The Essential Guide to Vehicles: T-80 Main Battle Tank
Features an in-depth look at the T-80 to help visually identify 57 variants of the T-80 main battle tank family and each of their characteristics.
Introduction
The T-80 was the ultimate Soviet main battle tank (MBT). It was the most capable tank in the Soviet arsenal and the most expensive series of tanks the Soviets ever mass-produced due to its advanced fire control and turbine propulsion systems. It entered service around the same time as the new generation of NATO tanks, such as the M1 Abrams, Leopard 2, and Challenger 1. The T-80 can be considered an equal rival to the aforementioned NATO tanks. Due to its advanced capability compared to the T-72, the T-80 was the backbone of the Soviet Army tank force. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, it saw extensive service with the Russian and Ukrainian Army. The continuation of service well into the 2000s in those armies and also driven by competition between Omsktransmash and Uralvagonzavod for Russian Army contracts in post-Soviet Russia resulted in multiple variants and upgrade packages for the T-80. This article provides an in-depth look at each of the T-80 models and variants.
Family Tree
In order to help easily visualize the massive family of the T-80 main battle tank, the writer has created the family tree of the T-80. The family tree includes T-64s that have contributed/or have some influences on the T-80 design, the main T-80 family itself, and the T-84 family.
Origins
The original T-80 design originated from the Soviet Government’s requirement for a new tank in 1971. The requirement was called Rassmotrenie proektov perspektivnikh tankov 80-kh godov (Examination of projects for prospective tanks for the 1980s) or NST (Noviy sredniy tank or New medium tank). Tank factories and design bureaus competed in the new tank’s design requirement, resulting in many concept tanks such as Object 225, 226, 258, 480, 485, 780, and 785. However, the eyes of the Soviet Ministry of Defense were set on a much simpler design provided by LKZ (Leningrad Kirov Plant): the Object 219 sp. 1 “Groza”.
The Basic Variants
Object 219 sp. 1 “Groza”
The design is basically a T-64 obr. 1967g with a modified engine deck to accommodate the new GTD-1000T turbine engine. During trials, Object 219 suffered from suspension and fuel consumption issues, so there were a lot of new iterations of the Object 219 design from sp. 2 to sp. 8 to overcome these problems.
Object 219 sp. 2
In the second iteration of the “Groza”, the sp. 2 received a larger diameter sprocket and rollers to overcome the suspension issues with the “Groza”.
T-80 obr. 1976g. (Object 219 sp. 8)
The Soviet MoD initially rejected the plan for Object 219 to be mass-produced due to its high-fuel consumption issue and the capability that was not much different than the T-64B. However, in 1976 when Marshal Dmitriy Ustinov replaced Marshal Andrei Grechko as the Soviet Minister of Defense, it was decided that the Object 219 sp. 8 would be mass-produced under army designation T-80. The T-80 obr. 1976g (Object 219 sp. 8) actually had the same design as the T-64A obr. 1971g, which sports the 125 mm 2A46 smoothbore gun as opposed to the 115 mm smoothbore gun on the T-64 obr. 1967g and Object 219 sp.1. The notable external difference to the T-64A obr. 1971g is the engine deck and suspension system (including a larger roadwheel with different positioning). It can be differentiated from other variants from the presence of the TPD-2–49 optical rangefinder on the right side of the turret. It also has a retractable self-entrenching blade mounted on the lower frontal plate. Due to the minimal difference in the capability to the T-64 but a much higher price tag (480,000 Soviet Ruble versus 143,000 Soviet Ruble for the T-64A), the production number was below 200 for this exact variant.
Some of the vehicles from this variant received an upgrade to meet the standard of T-80B obr. 1978g. The upgraded variant can be identified by the presence of the commander remote-operated weapon system, new deep-fording snorkel, the absence of the TPD-2–49 optical rangefinder on the right side of the turret (replaced by laser rangefinder module on the left side of the turret), and the absence of GTN- 12 command antenna in an armored box fitted on the right front corner of the turret roof for guiding the 9M112 Kobra gun-launched anti-tank guided missile (the upgraded version does not have the capability to use GLATGM).
