Ukrainian tank T-64BM "Bulat"

T-64A (GBTU Index - Object 434) is a Soviet main battle tank. Created in the early 1960s at the Kharkov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, it was mass-produced since 1969, in parallel with the T-55, T-62 and T-64 medium tanks. Initially it had the designation “T-64 tank with D-81 smoothbore gun”. Adopted by the Soviet army by the Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 20, 1968, the same decree assigned the designation T-64A to the tank.

T-64 MODERNIZATION OPTIONS FOR UKRAINE AF

T-64BM tank at the training ground

Production of the 64 ended in 1987; in total, more than 8 thousand tanks of various modifications were produced. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited a significant number of T-64 tanks. As of 1995, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were armed with 2,354 vehicles of various modifications. Although most of them no longer met modern requirements, the lack of funding did not allow them to be replaced with new tanks. In such conditions, the only opportunity to significantly increase the combat effectiveness of troops was major modernization. Accordingly, in the early 90s, work began at KMDB to improve the T-64. The main efforts were focused on increasing firepower through improved fire control systems, as well as increasing protection against modern anti-tank weapons and increasing mobility through the installation of a more powerful engine. Several options for upgrading the T-64 were developed, which would bring them up to the level of the more modern T-80UD and T-84 tanks, which differed in the level of components used and, accordingly, in cost.

The modernization of the fire control system was proposed in two options: the first, simpler option provided for the installation of the 1A43U “Ros” day sighting system and the TO1-KO1E gunner’s night sighting system, as well as the 9K119 guided weapon system with the corresponding 6ETs43 loading mechanism. 64BM2 T-64BM2 (object 447AM-2) (object 447AM-2); the second, more advanced option was to install the 1A45 Irtysh fire control system (unified with the T-80UD and T-84 tanks) in full. This control system includes the 1A43U Ros day sighting system, the TO1-KO1E night sighting system, and the PNK-4SU commander sighting and observation system. The 1A43U sighting system includes a sight-rangefinder, a 1G46M “Promin” guidance device and a 1B528-1 tank ballistic computer. The TO1-KO1E night sighting system consists of the TPN-4E “Buran-E” infrared night sight and the L-4 illuminator. The PNK-4SU sighting system is located in front of the vehicle commander and, together with the 1ETs29 guidance drive, allows the commander to take control of the tank’s weapons.

To enhance security, both versions of the modernized tank were equipped with built-in dynamic protection of Ukrainian design. And to improve mobility, the upgraded 5TDF-M engine with a power of 850 hp was intended. (forced modification of the 5TDF engine).

The tank of the first, simpler, modernization option was designated T-64BM2 (object 447AM-2), and the second - T-64U (object 447AM-1). Externally, the T-64U can be easily distinguished from the T-64BM2 by the absence of an illuminator on the turret next to the gun, as well as by the type of anti-aircraft machine gun mount (ZPU): on the T-64BM2 it remained the same, and on the T-64U it was the same as on the T -80UD.

For the first time, the modernized T-64 tanks were demonstrated to the general public during a military parade in honor of Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, 1999. Six T-64 tanks with a mock-up of built-in dynamic protection and two tanks modernized to the T-64BM2 standard passed through Khreshchatyk. Another T-64U was left in reserve and did not go along Khreshchatyk.

T-64

DATA FOR 2012 (standard replenishment) “object 430” T-64 / “object 432” T-64A / AK / AM / AKM T-64B / B1 / BK / BM / BV T-64U / BM “Bulat” ( Ukraine)

Medium and main tank. Developed by the design bureau of the Kharkov Transport Engineering Plant (KZTM), chief designer A.A. Morozov. Development began in 1958. Manufacturing and testing of prototypes "object 430" - 1960. Development of improved prototypes - "object 432" and "object 434" began in 1962. A small series for military testing of the pre-production model T-64 / "object" 432" was released in 1964. In the same year, 20 T-64A / "object 434" tanks were produced for testing. The tank was put into service under the name T-64 (“object 432”) in 1967. It was serially produced at plant No. 75 (KhZTM, Kharkov). Mass serial production of the main T-64A tank began in 1969. After the collapse of the USSR (since 1991), work on the modernization of T-64 tanks was carried out by KMDB (Kharkov, Ukraine). Description of modifications is in the Modifications section (see below). If the name of the modification is not specified, then the data applies to all major modifications of the tank.

T-64BV in units of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, 1980s (photo from the Rambo54 archive, https://military.tomsk.ru/forum).

T-64 in the museum of military equipment, Guryevsk, Kaliningrad region, Russia (photo by T. Dashina, https://technic-memorial.narod.ru).
Crew: “object 430” - 4 people (commander, driver, gunner, loader) T-64 and later - 3 people (commander, driver, gunner) Design - typical classic Soviet. welded body made of rolled sheets. The turret is a cast hemispherical streamlined shape with a narrow embrasure for the cannon. The front part of the turret and hull have a combined three-layer armor. Beginning in 1974, during serial production, the manufacturing technology of the turret (T-64A) was changed, and corundum filler began to be used in the combined armor of the frontal part of the turret. The experimental tank “Object 476” (1975) was equipped with a new cast turret designed by N.A. Shomin of a larger volume. After testing, the new type of turret was supposed to be used on the “Object 478” tanks (T-80UD prototype). The new turret was also used on the experimental tank “Object 219A” LKZ (T-80A). The armor was combined in the frontal part using a filler made of vertical armor plates with cells filled with polyurethane - after testing, the turret was supposed to be used on “object 478”. T-64AM (1983) - during modernization, a new cast turret with ceramic filler is installed. Domestic sources on tanks of the T-64A / AK / AKM type report that they provided protection against any 105 mm shells from foreign guns at distances of more than 500 m. Reservation:


object 430	120	189-240
T-64 / object 432	nd	nd
T-64A / object 434 and similar	80+105+20	450-460
T-64A serial. 1976 (results of comparative tests with T-80)	305	410 (probably underestimated)

T-64 / “object 432” - three anti-cumulative shields are installed on the sides of the hull. Starting with the T-64A / “object 434” model (and similar experimental tanks) - four shields on the sides and additional screens on the turret (except for the first test series). Since 1980, rubber side screens have been used on T-64A tanks (and later modifications). The T-64BV (1985) is equipped with a set of mounted dynamic protection consisting of 179 elements on the frontal and upper parts of the turret, the frontal part of the hull and on the side screens. T-64U / T-64BM "Bulat" - active armor "Varta", built-in dynamic armor "Knife". Chassis and transmission - 6 road wheels Engine : 1) “object 430”, “object 437” - 2-stroke 5-cylinder multi-fuel diesel 5TD with horizontal cylinders with a power of 580-600 hp. 2) T-64, T-64A (and similar), “object 447”, T-64B / B1 / BK / BV - 5TDF diesel engine (boosted) with a power of 700 hp. 3) T-64T - gas turbine GTD-3TL (helicopter) with a power of 700 hp. 4) “object 439”, “object 445” - diesel B-45 with a power of 780 hp. 5) “object 476”, T-64AM, T-64AKM, T-64BM / B1M - 6TD diesel engine with a power of 1000 hp. R&D work on the development of a new engine and transmission compartment for the T-64A, T-64B and T-64B1 tanks with the 6TD engine was carried out by KMDB in 1974-1979. By the decision of the board of the USSR Ministry of Defense dated January 5, 1978 and the USSR Ministry of Defense Industry dated July 26, 1978, the 6TD tank diesel engine was put into mass production. 6) T-64BM2 (“object 447AM-2”) - 5TDF-M diesel engine with a power of 850 hp. T-64 first generation:

volume 430	T-64	T-64A T-64AK	volume 437	volume 445	volume 476	T-64A model 1980	T-64AM T-64AKM
Combat weight (t)	35,48	36-36,7	37-37,3-38	35,5	37,5	40,5	38,5	38-40
Fuel capacity (l)	850+350	815+330	738+355	nd	nd	1430	738-355	nd
Length (mm)	8785	8750	9225	8948	9250	9524	9225	9524 (9224 T-64AKM)
Case length (mm)	6048	6300	6540	6300	6590	6540	6540	6540
Width (mm)	3120	3190	3415	3190	3415	3581	3270	3581
Height (mm)	2160	2154	2170-2194	2155	2194	2210	2170	2210
Ground clearance (mm)	435-445	476,5	450-500	445	450	500	450	500
Specific ground pressure (kg/sq.cm)	0,75	0,8	0,8-0,84	0,75	0,81	0,88	0,84	0,87
Specific power (hp/t)	16,5	19,5	18,2-18,6	19,7	21,1	24,7	18,2	25
Speed (km/h)	55	70	60,5	60	60	65-70	65	60-65
Cruising range (km)	450-600	600	660	600	500	600	450-500	460-600

