The BTR-50PK was the first fully tracked armored personnel carrier to enter service with the Soviet Army. The initial open-topped version were first introduced in 1957.

The suspension had 6 rubber-rimmed road wheels, a front idler, and a rear sprocket driven by a V6 water-cooled gasoline engine developing 204hp. Like most other Soviet vehicles descended from the J. Walter Christie designs, the suspension did not use track return rollers. It was fully amphibious and was propelled by two water jets in the rear, and had a trim vane at the front of the hull.

The version on display has a fully enclosed fighting compartment, an NBC protection system, and a 7.62mm machine gun. It was also equipped with infrared night vision equipment for the driver and commander.

It was normally used in the former East German Army in motorized infantry units, and as a command vehicle in armored units.