T-80B obr. 1978g. (Object 219R)
The disappointment of the T-80 obr. 1976g design and the production of the new and much more capable T-64B obr. 1976g. made the LKZ take a decision to update the T-80 design while at the same time incorporating the T-64B obr. 1976 g’s new fire control system (FCS) and the commander remote-operated weapon system to the T-80. The new update of the T-80 design fell under the name of Object 219R or under army designation, the T-80B obr. 1978g.
It received a new FCS, and together with the new 2A46M-1 gun, that made it possible for the 219R to launch the radio-guided 9M112 Kobra gun-launched anti-tank guided missile (GLATGM), extending the tank’s effective range up to 4 km and even 5 km in a special launch mode. The Kobra is guided by a GTN-12 command antenna housed in an armored box on the right side of the turret.
The 219R design also features a new third-generation laminate armor on the turret called the “Combination-K”. The armor design filled the cavity between the outer and inner side of the tank’s armor with ultra-porcelain ceramic rods in a matrix (ultrafarforov), which has the equivalent of 550 mm of rolled homogeneous armor. Additionally, the hull’s armor used a different set of laminate armor consisting of 105 mm-thick glass-reinforced plastic (stekoplastika) sandwiched between 80 mm RHA on the outer part and 20 mm of RHA on the inner part, resulting in around 500 mm RHA equivalent (after considering its slope).
A total of 4,352 T-80Bs (including T-80BKs, BVs, and BKVs) had been produced (90% of the total T-80 ever produced).
T-80BK obr. 1978g. (Object 630)
The T-80BK obr. 1978g (Object 630) is the command version of the T-80B obr. 1978g. It has a TNA land navigation system and an additional R-130 command radio. It can be distinguished from the basic T-80B obr. 1978g variant by its telescopic antenna mast and the presence of more stowage boxes on the turret. It also does not have the capability to launch the Kobra GLATGM due to the absence of a GTN-12 command antenna box on the right side of the turret.
T-80B obr. 1980g.
From 1980 onwards, all T-80B in production received the new GTD-1000TF turbine engine that can produce 1,100 hp. Even though the new engine resulted in a higher acceleration rate, its top speed remained the same as the previous variant. It cannot be differentiated from the outside from the basic T-80B obr. 1978g variant.
T-80B obr. 1983g.
The Soviets had acquired multitudes of Israeli equipment from Syria during the 1982 Lebanon War, including the new M111 Hetz APFSDS. After it was tested against Soviet tanks at that time, it was determined that the T-72A and T-80B that was in service at that time were not able to withstand the penetration to the hull. Thus, in 1983, all T-72A and T-80B that was in service were modified to incorporate 15–20 mm RHA plates into the frontal hull.
T-80BM-1 obr. 1992g. (Object 219E)
An experimental T-80B obr. 1983g to test the Arena-1 active protection system (APS). It can be distinguished from other T-80B variants from its Arena-1 sensor mast and the presence of armored plates around the turret to protect the Arena hard-kill launchers.
T-80B obr. 1984g.
The Soviets had managed to develop the first-generation ERA (explosive reactive armor) of their own under the name of 4S20 Kontakt-1 by 1983, and it was developed by the NII Stali Research Institute in Moscow. The Kontakt-1 ERA was based on the Israeli “Blazer” ERA that was acquired from the Syrian Army in the 1982 Lebanon War. It was estimated that the Kontakt01 would degrade a 125 mm missile warhead by 86%, a 125 mm HEAT projectile by 58%, and 93 mm LAW (light anti-tank weapon) by 92%. Overall, the performance of the Kontakt-1 is 15% more effective and much lighter than the Israeli Blazer ERA. The ERA was distributed to the frontline unit to be fitted on their existing T-80B, namely the GSFG (Group of Soviet Forces in Germany).
