Editing MT-LB (section)

==Development==
In the 1950s, the [[Soviet Central Auto]] and [[Tractor Directorate]] began a development program to replace the AT-P series of artillery tractors (which were based on the [[ASU-57]] airborne self-propelled gun) with a new generation of vehicles. The MT-L was developed to meet this requirement based on the [[PT-76]] amphibious light tank chassis. The MT-LB is the armored variant of the MT-L. Entering production in the early 1970s, it was cheap to build, being based on many existing components, e.g. the engine, which was originally developed for trucks.

It was built at the [[Kharkiv Tractor Plant]]<ref>[http://tractor-xtz.com/tractor/htz-3n-snegobolotohod/HTZ-3H-road vehicles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302161735/http://tractor-xtz.com/tractor/htz-3n-snegobolotohod/ |date=2 March 2014 }}</ref> (KhTZ) in [[Soviet Ukraine]], and in [[Bulgaria]].<ref>{{cite news|title=US Analyst Expects Bulgaria to Renew Production of BMP Armored Vehicles|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/125793/US+Analyst+Expects+Bulgaria+to+Renew+Production+of+BMP+Armored+Vehicles|date=1 March 2011|website=Novinite.com|access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bulgaria has signed contract for sale of 500 MT-LB multirole tracked armored vehicles to Iraq|url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/june_2012_new_army_military_defence_industry_uk/bulgaria_has_signed_contract_for_sale_of_500_mt-lb_multirole_tracked_armoured_vehicles_iraq_1606124.html|date=16 June 2012|website=Army Recognition|access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref> Formerly, it was also manufactured under license in [[Poland]] by [[Huta Stalowa Wola]]<ref>http://hsw.pl/czytaj/765 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111174209/http://hsw.pl/czytaj/765 |date=11 November 2014 }} Light Armoured Multipurpose Tracked Tractor MTLB</ref>