T-64 second generation:

volume 447	T-64B/B1	T-64BK	T-64BM/B1M	T-64BV	T-64BM "Bulat"
Combat weight (t)	38,5	39	39	40	42,5	45
Fuel capacity (l)	nd	730+540	730+540	nd	1270
Length (mm)	9225	9225	9225	9524	9225
Case length (mm)	6540	6540	6540	6540	6540
Width (mm)	3415	3415	3415	3581	3415
Height (mm)	2170	2170	2170	2210	2190
Ground clearance (mm)	477	500	500	500	500
Specific ground pressure (kg/sq.cm)	0,84	0,86	0,86	0,87	0,92
Specific power (hp/t)	18,2	17,9	17,9	25	16,5
Speed (km/h)	65	60,5	60	65	60	70
Cruising range (km)	600	600	500	600	500	385 (fuel)

Obstacles to be overcome: - climb - 30 degrees. - ditch - 2.85 m - wall - 0.8 m - ford - 1.4 m, 1.8 m starting from T-64A (since 1974 with Brod equipment) - OPVT - 5 m obstacle depth, length up to 1000 m Fuel consumption during military operation (T-64A, 1974-1975) - 4.5 l/km The service life of the tank as a result of modifications specified by the order of October 27, 1968 amounted to 8000-10000 km Armament :

Tank type	Main weapon	Twin systems	Anti-aircraft installation	Additional weapons
object 430 (1960)	100 mm D-54TS cannon, 50 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm SGMT machine gun, 3000 rounds of ammunition.	14.5 mm KPVT machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition.	No
T-64 / object 432 (1964)	115 mm D-68 cannon, 40 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 2000 rounds of ammunition.	No	No
T-64A / object 434 (1964) T-64AM (1983)	125 mm D-81 cannon, 37 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	12.7 mm DShK-M machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition. (since 1972 - NSVT-12.7)	No
object 437 (1966)	125 mm D-85 cannon, 37 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	without changes	No
T-64AK (1973) T-64AKM (1983)	125 mm D-81 cannon, 28 rounds of ammunition. in the loading mechanism	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1000 rounds of ammunition.	no, according to other data - 12.7 mm NSVT-12.7 machine gun, 300 rounds of ammunition.	No
object 447 (1975)	125 mm D-81K cannon, 35 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1250 rounds of ammunition.	12.7 mm machine gun NSVT-12.7, ammunition 300 rounds.	ATGM 9K112-1 "Cobra"
object 476 (1975)	125 mm D-81 cannon, 42 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1500 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	No
T-64B/B1 (1976) T-64BM/B1M (1983)	125 mm 2A46-2 cannon, 36 rounds of ammunition. (B1M - 37)	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1250 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	ATGM 9K112-1 “Cobra” (B1 / B1M - no)
T-64BK (1976)	125 mm 2A46-2 cannon, 28 rounds of ammunition.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1000 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	No
T-64A model 1980	125 mm cannon 2A46-1, ammunition 37 rounds.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 2000 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	No
T-64BV (1985)	125 mm cannon 2A46-1 or 2A46-2, ammunition 36 rounds.	7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 1250 rounds of ammunition.	without changes	ATGM 9K112-1 "Cobra"

A rifled 100 mm D-54TS cannon with a muzzle brake and a two-plane "Metel" stabilizer was installed on the "object 430" prototype. The D-68 smoothbore 115 mm gun with a 2E18 two-plane stabilizer was installed on the first production T-64 (“object 432”), the T-64T. Smoothbore 125 mm D-81 gun with a two-plane stabilizer 2E23 - T-64A, T-64AK. Since 1975, a heat-protective gun casing has been installed. On the experimental tanks “Object 447” and “Object 476” the gun stabilizer is 2E26. On the tank “object 447” is a version of the D-81K cannon adapted for firing the Cobra ATGM.

The D-85 smoothbore 125 mm cannon with a new spherical bolt and a two-plane Metel stabilizer was tested at the experimental “object 437”. Not accepted for service.

The project for a rifled 130 mm gun was being developed for installation on the T-64 tank according to the 1969 research plan. The gun was planned to be used with ATGMs of the Cobra and Gyurza types.

Smoothbore 125 mm gun 2A46-2 adapted for the use of the Cobra ATGM with a two-plane stabilizer 2E26M and a loading mechanism 6ETs43 - T-64B and modifications (1976, 1983, 1985). The gun is equipped with a thermal casing. Smoothbore 125 mm gun 2A46-1 with a two-plane stabilizer 2E28M2 and a loading mechanism 6ETs43 - T-64A model 1980. The gun is equipped with a thermal casing.

The T-64BV tank was equipped with 2A42-1 and 2A42-2 guns with two-plane stabilizers 2E26M and 2E42.

Tank T-64U / T-64BM "Bulat" - 125 mm smoothbore gun with a loading mechanism for 28 shells. An anti-aircraft machine gun mount with a 12.7 mm DShK-M machine gun is installed on T-64A tanks. Starting from 1972, the ZPU was replaced by a ZU-64A installation with remote control and an NSVT-12.7 Utes machine gun. PZU-7 anti-aircraft sight and 1ETs29 guidance drive on the T-64U (“object 447AM-1”). The 9K112-1 "Cobra" ATGM was tested on the experimental tank "Object 447" (1975) and entered service with the T-64B in 1976 (T-64B - 1983). ATGM guidance is provided by the 1A33 fire control system. The 9K119 ATGM is used on modernized versions of the T-64BM tank - T-64BM2 (“object 447AM-2”) and T-64U (“object 447AM-1”). Equipment : Fire control system: 1A33 - T-64B / BM "Volna" (?) - T-64BV 1A43 "Ros" with wind sensor 1B11 - T-64BM2 ("object 447AM-2") 1A45 "Irtysh" (included - sighting systems 1A43U, TO1-KO1E and PNK-4SU) - T-64U ("object 447AM-1") Sighting system: 1A43U - T-64U ("object 447AM-1") - sight-range finder guidance device 1G46M "Promin" "("Luch") with an electrical unit, produced by NPO "Fotopribor" (Cherkassy, Ukraine); — shot resolution block; — tank ballistic computer 1V528-1 (TIUS-V); — wind sensor DVE-BS;

Optical sight: TPD-43B (tank sight-rangefinder) - “object 430”, T-64, “object 437”. TPD-2-49 - T-64A, T-64AK TPD-2-49 / TPD-K1 - T-64A model 1980 1G21 (rangefinder sight) - “object 447”, “object 476” 1G42 (sight - rangefinder) - T-64B / B1 / BK / BM / B1M / BV PNK-4SU (commander's sighting system - combined commander's sight TKN-4S "Agat" with an electrical unit, coupled with a PZU-7 anti-aircraft sight and a ZPU 1ETs29 guidance drive), produced by NPO Fotopribor (Cherkassy, Ukraine) - T-64U (“object 447AM-1”); PNK-5 (sighting system with a laser rangefinder and a lateral lead input device), produced by NPO Fotopribor (Cherkassy, Ukraine) - options for modernizing T-64 tanks later than “object 447AM-1” (Ukraine).