These tanks were modified in the field to enable them to mount the new Kontakt-1 ERA. Their 902A Tucha smoke grenade discharger that was mounted on their frontal turret cheek is replaced with the 902B Tucha version mounted on the left side of the turret. The new location of the smoke grenade discharger is to allow the installation of Kontakt-1 on the frontal part of the turret. Unlike the T-72BV/A, which has its Kontakt-1 ERA mounted following the turret’s profile, the T-80B has its ERA mounted at an angle, increasing its effectiveness against incoming projectiles. Visually, the T-80B obr. 1984g cannot be distinguished from the T-80BV obr. 1985g.
T-80BK obr. 1984g.
T-80BK obr. 1978g. field modified to integrate the Kontakt-1 ERA. It could not be visually distinguished from the T-80BVK obr. 1985g.
T-80BV obr. 1985g. (Object 219RV)
The LKZ officially produced the T-80B variant equipped with Kontakt-1 ERA from the factory in 1985. The new variant is designated as the T-80BV obr. 1985g. The additional V letter on the designation stands for Vyzryvnoi (Explosive) to indicate that the variant is equipped with ERA.
The T-80BV obr. 1985g. the designation is not exclusive to the newly built tank but also the older rebuilt ones that are configured with the same features.
The tank of this variant can be identified from the presence of Kontakt-1 ERA bricks on the frontal side of the turret and the hull. There are some of these tanks that are equipped with a few ERA bricks on the side of the hull, but most of them are not. This is due to the Soviet regulations that state the ERA can only be mounted in a full configuration during times of war.
T-80BVK obr. 1985g.
T-80BVK obr. 1985g. is the command tank version of the T-80BV obr. 1985. It can be externally distinguished from the ordinary T-80BV obr. 1985g. from its additional antennas.
Object 219A “Olkha”
Object 219A is often mistakenly called T-80A due to its suffix A after 219, just like T-80B, which has the suffix B after the number 219. This is wrong because the T-80 designation is only given to the variant that has been accepted into service.
Olkha basically is a merger between Objekt 476 turret with T-80B hull. The turret featured a new generation composite/laminate armor. The armor, specifically called the semi-active non-metallic plate, consisted of two rows of polymer-filled cells with an additional layer of steel plate and resin. The semi-liquid filler act as the shock wave absorber from the impacting shaped-charge projectile. The armor is substantially more effective than the reflecting-plate composite armor mounted on the T-72B. However, it is more expensive than the latter armor, making the tank equipped with this armor much more expensive. The turret is also equipped with an improved 1A45 Irtysh fire-control system with new 1G46 sight.
The earlier examples of Object 219A that was built have Kontakt-1 ERA mounted on them, while some of the later examples featured the second-generation Kontakt-5 ERA.
Object 219A was ready for mass production in 1982 but did not enter serial production due to the other ongoing technology initiative and the integration of new technology that was still untested. The Soviets had learned from the T-64, which had many technical flaws due to the integration of new, immature technology by the time of its introduction into service. Instead, the Soviets only produced a small number of Olkha for test purposes only.
Object 219A can be distinguished from the T-80B/BV series from its Object 476’s broad turret profile. Furthermore, the Object 219A is equipped with the larger Brod-M deep-wading system.
Object 219V
Object 219V was born due to the effort of integrating new technologies into the T-80B. Rather than using the Object 476 turret like on Object 219A, Object 219V used the original T-80B turret. It managed to integrate the T-80B with the 9K120 Refleks GLATGM system, 1A45 Irtysh fire-control system, and GTD-1000TF turbine engine with added supercharger. 9K120 Refleks GLATGM was the upgraded, and enlarged version of the 9K116 Baston/Shekston GLATGM mounted on a 100 mm (T-55AM/M) or 115 mm (T-62M) cannon. Refleks uses laser-beam riding guidance, just like the Baston predecessor. It is guided by the 9S515 semi-automated laser system mounted on the 1G46 primary gunner sight.
