The BA-20 was a light, four-wheeled armored car of Soviet construction. The first prototypes were built in 1935, and serial production lasted from 1936 to 1942. The car was powered by a 52 HP GAZ-M1 carburetor engine. The main armament was a single 7.62 mm DT machinegun mounted in a rotating turret.

The BA-20 was based on the civilian GAZ-M1 car and had many common elements with it, including the engine and chassis - although clearly reinforced for off-road driving. Two main development versions were created in the course of serial production of the BA-20 cars. In 1936, the BA-20 »D version was created, which was adapted to driving on rails, and in 1938 the BA-20 was modernized by adding a new type of turret and increasing the fuel tank. The BA-20 turned out to be a successful and reliable design, which was used by reconnaissance units of virtually all types of weapons of the Red Army. BA-20 were also widely used in the war with Japan (1938-1939) and in the Battle of Cha ‚chyn-Gol (1939). They also took part in the aggression against Poland in September 1939 and in the Winter War with Finland (1939-1940). They also took part in all major campaigns in the war with the Third Reich in 1941-1945.