Night sight: TPN-1 with IR illuminator - “object 430”, “object 437”. TPN-1-432 with IR spotlight - T-64 TPN-1-49-23 with IR spotlight - T-64A, T-64AK, T-64B / B1 / BK / BM / B1M TPN-3-49 with IR spotlight - T-64BV TO1-KO-1E (sighting system with IR sight TPN-4E "Buran" with L-4 illuminator) - T-64BM2 ("object 447AM-2") and T-64U ("object 447AM -1")

Artillery compass PAB-2A - T-64AK

Radio station: R-113 - “object 430”. R-123 “Dahlia” (from 1963-1964) - T-64, “object 437”, T-64A (until 1971), “object 445”. R-123M "Dahlia-U" (since 1971) - T-64A, "object 447", "object 476", T-64B / B1 / BM / B1M / BV R-123M, R-130 HF - T-64AK, T-64AKM R-123M, R-130M HF range - T-64BK

The Kaira tank intercom device is installed starting from at least the T-64A.

Navigation equipment: Gyropolukopas GPK-59 - T-64, T-64B / B1 / BM / B1M TNA-3 - T-64AK, T-64AKM, T-64BK

Equipment for setting up smoke screens TDA (thermodynamic equipment). Since 1979, the T-64A (and later modifications) have been equipped with 902B “Tucha” launchers for setting up smoke screens (6 launchers on both sides of the turret, 12 launchers in total). The T-64B / B1 / BM / B1M is equipped with 2 x 4 902B “Tucha” launchers. Anti-nuclear protection equipment. The “Vodolaz” underwater tank driving equipment (OPVT) ensures overcoming water obstacles up to 1000 m wide and up to 5 m deep. Since 1974, the T-64A has been equipped with a “Ford” system for fording up to 1.8 m without preparation. Starting with the T-64A model (since 1973), tanks are equipped with a mount for the KMT-6 roller mine trawl. Modifications : “object 430” (1960) - experimental tank, several samples were produced. The chassis was later used to produce serial T-64s. T-64 / “object 432” (1964) - the first production model of the T-64, produced in a limited series for military testing, development began in 1962 (?). The tank was created on the basis of the “Object 430” with the installation of a new smoothbore gun with separate loading and an automatic loader. In the process of modernization to the T-64A level, they received the designation T-64R. T-64T (1963) - an experimental tank with a helicopter gas turbine engine, created at the KhZTM Design Bureau (chief designer - A.A. Morozov) in 1963 on the basis of the T-64 / “object 432” hull. Tested in 1963-1965. Not accepted for service, characteristics are the same as the T-64 / “object 432”. T-64A / “object 434” / “product 49”? (1964) - serial main tank T-64, the first serial tank of the 3rd generation. development began in 1962. In 1964, the first series for testing (20 tanks) was released. Mass serial production of the T-64A began at KhZTM in 1969. In 1971, a new radio station R-123M was installed. Since 1972, the NSVT-12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun has been installed. Since 1973, the KMT-6 mine trawl has been installed. In 1974, during serial production, the technology for manufacturing the tower was changed, corundum filler began to be used, a system for overcoming water obstacles up to 1.8 m deep without preparation “Ford” was installed, and a road alarm was installed. Since 1975, an additional fuel tank and a heat-protective gun casing have been installed. Since 1979, the T-64A has been equipped with PU 902B for setting up smoke screens. Since 1980, side rubber screens have been used. “object 437” (1966) - an experimental tank, created on the basis of the hull and chassis of the T-64A / “object 434” with the installation of a 1215 mm D-85 cannon with a new spherical bolt and the “Kadr” sighting system. Passed tests, but not accepted for service.

“object 439” (until 1969) - a project for an experimental T-64A tank with a B-45 diesel engine.

“object 445” (1966) - an experimental tank, created on the basis of the hull and chassis of the T-64A / “object 434” with a V-45 diesel engine. The documentation was later transferred to PO Uralvagonzavod and after adapting the technology, “object 172” was developed on its basis. Passed tests, but not accepted for service. T-64AK / “object 434K” (1973) - command version of the main T-64A tank. Developed by the KhZTM design bureau under the leadership of A.A. Morozov in 1969. Adopted into service in 1973, KhZTM was mass-produced from 1971 to 1983. Additionally, an HF radio station, navigation equipment, a PAB-2A artillery compass and an AB-1 P/30 gas-electric generator were installed. The tank does not have a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

T-64AK manufactured in 1979 in the Museum of the T-34 tank, Sholokhovo village, Moscow region, 04/26/2008 (photo - VLAS, https://military.tomsk.ru/forum)

T-64R - T-64 tanks of the first releases (object 432) upgraded to the T-64A level. “Object 447” (1975) - an experimental T-64A main tank with a Cobra ATGM. Developed by KB KhZTM. After testing, the Cobra ATGM was adopted for service with the T-64B (1976) and T-80B (1978) tanks. In design and performance characteristics it is analogous to the T-64A tank. “Object 476” (1975) - an experimental main tank with a new MTO with a 6TD diesel engine and a new cast turret designed by N.A. Shomin of a larger volume. Developed by KMDB im. A.A. Morozov, produced in the amount of 3 pieces of KhZTM. After testing, the new type of turret was supposed to be used on Model 478 tanks. The new turret was also used on the experimental tank “Object 219A” LKZ. Tests of experimental tanks were carried out in 1978-1979. in different climatic zones of the USSR. In October 1979, based on test results, a new MTO with a 6TD engine was recommended for mass production. T-64B / “object 447A” (1976) - main tank - modification of the T-64A with the Cobra ATGM (prototype - “object 447”). Developed by KB KhZTM. Entered into service in 1976, mass-produced at KhZTM from 1976 to 1985. (including modifications). The tank is equipped with a 1A33 fire control system, equipment for self-digging and for installing a KMT-6 trawl. T-64B1 / “object 437A” (1976) - main tank - modification of the T-64B without the Cobra ATGM. Developed by KB KhZTM. Entered into service in 1976, serially produced at KhZTM since 1976. In terms of performance characteristics, design, armament and equipment, the tank is identical to the T-64B (except for the absence of an ATGM and the 1A33 onem control system). T-64BK (1976) - main tank - command modification of the T-64B (without the Cobra ATGM). Developed by KB KhZTM. Adopted into service in 1976, it has been mass-produced at KhZTM since 1976. The design of the tank is identical to the T-64B, with an additional HF radio station, navigation equipment and an AB-1 P/30 gas-electric generator installed. T-64A model 1980 - during serial production and modernization by 1980, the T-64A was significantly different from the base model T-64A (see above). The technical characteristics are presented separately. T-64AM (1983) - modernization option for T-64A tanks. Developed by KMDB im. A.A. Morozov, modernization was carried out at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Technical documentation for the modernization of serial tanks T-64A, T-64AK, T-64B and T-64B-1 during a major overhaul with the installation of a 6TD engine, etc. was approved on January 25, 1979. The modernized versions of the tanks were adopted by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 0262 dated December 21, 1981 under the brands T-64AM, T-64AKM, T-64BM and T-64B-1M. Serial production of tanks of these types was not carried out; modernization was carried out during major overhauls starting in 1983 (December 1983) in limited quantities. According to other data, the tank was put into service in December 1983. A new 6TD diesel engine and a new cast turret with ceramic filling were installed. Equipment and weapons are similar to the T-64A. T-64BM (1983) - main tank - modification of the T-64B (with Cobra ATGM). Developed by KB KhZTM. Technical documentation for the modernization of serial tanks T-64A, T-64AK, T-64B and T-64B-1 during a major overhaul with the installation of a 6TD engine, etc. was approved on January 25, 1979. The modernized versions of the tanks were adopted by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 0262 dated December 21, 1981 under the brands T-64AM, T-64AKM, T-64BM and T-64B-1M. Serial production of tanks of these types was not carried out; modernization was carried out during major overhauls starting in 1983 (December 1983) in limited quantities. The modernization was carried out during serial production of the T-64B at KhZTM and at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense from 1983 to 1985. In design, equipment and armament, the tank is identical to the T-64B; a new 6TD diesel engine is installed. T-64B1M (1983) - main tank - modification of the T-64B1 (without the Cobra ATGM) with a 6TD diesel engine. Developed by KB KhZTM. Technical documentation for the modernization of serial tanks T-64A, T-64AK, T-64B and T-64B-1 during a major overhaul with the installation of a 6TD engine, etc. was approved on January 25, 1979. The modernized versions of the tanks were adopted by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 0262 dated December 21, 1981 under the brands T-64AM, T-64AKM, T-64BM and T-64B-1M. Serial production of tanks of these types was not carried out; modernization was carried out during major overhauls starting in 1983 (December 1983) in limited volumes. Modernization was carried out during serial production of the T-64B at KhZTM and at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense from 1983 to 1985 .G. The tank is identical in design, equipment and armament to the T-64B1. T-64AKM (1984) - modernization option for T-64AK tanks. Developed by the KhZTM design bureau, modernization was carried out at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Technical documentation for the modernization of serial tanks T-64A, T-64AK, T-64B and T-64B-1 during a major overhaul with the installation of a 6TD engine, etc. was approved on January 25, 1979. The modernized versions of the tanks were adopted by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 0262 dated December 21, 1981 under the brands T-64AM, T-64AKM, T-64BM and T-64B-1M. Serial production of tanks of these types was not carried out; modernization was carried out during major overhauls starting in 1983 (December 1983) in limited quantities. According to other data, the tank was put into service in December 1984. A new 6TD diesel engine and a new cast turret with ceramic filler were installed. Equipment and weapons are similar to the T-64AK. T-64BV (1985) - main tank - modification of the T-64B (with the Cobra ATGM) with a mounted dynamic protection kit installed on the hull and turret. Developed by the KhZTM Design Bureau, chief designer - N.A. Shomin. Adopted into service in 1985, modernization was carried out during serial production of the T-64B at KhZTM and at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense from 1985 to 1987. T-64BM2 / “object 447AM-2” (1999, Ukraine ) - the main tank, a variant of the modernization of T-64 tanks, developed by KMDB in the period from 1991 to 1999. 5TDF-M engine, built-in dynamic protection developed by KhKBM, 9K119 guided weapon system, 1A43U “Ros” and TO1-KO1E sighting systems, 6ETs43 loading mechanism. For the first time shown in the amount of 6 tanks at the parade on the Independence Day of Ukraine on August 24, 1999 (they underwent a major overhaul at the tank repair plant No. 115, a model of built-in dynamic protection was installed). In 1999, according to unconfirmed reports, it was decided to modernize the T-64A and T-64B tanks to the T-64BM2 level using tank repair plants. Company-sized tanks upgraded to T-64BM2 are shown at the parade in Kyiv on August 24, 2001.