The Improved Turbine Versions
T-80U obr. 1985g. (Object 219AS)
The letter U in the name T-80U stands for Usovershenstvovanniy or “Improved” in English. The T-80U combined the best features of Object 219A and Object 219V. This variant of the T-80U is still equipped with the first-generation Kontakt-1 ERA. It also features the new Brod-M snorkel found on the later models of Object 219A and Object 219V. According to some Russian sources, the T-80U heavy composite armor, together with the integrated Kontakt-5 ERA in the turret front, is equivalent to 780 mm of Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA) against Kinetic-Energy Penetrator and 1,320 mm of RHA against Chemical-Energy Penetrator. Around 410 T-80U were produced by the time of the fall of the Soviet Union. It also has a built-in muzzle reference system (MRS) mounted on its 125 mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun. The gun can also fire the new 9M119 Refleks GLATGM. Its fire control system is the 1A45 Irtysh with 2Eh42 gun stabilizer and 1V528 ballistic computer.
Due to the heavy armor, new optical electronics and offensive capability, and also high mobility of the T-80U, the combat effectiveness is 10% higher than the contemporary T-72B obr. 1985g. However, the cost of one T-80U obr. 1985g is much higher than its competitor, numbering at R824,000 per tank, than the R280,000 cost per tank of the T-72B obr. 1985g.
Most of the examples would later be upgraded to mount the second-generation Kontakt-5 ERA.
T-80U obr. 1987g.
This variant of the T-80U has integrated the second-generation 4S22 Kontakt-5 ERA from the start. This variant is equipped with Buran-PA dual-plane stabilized gunner thermal sight.
T-80U obr. 1987g. can be differentiated from the earlier T-80U obr. 1985g. and T-80B series from its Kontakt-5 ERA placement which makes the tank profile look more “rounded”. Additionally, the ERA on the frontal turret has additional rubber skids mounted on them. Moreover, its Tucha smoke grenade dischargers are mounted directly on the ERA steel cover in front of the turret instead of on the side of the turret like the T-80B series.
Object 292
Object 292 is an attempt to improve the one-hit firepower of the Soviet tank arsenal against newer NATO tanks. At the end of the Cold War, both NATO and Warsaw Pact were attempting to increase the firepower of their tanks by increasing the main gun caliber. The Soviets chose 152 mm caliber guns to be mounted on their tanks. Trials were done using two main platforms of the Soviet tank force, the T-72 and T-80. The T-72-based platform became Object 195 (which has its hull based on Object 187, an improvement of the T-72), and the T-80-based platform became Object 292.
Object 292 uses a 152.4 mm LP-83 smoothbore gun as its main gun. It also used the combination of the large T-80U turret to accommodate the larger gun and the lighter T-80BV hull to reduce the overall weight of the tank. During trials, it showed that the traverse and depression rate of the tank was much lower than that of the 125 mm-armed T-80. However, the tank also proved the high stability and reliability of its main gun despite its size. Due to its larger caliber gun, it can only carry 16 rounds of ammunition. A single prototype was ready in 1991, before the fall of the Soviet Union. The project was canceled due to financial issues after the fall of the Soviet Union.
T-80U obr. 1992g.
An upgraded version of the T-80U featuring the new 1,250 hp GTD-1250 turbine engine. It cannot be externally distinguished from the T-80U obr. 1987g.
T-80UK obr. 1995g. (Object 630A)
T-80UK features relatively small improvements over the basic T-80U, mainly for export. It features a Shotra-1 Active Protection System (APS) with two OTShU-1–17 electro-optical (EO) jammers mounted on either side of the main gun and two TShU-1–11 laser warning system (LWS) mounted on the turret roof. It also features the Agave-1/2 1st-generation thermal sight and 1,250 hp GTD-1250 turbine engine. The T-80UK is also capable of operating as a command tank due to the presence of additional R-163–50K and R-163-U radios and a TNA-4 land navigation system.
T-80UM obr. 1995g. (Object 219AS-M)
A modernized version of T-80U equipped with 9M119M Refleks GLATGM System and Agave-M1 thermal sight. It can be distinguished from the original T-80U by the absence of an L-4 Luna infra-red image intensifier next to the gun.
