymen.
This number was often reduced to three because it was impractical for four infantrymen to operate inside the troop compartment and dismount from the vehicle.
[3][4] The crew consists of the driver, the commander and the left bow mounted machine gun gunner, all of whom are in the same positions and have the same equipment as in the BMD-1.
The vehicle can also be fitted with pintle-mounted automatic grenade launchers (AGS-17, AGS-30 or AGS-57) and/or machine guns (PKM, 6P41 "Pecheneg", NSV-127 "Utyos" or 6P49 "Kord").
[3][4] With the turret removed, the troop compartment was enlarged and can carry up to ten equipped soldiers.