Tanks T-64BM2 / “object 447AM-2” at the parade in Kyiv, 2001 (https://dic.academic.ru)

Tank T-64BM2 / “object 447AM-2” (https://dic.academic.ru)

T-64U / “object 447AM-2” / T-64BM “Bulat” (1999, Ukraine ) - the main tank, a variant of a deeper modernization of the serial T-64 tanks, developed by KMDB in the period from 1991 to 1999. 5TDF-M engine, built-in dynamic protection developed by KMDB, 9K119 guided weapon system, 1A45 Irtysh fire control system (consisting of 1A43U, TO1-KO1E and PNK-4SU), other equipment. It was first demonstrated in a single copy with tail number 201 before the parade on the Independence Day of Ukraine on August 24, 1999. Visually it differs from the “object 447AM-2” in the absence of an IR sight illuminator next to the gun, an antenna-like wind sensor at the rear of the turret, and an anti-aircraft launcher on the commander’s hatch. In July 2005, the tank was adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, apparently under the name T-64BM Bulat.

Tank T-64U / “object 447AM-2” / T-64BM “Bulat” (https://dic.academic.ru)

T-64E (2010-2011, Ukraine ) - the main tank, a variant of deep modernization of the serial T-64 tanks, developed by KMDB. The tank is offered for the Ukrainian army. First shown at a static exhibition on May 9, 2011 in Kharkov. The tank is equipped with the Nozh-2/Duplet active armor complex and 2 x 23 mm remote-controlled additional gun. Engine - 5TDFE in an “ecological” version with a power of 850 hp. Auxiliary power unit 10 kW, 24 volts

T-64E tank and additional artillery weapons on the roof of the tank turret. Kharkov, May 2011 (https://3mer.livejournal.com).

Experimental robot tank T-64 (until 1990) - an experimental tank with autonomous software controls with elements of artificial intelligence. Development of a control system - Exciton software. Currently, the experimental tank is installed on the pedestal of the monument “Dedicated to the Feat of Defenders of the Fatherland” in Pavlovsky Posad. The data has not been confirmed.

Experimental T-64 with a software autonomous control system. Pavlovsky Posad (photo from the 10V archive, https://military.tomsk.ru/forum).

Status : USSR / Russia - 1964 - the first series of T-64 (“object 432”) was produced at KhZTM for military testing. In the same year, KhZTM produced 20 T-64A / “object 434” tanks for testing.

— 1967 — T-64 was adopted by the USSR Armed Forces.

- 1969 - mass production of the T-64A begins at KhZTM.

— 1976 — 1985 - serial production of T-64B at KhZTM.

— 1983 — 1985 - modernization during serial production and modernization at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense to the T-64BM model.

— 1985 — 1987 - serial production at KhZTM and modernization at repair plants of the USSR Ministry of Defense of the T-64BV.

- 1992 - T-64BV tanks were used by units of the 10th Army of the Russian Armed Forces during clashes in Transnistria.

Destroyed T-64BVs of the 10th Army of the Russian Armed Forces, Transnistria, 1992. The second photo shows a tank that was damaged and burned on the approaches to Bendery (the author of the second photo is V. Smolyakov, both photos are from the Rambo54 archive, https://military.tomsk .ru/forum).

Number of T-64s produced by industry:

T-64	T-64A	Total
1964	>1	20	20+

Export : Azerbaijan - as of mid-2009, together with the T-62, about 100 units are in service.

Ukraine - T-64 tanks have been in service with the Ukrainian army since its formation. - 1999 - T-64BM2 (6 units) and T-64U (1 unit) tanks were shown for the first time.

- 2001 - in the Ukrainian Armed Forces there is at least a company of T-64BM2 (T-64 tanks modernized during a major overhaul).

- July 2005 - 17 modernized T-64U / T-64BM Bulat entered the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

— April 2009 — a contract was concluded for the modernization to the level of T-64U / T-64BM “Bulat” of 29 T-64 tanks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with KhZTM named after Malyshev (Kharkov) in the amount of 25.1 million USD (865,500 USD/tank) .

- 2010 October 28 - The Ukrainian Armed Forces received 10 T-64U / T-64BM Bulat tanks. During 2011, the Armed Forces should receive another 11 tanks of this type, undergoing repairs and modernization at KhZTM. A total of 47 T-64U / T-64BM Bulat tanks are in service.

- 2010 December 03 - the media stated that in 2011 the Ukrainian army will receive another 19 T-64BM Bulat tanks (previously the figure was 11 units). In general, by 2016 the Chernigov Tank Brigade will have 85 T-64BM Bulat tanks in service. Now the brigade has 61 modernized T-64 tanks.

- 2012 February 27 - the media reported that in 2012 the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense plans to modernize 24 T-64B tanks to the level of the T-64BM Bulat.

Receipt of modernized tanks into the Ukrainian army:

Year	Admission	TOTAL	Note
1999	6 pcs	6 pcs?	T-64BM2
2001	9 pieces?	T-64BM2
2005	17 pcs	26 pcs?	T-64BM "Bulat"
2010	10 pieces	47 pcs (61 pcs?)	T-64BM "Bulat"
2011	19 pcs	plan (T-64BM "Bulat")
2012	24 pcs	plan (T-64BM "Bulat")
2016	85 pcs	plan (2010)

Sources: Alexander Morozov: unique documents, photographs, facts, memories. M., Publishing House, 2009. Karpenko A.V. Review of domestic armored vehicles (1905-1995). St. Petersburg, Nevsky Bastion, 1996 Lenta.ru. Website https://lenta.ru, 2010-2012 Dictionaries and encyclopedias on Academician. Website https://dic.academic.ru, 2010. Military.tomsk.ru, forum. Website https://military.tomsk.ru/forum, 2010

T-64BM "BULAT" - DEEP MODERNIZATION OF T-64B/BV

Characteristics of the T-64BM Bulat tank

For the needs of the Ukrainian army, it was initially planned to modernize the T-64A and T-64B tanks to the T-64BM2 level, that is, the option of a less deep modernization was chosen. And in 2001, a dozen T-64BM2 could be seen at the Independence Day parade.