T-80UM-1 obr. 1997g. “Bars”
An experimental T-80UM for the export market equipped with an Arena-E active protection system (APS) with a coverage angle of 340 degrees. It is also equipped with a DV-EBS wind sensor mast, Buran-M gunner sight, a new 125 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun, RPZ-86M anti-radar coating, and the new prototype third-generation Kaktus ERA protection.
T-80UM-2 obr. 1997g.
An experimental T-80UM for the export market equipped with a Drozd-2 active protection system (APS). Drozd-2 APS offers much improvement over the Drozd-1 mounted on the T-55AD/AD-1 obr. 1981g. Rather than using fragmentation slugs to destroy the incoming projectile like on the Drozd-1, Drozd-2 uses 3UOF14 anti-missile rockets. With the new intercepting method coupled with modernized sensors, Drozd-2 is able to intercept enemy projectiles at a maximum speed of up to 1,200 m/s, and a hit probability of 80–90% compared to the maximum speed of up to 700 m/s and hit probability of 70% on the Drozd-1. Drozd-2 also offers a protection angle of 180–360 degrees compared to the 60 degrees of the Drozd-1.
T-80UE-1 obr. 1999g.
An export version of T-80U. It features the Agave-1/2 thermal sight and the 1,250 hp GTD-1250 engine taken from the T-80UK. However, instead of the remote-controlled mount for the heavy anti-aircraft machine gun on the commander’s cupola, it features four pintle machine gun mount.
It can be distinguished from other T-80U variants from its “sleeker” look due to the absence of an L-4 Luna infra-red image intensifier on the side of the main gun and more tightly packed Kontakt-5 ERA mountings. It also can be differentiated by its unique pintle-mounted machine gun in front of the commander’s cupola.
Object 640 Chorny Oryol (Black Eagle)
Black Eagle is a project to modernize and sell the T-80 by the Omsktransmash to the international market. It used a T-80U as its base platform with an elongated hull to accommodate the much more powerful 1,400 hp GTD-1400 turbine engine and a new turret. The new turret is equipped with a bustle-mounted autoloader and the new prototype third-generation Kaktus ERA.
Object 219M
Object 219M is a modernization effort for the T-80B series tanks started in 2005. It was equipped with ESSA thermal imager, 125 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun with muzzle reference system (MRS), Arena-E active protection system, third generation Relikt ERA, and 1,250 hp GTD-1250 turbine engine. Object 219M would later be evolved into the T-80BVM obr. 2017g.
T-80BVM obr. 2017g.
T-80BVM obr. 2017g. is a modernized variant of the T-80he BV series, hence the suffix M on the T-80BVM. On the offensive, it is equipped with the new PNM Sosna-U second-generation thermal gunner sight, the new 120 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun with much higher accuracy than the previous variant, and a cross-wind sensor mast at the back of the turret. On the defense, BVM integrates the new third-generation Relikt ERA package, completely replacing the older Kontakt-1 ERA. Its placement of the Relikt is also closer in resemblance to the new T-90M Proryv-3 tank, making it the third most advanced tank in the Russian arsenal after the T-14 Armata and T-90M Proryv-3. It can also be equipped with the additional UBH (uluchshennyye boyevyye kharakteristiki/improved battle characteristic) protection package marked by the 4S24 soft case for the Relikt ERA on the side of the hull and turret.
The Diesel Versions
Object 219RD
One of the experimental versions of T-80 in an effort to integrate the diesel engine into the tank’s family. The Object 219RD is basically a T-80B obr. 1976g mounted with a 1,000 hp 2V16 (A-54–2) diesel engine.
Object 644
Another effort to integrate the diesel engine into the T-80 family, Object 644, is a T-80B obr. 1980g mounted with the V-46–6 diesel engine found on the T-72A obr. 1979g.
Object 478
In another experiment on the subject of diesel-powered T-80, Object 478 is basically a T-80B obr. 1976g mounted with 6TD 1,000 hp engine taken from the T-64BM (Object 476).
Object 478A
A single example of Object 219A mounted with a 6TD diesel engine as a comparison project to Object 478B “Bereza”.
