The Soviet airborne armored personnel carrier BTR-D, developed by the Volgograd Tractor Plant on the basis of the BMD-1, has begun to be armed with 82-mm smooth-bore automatic mortars 2B9 Vasilek.
It is known that the rate of fire of the Vasilek is 120 rounds per minute. The mortar fires fragmentation mines, which, when exploded, break up into 800 fragments, hitting the enemy within a radius of 6 m. The firing range of the gun is over 4.2 km.
The BTR-D is light and maneuverable, and in tandem with the 2B9 Vasilek, the military equipment poses a serious danger. Russian soldiers operating the BTR-D carry out fire raids and quickly retreat to avoid being hit by return fire.
2B9 Vasilek mortars are also installed on MT-LB transporters and all-terrain vehicles. Such transport receives increased firepower.
The Vasilek was produced by the Bolshevik plant, now JSC GOZ Obukhov Plant in St. Petersburg. The mortar was widely used in various conflicts involving the military of the USSR, and then Russia. The gun has been repeatedly modified, according to open data, the Vasilek has 7 modifications.