However, later the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Ukraine preferred a deeper modernization - the T-64U, which resulted in a vehicle with better characteristics. It was given the name T-64BM "Bulat". One of the projects of the Ukrainian tank fleet modernization program provided for the improvement of about 400 T-64B/BV to the Bulat level, but later these plans were significantly adjusted - to 85 units. In 2004, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry issued an order for 85 Bulatovs, which the Kharkov Malyshev Plant began working on in the same year. The cost of one tank, at 2004 prices, was about 470 thousand dollars. However, due to political and financial problems, the completion of the order lasted for ten years.

Officially, the T-64BM Bulat was adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2005. The first 56 vehicles were delivered to the troops in 2008. The next part of the order provided for the delivery of the remaining 29 tanks between 2010 and 2012. The first 10 of these 29 tanks were shipped from the factory in the fall of 2010, another 10 vehicles on December 28, 2011, and the remaining 9 were planned for delivery in 2012. However, the last vehicles were sent only in March 2014.

Thus, as of March 2014, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had 85 T-64BM Bulat in service. The bulk of the tanks - 61 units - were in service with the 1st separate tank brigade "Forest Wolves" of the 8th Army Corps, stationed in the village of Goncharovskoye, Chernigov region. Ten vehicles were sent to the 300th training tank regiment and several vehicles each to the training companies of the National Defense University of Ukraine, the Kharkov Faculty of Tank Forces and the Academy of Ground Forces named after Hetman Petro Sagaidachny.

Tanks of Ukraine: what do the national battalions fight with?

A few days ago, the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, wrote on his Facebook page that the security forces received new armored vehicles. In this regard, it will be interesting to find out what other armored vehicles are produced by the “Nezalezhnaya” enterprises.

Protection of the Knife system

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine adopted a program to create a national tank industry with a closed production cycle. Within its framework, specialists from the Kharkov Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering named after. A.A. Morozov, from 1991 to 1999, work was carried out to modernize tanks, mainly T-64BV and T-64BV-1. The goal was to dramatically increase the level of security and fire control.

At the end of 1998, three projects were provided that were advertised as breakthrough. It is known about the first option that on six T-64BV-1 tanks that underwent a major overhaul at the 115th tank repair plant in Kharkov, it was planned to install a new modular dynamic protection, which was based on the principle of universality. The fact that these works were completed was reported quite loudly in the Ukrainian media. In reality, at the parade on August 24, 1999, organized in honor of the independence of Ukraine, tanks rode with a dummy of the announced devices. At the same parade, two more T-64BV-1 tanks took part, on which, in addition to the developed dynamic protection, a modernized fire control system was installed. However, the difference from the first six tanks was that these vehicles retained the TO1-KO1 night sighting system with additional equipment.

But the seventh T-64 tank can truly be called a breakthrough of Kharkov engineers. Its armor was strengthened and a prototype of the universal dynamic protection “Knife” was installed, which was developed by engineers of the design and technological bureau of the Institute of Strength Problems named after. G.S. Pisarenko, the Kyiv state enterprise “Basic Center for Critical Technologies “Microtek”, as well as scientists from the Scientific Research Center “Material Processing by Explosion” of the IES. Paton. Another innovation of this tank was the 1A45 fire control system. As a result, the technical characteristics of the new vehicle were brought up to world tank building standards.

Tank T-64BM "Bulat"

This is how the T-64BM Bulat tank appeared, which became the main vehicle of the Ukrainian armored forces. According to the state order of 2004, the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2005 received the first 17 tanks, which entered the tank brigade of the 8th Army Corps. If in 2005 the cost of modernization was 2 million 300 thousand hryvnia, then in 2011 it increased to 7.2 million hryvnia (about $900,000 at that time). In total, in 2012, the number of T-64BM Bulat delivered to the Ukrainian army was 76 vehicles.

Despite a powerful PR campaign about the invulnerability of the T-64BM Bulat tanks, the first vehicle of this type was shot down on July 13, 2014, when units of the 1st Tank Brigade attempted to break through to the troops surrounded at the Lugansk airport. It is interesting that the destruction of the advertised equipment was carried out not by professional army units, but by volunteer militias.

Tank T-72−120

Another tank that has undergone modernization is the T-72. In the West, this car is called a loser. Thus, during the first Iraq War, the fact of a battle between one M1 and three T-72s was widely discussed. Despite the ambush attack, the Iraqis were unable to penetrate the American’s armor from a distance of 400 meters, and were destroyed by return fire. However, a number of experts expressed doubts about the professional qualities of Saddam Hussein’s tank crews.

One way or another, this tank is considered one of the most popular in the world. The production of this car is estimated at 30 thousand copies. That is why many countries, including Ukraine, have made attempts to raise the T-72 to the level of the best modern models. In Kharkov, this program received the code T-72−120 in connection with equipping the armored vehicle with a 120-mm KBM2 cannon, the production of which was established at the plant named after. Frunze (Sumy). To load this gun, engineers placed a 22-round NATO machine gun in the turret. It is specifically stated that the fire control system can use both the basic 1A43-U “Ros” sighting system with the 1G46M “Promin” sight, and the French version of the SAVAN-15 fire control system. In addition, the Kharkovites have strengthened the armor of the tank and claim that at a distance of half a kilometer it cannot be knocked out by NATO cumulative and armor-piercing sub-caliber ammunition.

Tank T-84 "Oplot"

There, in Kharkov, the T-84 “Oplot” was developed, which in terms of combat performance is more effective than the T-64BM “Bulat”, however, and four times more expensive. Meanwhile, military experts consider the superiority of the Oplots over the Bulats to be not worth abandoning the cheaper T-64BM. In general, modernization of tanks in order to improve its performance is practiced in many countries. For example, in Germany there is a successful program for upgrading Leopard-2 to the level of Leopard-2A6.

On the other hand, the T-84 Oplot tank, compared, for example, with the Russian T-90A tank, wins in rate of fire, although it loses in firing range with guided ammunition. The speed of the “Ukrainian” reaches 75 km/h, while our car’s is 60 km/h. However, until the T-84 “Oplot” approaches the T-90A at a distance of 4-5 thousand meters, which corresponds to its aimed shooting, some of the Ukrainian vehicles will probably be disabled due to a better sighting system. In any case, thanks to these very advantages of the Russian vehicle, computer simulation of the oncoming tank battle of the T-90A and another equally popular tank in the world, the M1A1, showed the obvious vulnerability of the “American”.

Active protection

In the early 200s, an advertising campaign was held in Ukraine, and even in the West, praising the Zaslon active tank protection complex, created to counter anti-tank guns. It is known about this system that it was first shown at the IDEX-2003 exhibition in Abu Dhabi. It was there that the developers stated that due to its high speed, when the reaction time to a threat is 0.001-0.005 seconds, the Zaslon is capable of intercepting ATGMs, cumulative projectiles and BOPS flying at a speed of 1200 meters per second. This, they say, makes this system one of the best in the world. In other words, it is almost impossible to knock out a tank equipped with Zaslon. In any case, this is what Ukrainian exporters say.

However, Russian experts, in particular M. Rastopshin, who analyzed the Barrier, came to the conclusion that in this area the Ukrainian defense industry lags significantly behind the requirements of the time. Kyiv reacted instantly and painfully to this publication. Thus, the newspapers “Narodna Armiya” and “Army of Ukraine”, proving the opposite, called these statements untrue. However, evidence was still obtained. True, a few years later - in Novorossiya, where dozens of Ukrainian tanks burned down.