Object 478M
T-80B obr. 1980g mounted with the new Sistema FCS, Shater APS, and Chelyabinsk 124Ch 1,500 hp diesel engine. The project was canceled because of the very expensive cost per tank produced, even compared to the already-expensive T-80B. No picture is available on the internet due to the project being canceled early.
T-80UD obr. 1986g. (Object 478B “Bereza”)
The suffix UD in T-80UD stands for Usovershentvovanniy Dieselniy (Improved Diesel). The T-80UD is basically T-80U obr. 1985g mounted with 6TD diesel engine. It served as the cheaper diesel alternative for the fuel-thirsty turbine-powered T-80U. This variant of T-80UD is still equipped with the first-generation Kontakt-1 ERA. Most of the examples would later be upgraded to mount the second-generation Kontakt-5 ERA.
T-80UD obr. 1987g.
This variant of T-80U has integrated the second-generation Kontakt-5 ERA from the start. It also features the new Brod-M snorkel found on the later production models of T-80U. It can be externally differentiated from the turbine-powered T-80U from the remote-controlled weapon system heavy machine gun mount, which is placed on top of the commander’s sight instead of in front as on the T-80U.
T-80UD obr. 1993g. (Object 478BK “Bereza-Katanaya”)
The suffix BK on Object 478BK stands for Bereza-Katanaya or Rolled-armor Birch Tree in English. A Ukrainian continuation version of the T-80UD, it is an experimental T-80UD version to test the compatibility of the new welded turret due to the discontinuation of the original cast turret production by the Azovstal Mariupol Steel Plant. It can be distinguished from the original T-80UD variant by the absence of a Luna-4 IR image intensifier next to the gun, more tightly-packed Kontakt-5 ERA placement on the frontal turret area, and a more boxy-shaped welded turret. The welded turret itself is similar in form to the welded turret of the Russian T-90A without the shell ejector port.
T-80UD obr. 1997g. (Object 478BE-1 & Object 478BE-2)
The export version of T-80UD for Pakistan. Object 478BE-1 is the newly-produced version equipped with some leftover original cast turret from the Azovstal Plant before it ceased production, while Object 478BE-2 is the newly-produced version equipped with the new welded turret that has been tested previously on the Object 478BK. A total of 93 Object 478BE-1 and 175 Object 478BE-2 were produced. BE-2 variants can be differentiated from the BE-1 by its flat frontal ERA placement, following the flat contour of the new welded turret.
Object 478D
An experimental improvement version of the T-80UD equipped with TPN-4 Buran night sight and Aynet FCS. The Aynet FCS enables the Object 478D to fire “smart” airburst fragmentation munitions.
Object 478DU/DU1
An experimental version to evaluate the possibility of mounting a modified suspension derived from the T-64B on a T-80UD hull. The test was deemed successful, but no further action was taken by the Ukrainian authorities.
T-84 (Object 478DU2)
Object 478DU2 serves as the point of Ukrainian departure from Russian-made equipment. It’s the first effort to integrate indigenous Ukrainian components into the T-80UD. Due to the integration of local components and the previously rejected idea of naming the T-80UD with T-84 (all of the tanks produced by the Kharkiv-Malyshev Plants names are ended with 4, such as T-34, T-44, T-54, and T-64), Object 478DU2 was named T-84. The naming of T-84 also served to distinguish the Ukrainian-made tanks from the Russian-made ones.
It features the 125 mm KBA-3 smoothbore gun, a new welded turret produced by the Azovstal Plant in Mariupol, Shtora-1 APS, conformal and more tightly packed Kontakt-5 ERA mounting, and the new 1,200 hp 6TD-2 diesel engine. The KBA-3 smoothbore gun roughly has the same performance as the Soviet 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun.
Object 478DU4
Object 478DU4 is an improvement of the T-84 featuring an upgraded transmission allowing the maximum top speed of 70 km/h in forward and 30 km/h in reverse.
Object 478DU5
Object 478DU5 is a further improvement effort of the T-84. It features a new SUAT automatic transmission replacing the original manual one found on the T-84, an up-armored ammunition carousel, and an air conditioning system.
T-84U (Object 478DU8)
T-84U is the first large effort to improve the T-84 further. The U in the T-84U stands the same as the U in the T-80U, Usovershenstvovanniy or “Improved” in English. The T-84U features a different level of protection, including a new type of indigenous Ukrainian composite armor due to Ukraine’s inability to procure the Russian-made composite armor mounted on the previous variants. The new composite armor is a passive, reactive armor (NxRA) consisting of rubber, steel, and alloys sandwich. The basic mechanism of the armor is to use the rubber/polycarbonate layer inside the armor to expand and contract the sandwiching metal plates, inducing stresses on the penetrating projectile. The effectiveness of this type of armor is similar to the one on T-72B. It also features a new and more armored side skirt, covering more areas on the side of the tank, including the upper part of the roadwheels.
Other additions are a new EA-8 diesel auxiliary power unit (APU) that enables the tank to shut down the engine when it is not moving, Buran-Catherine-E gunner thermal imaging sight, R-163–50K radio, 1V528–2 ballistic computer, KRNA satellite navigation module based on GLONASS and NAVSTAR systems, PNK-5 commander observation sight, and on some tanks, a muzzle reference system (MRS) on the tip of the gun barrel. However, amongst other new features, the tank still retained the Kontakt-5 ERA in a much more compact layout, covering more area of the turret and hull. Shtora-1 APS is also still present in this variant, further improving its survivability.
T-84 Oplot (Object 478DU9)
T-84 Oplot is a further upgraded version of the T-84. It took the basic T-84U and equipped it with a new welded turret. The new welded turret was designed with a modularity concept in mind, making it easier to access the composite armor compartment and replace the armor in case of damage or in case of an upgrade. Thus, the new turret enables armor modularity on the T-84. The new turret also separates the ammunition compartment and the crew compartment by placing the ammunition and its new autoloader in a turret bustle. It also integrates the new PNK-6 commander panoramic sight placed in front of the commander’s cupola.
Other than the turret, Oplot also integrates the new indigenous Nozh-1 ERA with more conformal placement and a larger up-armored side skirt (containing ERA plates) covering the roadwheels. According to the “Special Design and Technology Bureau of the G.S. Pisarenko Institute for Problems of Strength of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Nozh-1 offers 1.8 to 2.7 times the efficiency of the Kontakt-5 ERA while also has the ability to prevent the explosion of other ERA modules when one is triggered by the incoming projectile (on Kontakt-1 ERA, if one module is triggered, around 50% of the total ERA modules on the same side will also be triggered and exploded at the same time). Nozh-1 module is also able to be mounted on the Kontakt-1 or Kontakt-5 ERA casings, making it easier to perform an armor upgrade on the existing tanks. Furthermore, for additional protection, it still retained the Shtora-1 APS.
T-84–120 Yatagan (Object 478N-1/KERN-2–120)
An upgrade of T-84 Oplot with the addition of western-compatible equipment for potential western export. The main feature of this tank is the 120 mm KBM-2 smoothbore main gun which is indigenous to Ukraine. The gun has a quick barrel replacement feature, meaning the barrel can be replaced without needing to remove the breech from the turret. Other than that, the gun fulfills the NATO STANAG 4385 and STANAG 4110, thus enabling it to fire NATO-standard 120 mm APFSDS-T and HEAT-MP-T, as well as indigenous GLATGM. The indigenous GLATGM is called the Konus, which itself is a specialized 120 mm version of the 9M119M Refleks GLAGTM. The KBM-2 also includes modules to increase the gun’s accuracy, such as a muzzle reference system mounted at the end of the barrel and a projectile muzzle velocity sensor mounted on the top of the turret.
Other than the new main gun, the Yatagan still retain most of the T-84 Oplot’s main feature, such as the Buran-Catherine-E thermal sight, Nozh-1 ERA modules, 6TD-2 powerpack, and other features.