Target for American guns

By the way, the director of the state enterprise “Plant named after Malyshev” Grigory Malyuk, under whose leadership tanks were modernized to the level of “Bulat” and “Oplot”, was fired by order of President Kuchma. According to Ukrainian media, this happened after the head of the Kharkov tank builders decided to file a lawsuit against the Ukrainian government, which did not fulfill the agreement with the enterprise. In other words, the Malyshev Plant was simply “thrown away” for tens of millions of hryvnia. There is another version, according to which the legendary director was fired for refusing to sign a contract with the Americans for the supply of four T-84s. The fact is that the Pentagon ordered Ukrainian tanks “for the purpose of testing their destruction systems, guaranteeing the destruction of the Oplots.”

Krasilnikov/ TASS

Help "SP"

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited approximately 6,100 tanks from the Soviet Army, of which only 2,311 remained in January 2013. In April 2014, at the beginning of the active phase of the ATO, the number of tanks in the army was estimated by military experts at 773 units. Everything else was either sold, disposed of, or mothballed. Currently, the number of destroyed and captured Ukrainian tanks in battles in Novorossiya, according to various sources, is up to 50 vehicles, some of which have been restored and entered the militia units. The dynamics of losses can be judged from military reports of the warring parties. For example, in just three weeks of fighting in July 2014, fighters of the Donetsk and Lugansk popular resistance burned eight tanks of the Ukrainian army.

On July 11, 2014, at least two tanks of the 24th and 79th mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army were destroyed in the Zelenopole region;

On July 14, 2014, a T-64BM Bulat was shot down near Lugansk airport;

On July 21, 2014, on the northern outskirts of Donetsk, a T-64BV of the 93rd separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army was burned;

On July 24, 2014, a T-64 was damaged and captured on the outskirts of Donetsk;

On July 31, 2014, in the village of Georgievka near Lugansk, a T-64BM “Bulat” of the 1st separate tank brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was blown up;

July 31 - August 1, 2014, two T-64BV tanks were destroyed in Avdeevka near Donetsk.

Photo at the opening of the article: EPA/TASS

ARMAMENT AND SLA T-64BM

Compared to previous modifications of the T-64, the Bulat has significantly increased its combat power, mobility and security characteristics. The service life of the modernized tank is 11,000 km, and the service life is 15 years, like a newly built vehicle.

The main armament of the T-64BM tank is a Ukrainian-made 125-mm KBAZ smoothbore gun. “Bulat” is capable of firing armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation shells and Kombat ATGMs with a semi-active laser beam control system. Replacing the standard KURV of the T-64B “Cobra” tank with the new KOMbat KURV increased the maximum firing range from 4000 to 5000 m, and the armor penetration behind the dynamic protection - from 600-700 mm to 750 mm.

The rate of fire of the T-64BM is up to 8 rounds/min (7-12.5 s to load one shot). The horizontal guidance speed after modernization has increased by 2 times and is up to 40 degrees / s (for comparison - for the T-90A, T-EOS 16-24 degrees / s). Also, aiming accuracy has been doubled due to the new stabilizer for the main armament 2E42M. It was developed by the Kyiv Research Institute "Kvant" and is produced at the State Enterprise "Kharkov Machine-Building".

The Bulat fire control system - 1A45 Irtysh - provides significantly better firing accuracy compared to the T-64B due to stabilization of the field of view and automatic input of aiming and lead angles. In terms of its characteristics, the Bulat fire control system is superior to the fire control system of the T-80U tank.

The gunner's night complex "Buran-E" (T01-K01ER) doubles the firing efficiency and reduces the time to prepare a shot by 2-3 times by replacing the mechanical connection of the head mirror with the gun with an electric one, introducing stabilization of the field of view and automatically entering aiming angles and preemption. The effective firing range of shells compared to the T-64B increased at night from 600 to 1500 m.

The commander's sighting and observation system "Agat" (PNK-4SR) is stabilized in the vertical plane and provides duplication of fire from a cannon and a coaxial anti-aircraft machine gun day and night. In the future, it is planned to replace the PNK-4 sighting system with PNK-5, which includes its own laser rangefinder and a lateral lead input device.

PROTECTION

The tank's survivability level was increased by installing additional protection on the hull and turret. The additional protection kit is designed to increase the level of protection against modern cumulative and armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles with the minimum possible increase in tank weight. The additional protection kit consists of passive (applied) armor protection and built-in dynamic protection (EDP) “Knife” of Ukrainian design. The VDZ consists of a nose module and side screens installed on the tank hull, as well as modular sections located along the outer perimeter of the frontal and side sections of the turret, and containers installed on the roof of the turret. Installing the VDZ kit on one tank by the crew takes about 6 hours. The VDZ elements installed on the tank do not require special maintenance during its operation. The total weight of the additional protection kit is 3.5 tons.

The action of the "Knife" remote sensing device is based on the principle of influencing attacking ammunition with the help of a cumulative jet and explosion products of elongated shaped charges - "shaped knives". They destroy and destabilize the attacking kinetic munition or cumulative jet. The “Knife” complex has proven its effectiveness during numerous shelling tests using a wide range of 125 mm caliber OBPS, as well as modern 120 mm ammunition produced in Western countries, fully confirming the characteristics declared by the developer.

According to the manufacturer, after modernization, the resistance of the frontal and side projections of the T-64BM hull and turret relative to modern anti-tank weapons increases by approximately 2 times.

Design

One thing to note about the design of new Ukrainian tanks is their fairly low profile. Manufacturers especially note the high ergonomics of the tanks and a fairly high level of comfort for their crews. Among the special properties of the Oplot, it is worth noting the ability of its turret to rotate 180 degrees in less than 5 seconds.

Layout

Both Ukrainian tanks have a classic layout: with the control compartment located in the frontal part, the fighting compartment in the middle, and the engine-transmission compartment in the rear of the hull.

Crew

The tanks used an automatic loader, which made it possible to form a crew of three people: a driver, a gunner and a commander.

Tank "Bulat" from the photo gallery of Ukroboronprom

Operating temperature

The range of ambient temperatures in which the use of combat vehicles is allowed extends from minus 40 to plus 55 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the tank’s engine is capable of operating in such extreme climatic conditions with almost no reduction in power, which is inaccessible to most modern tanks.

Armor

The Bulat BM is equipped with the Nozh integrated dynamic protection (EDP) complex, which several times reduces the tank’s vulnerability to cumulative weapons. In particular, the “Knife” reliably protects the tank from hand grenade launchers, modern anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) such as “Tou”, “Sturm”, “Fagot” and others, anti-tank cumulative and armor-piercing projectiles. The protection system can be installed by the crew in the field within 5-6 hours and significantly increases the survivability of the tank.

The Oplot tank has a combined protection system, which includes multi-layer armor and a new generation of explosive reactive armor "Duplet", the elements of which do not detonate when hit by 12.7 mm caliber bullets, armor-piercing shells up to 30 mm caliber and shell fragments. The protection is installed by the crew in 2.5-3 hours. Mine protection ensures crew survival when mines with a TNT equivalent of 10 kg are detonated under the caterpillar, and up to 4 kg under the bottom (in the front compartment).

ENGINE AND DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS

The T-64BM is equipped with a five-cylinder 5TDFM diesel engine with a volume of 13.6 liters and a power of 850 hp. It is multi-fuel - it can run on gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel or a mixture of them in any proportion. Compared to the old 5TDF, the new engine has increased its specific power by 21.4%, reaching 62.5 hp/liter with the same dimensions and weight (1040 kg). The upgraded engine is also significantly more reliable than its predecessor.

Installing a 5TDFM requires replacing the standard air cleaner with a new one and modifying the exhaust system. By the way, thanks to its design features, the engines of the 5TD/6TD series of T-64 tanks have the coldest exhaust in the world. For example, tanks of the T-72/T-90 family with engines of the V-84/V-92 series are more than 1.5 times more visible on the battlefield in the infrared range than T-64BM Bulat tanks. For camouflage, thermal smoke equipment (TDA) associated with the engine and the “Tucha” system, which includes eight launchers of ZD6 smoke grenades, are also used. The launchers are located outside the turret on its frontal part, six to the left and right of the gun.

Thanks to the new engine, the average speed of the tank on the highway increased by 7 km/h, and the range (excluding additional fuel tanks) increased by approximately 80 km. To preserve the road surface, the tracks can be equipped with asphalt shoes. It is possible to install a 6TD-1 engine with a power of 1000 hp on the T-64BM.

Specifications

New Ukrainian tanks look quite decent in comparison with similar models of Russian armored vehicles. But if the statements of the Ukrainian side about the approximate correspondence of the Bulat in terms of combat capabilities to the T-90A tanks raise reasonable doubts among experts, the Oplot tank is assessed as a very serious machine, in terms of its characteristics it is second only to the latest versions of the T-90SM. For Bulat, a comparison with the T-72B-3 looks more objective.

Engine and transmission

The Bulat tank is equipped with a multi-fuel, five-cylinder diesel engine 5TDFM with a volume of 13.6 liters and a power of 850 hp. This engine has one of the coolest exhausts in the world, which makes this combat vehicle less vulnerable to heat-guided weapons.

The Oplot tank was equipped with a six-cylinder multi-fuel diesel engine 6TD-2E with a volume of 16.3 liters and a power of 1200 hp, with supercharging, direct-flow purging and direct fuel injection. Due to the compactness of the power unit and the features of its design, it is placed coaxially with the onboard gearboxes. Thanks to this, engine alignment is not required when replacing it, the tank transmission is significantly simplified and the MTO is small in size.

Transmission

Both new tanks are equipped with a planetary gearbox with 7 forward gears. At the same time, “Oplot”, in addition to automatic gear shifting, has the ability, rare for a tank, to have 4-speed reverse gear control. The complex motion control system of this tank operates using a steering wheel instead of levers.

Fuel reserve and consumption

Options	Values
Options	T-64BM "Bulat"	BM "Oplot"
Fuel reserve in internal tanks	730 l	575 l
Fuel supply in external tanks	540 l	570 l
Consumption per 100 km	406 l	300-370 l
Power reserve	385 km	350-400 km

Two additional fuel barrels can be installed at the rear of the tank hull, holding 380 liters of fuel.

BM "Oplot"

Cost of tanks

As of 2004, the cost of upgrading one T-64B/BV to the level of the Bulat tank was estimated at 470 thousand dollars. In the fall of 2014, this amount was already stated at $1 million per tank.

The announced export price of one Oplot tank is $4.9 million.

Dimensions and weight

Options	Values
Options	T-64BM "Bulat"	BM "Oplot"
Combat weight	45 tons	51 tons
Case length, mm	6540 mm	7075 mm
Length with gun forward, mm	9295 mm	9720 mm
Width, mm	3560 mm	3400 mm
Height, mm	2184 mm	2285 mm
Ground clearance, mm	500 mm	470-500 mm

The dimensions of the Oplot BM in combat position increase: the width along the removable protective screens is up to 4176 mm, the height along the commander’s sight is up to 2800 mm.

Maximum speed

The maximum speed on the highway for the Bulat is 60 km/h, the speed on rough terrain is 40 km/h, and the speed in reverse is 11 km/h. The corresponding indicators for Oplot are 70, 40-45 and 35 km/h.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE T-64BM “BULAT” TANK

To summarize, we can say that the T-64BM "Bulat" in terms of the totality of tactical and technical characteristics surpasses the most common types of Soviet main tanks T-72AV/B and T-80BV and is closer to such more modern vehicles as the T-90A and Oplot "

Despite the fact that the basis for the Bulat is the T-64, which was put into service in the mid-60s, it still has development prospects. Thus, a 6TD-1 engine with a power of up to 1000 hp can be installed in the MTO without significant modifications, and the safety margin of the chassis makes it possible to improve the vehicle’s security by installing advanced active, passive or dynamic protection systems on the tank. There is also potential associated with further improvement of the fire control system, since it does not meet modern standards due to the lack of thermal imaging and panoramic sights.

History of the development of Ukrainian tanks

After 1992, the Kharkov Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering (KMDB), in parallel with work to improve Soviet-made equipment, devoted significant efforts to creating its own designs for new tanks. Such developments were the Bulat and Oplot combat vehicles.

"Bulat"

By 1999, the first prototypes of the deeply modernized Soviet main tanks T-64, developed by KMDB, were produced in Kharkov. “Object 447AM-1” was a deeper version of the modernization, in which the tank based on it was supposed to be assigned the index T-64U, although at the same time a simplified version of “Object 447AM-2”, initially called the T-64BM-2 version, was also being developed. At the same time, information appeared on the KMDB website that the updated tank would be called “Bulat”.

This development was finally completed in 2003, and the official acceptance of the new tank with the T-64BM index into service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces took place in July 2005. Subsequently, broad plans to modernize several hundred T-64 tanks to the Bulat level were significantly curtailed, limiting the state order to 85 vehicles. Most of them were transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2008, and the final production of the remaining ones was delayed until 2014 due to economic problems.

Finished Bulat tanks during their production in Kharkov

"Stronghold"

The first noticeable result of the work of the KMDB in the conditions of state independence of Ukraine was the renaming of the T-80UD to T-84, carried out in 1994. The tanks remained virtually unchanged structurally, but were equipped with an engine with increased power, from 1000 to 1200 hp. The T-84 tank did not go into mass production, but its further modernization continued.

The prototype “Object 478DU9” was equipped with a new turret design with increased strength characteristics, improved aiming and observation devices, and an optical-electronic suppression system for enemy ATGMs “Varta” (analogous to the Soviet “Shtora”). The T-84U "Oplot" tank was put into service, but in the end only a few vehicles were manufactured for state testing, following the results of which, in particular, in 2003, a new dynamic protection "Knife" was tested and installed.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has directed Kharkov tank builders to further improve the T-84 tank, which resulted in the creation of a single prototype based on the Object 478DU9, called Oplot-M. The tank, which received a new fire control system and dynamic protection "Duplet", was put into service in May 2009 under the designation T-84BM "Oplot".

The state order for its production was made in the amount of only 10 units, but in the end it was never financed. Only one tank was produced for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and mass production announced in 2008 could not be organized in reality. In 2011, a batch of Oplot BM with a total of 49 vehicles was ordered by Thailand. This contract was completed with great difficulty only in 2022.

T-64E

In 2010, the Kharkov Armored Repair Plant State Enterprise proposed its own version of modifying the T-64 tank to a model with the T-64E index. However, according to available data, the cost of the T-64E, as of 2011, was significantly higher than the cost of the Bulat and amounted to 1.12 million dollars (in the same 2011, the modernization of the Bulat cost about 900 thousand dollars).

The T-64E tank received an upgraded SU01A33-1 “Ob” with a 1G42M quantum sight-rangefinder, a 1V517M ballistic computer and a 2E42 stabilizer. The gunner had a panoramic sight with a thermal imaging channel, and the commander had a PNK-3.

The tank can fire from its main armament - a 125-mm KBAZ cannon - armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation shells, as well as Kombat and Reflex ATGMs. In addition, various remotely controlled combat modules can be additionally installed on the tower. For example, the GSh-23 cannon-machine-gun module, including a double-barreled 23-mm GSh-23 cannon with 300 rounds of ammunition and a coaxial 7.62-mm tank machine gun, the Blik-2 machine-gun and grenade launcher combat module, including an AGS grenade launcher -17, and NSVT (12.7 mm) and PKT (7.62 mm) machine guns. The “standard” ZPU with the 12.7 mm Utes machine gun may also be retained.

The armor of the front part of the turret and hull was increased to 750 mm. To enhance security, the vehicle is equipped with the “Knife” (“Duplet”) VDZ kit, as well as the “Zaslon” active protection complex.

Improved mobility is provided by the upgraded 5TDF-M engine with a power of 850 hp.

T-64 UKRAINIAN AF: MODERNIZE OR DISPOSAL?

Interestingly, back in 2013, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) proposed to Ukraine not to modernize, but to cut into pieces and melt down old Soviet T-64 tanks. The destruction of the tanks was supposed to be financed from the NATO Partnership for Peace Trust Fund. Thus, the United States unofficially confirmed its readiness to allocate $1 million for the disposal of Ukrainian military equipment.