T-84BM Oplot-M (Object 478DU9–1)
Oplot-M is the ultimate and latest version of the T-84 series. Using the T-84 Oplot as the basic variant for the upgrade, hence the name Oplot-M which the M stands for Modernized. It features a more advanced and heavier Duplet (Nozh-2) ERA. Duplet allows protection from tandem warhead and sub-caliber armor-piercing projectile with an impacting velocity of up to 2000 m/s. Other than Duplet, Oplot-M received more protection upgrades, such as the Zaslin (Zaslon) hard-kill APS, Varta soft-kill APS, and multi-layered passive armor.
The Zaslin APS uses countermeasure modules consisting of two explosive charges, which would be ejected into the incoming projectiles and explodes to create a fragmentation ring that destroys the incoming projectile. The system has a response time of 0.1 seconds and is able to defeat incoming projectiles with a maximum velocity of up to 1,200 m/s.
While the Zaslin provides hard-kill protection, Varta act as the soft-kill complement. Varta APS can be considered the Ukrainian version of the Shtora-1 APS, which includes laser warning sensor modules, an infrared optical jammer, and a smoke screen laying system.
Other than its protection system, the Oplot-M also receives updates on its optical — electronic (optronics) system. The most notable update on its optronics is the presence of the PNK-6 commander panoramic sight, which consists of a built-in laser rangefinder, thermal imaging sight, and an anti-aircraft/heavy machine gun control system. It also replaces the Buran-Catherine-E thermal sight with the indigenous PTT-2 thermal sight.
T-84BM Oplot-T (Object 478DU9-T)
Oplot version for Thailand with a minor adaptation of Thai Army requirements.
T-84BM Oplot-P (Object 478DU9-P)
Proposed Oplot version for Pakistan with a minor adaptation of Pakistani Army requirements.
How to Distinguish T-72 from T-64, T-80, and T-90
There are many differences between these tanks, but they look similar to untrained eyes.
Tracks
T-72’s tracks are different from the others. It has six large drive wheels (all of them are intertwined) with no return roller wheels, while the T-64 has six small drive wheels (all of them are separated from each other) with four return rollers. The T-80 also has six large drive wheels but also complemented by five return roller wheels. The T-80’s third and fourth drive wheels are intertwined. The T-72 and T-90 have almost no difference in the tracks.
Turret
The T-72’s turret placement is in the middle between the front and rear side of the hull, while the T-64’s turret is more situated to the rear of the vehicle. The other difference is ERA placement. T-64 and T-80 Kontakt-1 ERA placement on the turret is always in the V-shaped/taper mounted. Other than that, the rubber skirts always complement the placement of the Kontakt-5 ERA on the T-80U.
Another T-72’s unique noticeable feature is its turret shaped. Due to its Dolly Patron and Super Dolly Patron composite armor, its turret front is bulkier and almost flat, while the T-64 and T-80 turret have a more rounded shape.
The T-90A could be differentiated from the T-72 by its box-shaped welded turret and the evenly arranged Kontakt-5 on its turret. The other T-90, the T-90 obr. 1992g is distinguishable from the T-72 with its Shtora-1 infra-red dazzler attached to the turret front.
The last feature on the turret that can be used to distinguish T-72 from others is its 14.5 mm NSVT machine gun on the commander’s cupola. The T-72’s NSVT always faces rearward if not being used, while the NSVT on T-64, T-80, and T-90 always faces forward whether it is being used or not because it is integrated into the commander’s sight with the RCWS system.
Read also other articles from the Essential Guide to Vehicles series:
- The Essential Guide to Vehicles: T-72 (https://medium.com/@murtiedjokobayu/the-essential-guides-to-vehicles-t-72-996d7b9068f)
- Meet Object 187: The Other T-90 (https://medium.com/@murtiedjokobayu/meet-object-187-the-other-t-90-5ac1fe573dee)
- Why the Soviets Ended Up with Three Tanks: T-64, T-72, and T-80 (https://medium.com/@murtiedjokobayu/why-the-soviets-ended-up-with-three-tanks-t-64-t-72-and-t-80-aa27fb4a0cef)
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