The NATO Partnership for Peace Trust Fund project began operating in 2006. According to the project, it was planned to dispose of 133 thousand tons of ammunition and 1.5 million small arms and light weapons over 12 years in four stages. According to the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Research, there were about 2,000 units of surplus tank equipment in Ukrainian warehouses that could potentially be disposed of. The surplus property of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry was estimated at $1.25 billion. In 2012, $38.75 million of excess property was sold. In the realities of today, when, according to the statement of the President of Ukraine P. Poroshenko, Ukrainian units during the ATO as of September 2014 lost up to 65% of military equipment, the mentioned recycling program looks wild.

T-64B1M TANKS: INSTEAD OF CONGO - TO DONBASS

Currently, the need for battle tanks is so great that Ukraine even terminated a contract with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which included the supply of 50 modernized T-64B1M main battle tanks. The signing of this contract became known in February 2014, although the customer was not specified at that time. The transaction amount was about 7.6 million dollars. Representatives of the DRC understood the decision of the Ukrainian authorities, but stated that they would no longer order military equipment from Ukraine. Previously, Ukraine regularly supplied main battle tanks and other types of weapons and military equipment to the DRC. Thus, according to the UN register on the supply of conventional arms, in 2010 Ukraine supplied 100 T-72 and 30 T-55 tanks to the DRC.

The vehicles, previously intended for the DRC, are planned to be transferred to the National Guard of Ukraine (NGU), which is fighting the separatists in the east of the country. The first 10 T-64B1M tanks were presented on September 10, 2014 and transferred to the tank battalion of the 1st operational brigade of the NSU. According to the then commander of the NSU S. Poltorak, “the received tanks are now being prepared, military personnel are completing their training on them, after which the equipment will be sent to the anti-terrorist operation zone... The crews of the first group of tanks are already completing their training.”

In terms of their combat characteristics, the T-64B1M is inferior to the T-64BM Bulat, but is significantly superior to the T-64B and T-65BV tanks, which are more common in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The modernization carried out at the Kharkov Malyshev Plant is mainly aimed at increasing armor protection.

The vehicles were overhauled, and new equipment and additional armor were installed on them. The new design of side screens, the installation of dynamic protection units, and smoke grenade launchers deserve special attention. It should be noted that the frontal projection of the turret and hull is well covered by remote sensing blocks, as well as enhanced protection of the side projection - the screens protect the sides up to the MTO. The modernized vehicle retains the “native” 1A33 control system for the T-64B with the 1G42 quantum sight-rangefinder. For African conditions this was more than enough.

Fraza.ua - the author's view of life

One of the most common and recognizable symbols of the war in Donbass is, without a doubt, the T-64 tank, the main combat vehicle of the Ukrainian army.

The tank was created in the Kharkov design bureau, headed by the famous Soviet designer A. A. Morozov, the creator of such famous examples of Soviet armored vehicles as the T-44 or T-54.

Created in the early 1960s, the T-64 was extremely progressive for its time: with a weight of 36 tons and a maximum speed of 65 km/h, it had the armor level of a super-heavy tank. Another innovation was that for the first time in the Soviet Union, an automatic loader was installed on the tank, which made it possible to eliminate the need for a fourth crew member and increase the reloading speed (which is important when loading the gun separately). All subsequent Soviet and Russian developments of both the Nizhny Tagil T-72 tank and the Leningrad T-80, in fact, were a further development of the T-64 design.

The T-64 was adopted by the Soviet Army on December 30, 1966. At the same time, the design was constantly refined in accordance with the trends of the times. So, after installing a new 125 mm smoothbore gun instead of the 115 mm, the T-64A modification was born.

Tank and infantry fighting vehicle of the 30th separate mechanized brigade in the defense of the Crimean direction, spring 2014.

And after the installation of the Cobra guided weapons complex, napalm protection systems and the launch of Tucha smoke grenades, the vehicle received the T-64B designation. And in 1985, the tank received the Kontakt-1 mounted dynamic protection and the new T-64BV index - it is the vehicles of this modification that today form the basis of the tank forces of Ukraine.

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited a rich tank heritage - about 4,000 tanks of three types: T-72, T-64 and T-80. These included 227 T-64R, 539 T-64A, 539 T-64B1, 507 T-64B and 528 T-64BV.

With all this, according to the signed international agreements on the limitation of conventional weapons in Europe, Ukraine was allowed to have no more than two thousand tanks. Therefore, in 1992, the military and political leadership of the country made a fateful decision: due to the availability of production facilities in Kharkov and the possibilities for major overhauls, only the T-64 would be left in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The remaining tanks were sent to storage bases, from where they were gradually sold all over the world - fortunately, there were more than enough people willing to buy the same T-72s on the cheap.

During the years of independence, there was a constant decrease in the fleet of available tanks - some broke down, another 95 vehicles (including experimental ones) were upgraded to the T-64BM Bulat level.

Thus, in the spring of 2014, there were 786 T-64 tanks in 2 tank and 8 mechanized brigades (another 260 “live” T-64, T-80 and T-72 tanks were located at the only storage base in Artemovsk). All the rest - and this is about 600 units - were stored at various locations, mostly in a condition beyond repair.

The 17th separate tank brigade was distinguished by the presence of both T-64B and T-64BV in its composition.

According to the pre-war staffing schedule, each separate mechanized brigade had two tank battalions of 40 tanks each - that’s 80 tanks; a tank brigade had three tank battalions of 31 tanks each (93 tanks in total).

However, the situation was very different - the same 1st separate tank brigade (the town of Goncharovsk, Chernigov region) was at the stage of rearmament with Bulats, and of the three battalions, only one was armed with the T-64BV.

In addition, in February - March 2014, after the annexation of Crimea, 41 tanks from the 36th Coastal Defense Brigade fell into the hands of the Russians. They were returned through the mediation of Minsk only in June, but their condition was so pitiful that they were immediately sent for major repairs and, in fact, did not have time to take part in the “hot” phase of the summer campaign (they went into service with the formed units of the Marine Corps).

At the beginning of the confrontation in Donbass - before the militants had a sufficient number of anti-tank weapons - the use of tanks had the character of a “miracle weapon”: that is, the appearance of even several tanks on the front sector guaranteed reliable cover for the advancing troops. At the same time, the disastrous tactic of using tanks as a means of strengthening roadblocks first appeared. As a result, instead of creating a “tank fist,” combat vehicles were scattered along the entire front, performing functions unusual for them - for example, escorting supply columns.

Therefore, when the operation entered operational space in July 2014, there simply was not enough density and maneuverability of the combat formations. During the border battles, most of the tanks of the mechanized brigades were lost. Moreover, it is worth noting that this happened, as a rule, in non-combat conditions - the fuel ran out, the caterpillar simply flew off, or the crew abandoned the vehicle due to the approach of enemy forces. These tanks became trophies, were repaired and entered service with illegal armed groups. True, the percentage of such captured equipment against the backdrop of “Voentorg” was and remains minimal.

Already during the hostilities, the base in Artemovsk (now Bakhmut) was completely “cleaned up”: the first 7 tanks were taken out back in March 2014, the rest were either “finished up” on the spot and transferred to different units (mainly the 17th Tank Brigade) , or were evacuated to the rear for further restoration at tank repair plants.

Removal of a tank from the Artemovsk storage base, summer 2014.

In the summer - autumn of 2014, two separate tank battalions were formed on the basis of the “extra” materiel of the 1st Tank Brigade. In the hottest days of the summer of 2014, a consolidated unit was sent to the front at the base of the training equipment and contract soldiers of the 169th Desna Ground Forces Training Center.

The acute shortage of armored vehicles led to the fact that Ukraine even had to terminate the contract for the supply of T-64B1M tanks to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in September 2014, the Kharkov State Enterprise "Malyshev Plant" transferred a dozen tanks of such an exotic modification to organize a tank battalion in the NSU regiment " Azov".

This modernization option is characterized by the installation of a new mounted dynamic protection “Knife”, a different fire control system, the presence of air conditioners, as well as huge turret baskets. “Azovites” also received several tanks of the T-64BM1M modification, which are a simplified and cheaper version of the T-64BM “Bulat” modernization.

The tanks of the NSU Azov regiment look extremely exotic, and therefore very often Donetsk propaganda passes them off as mythical American Abrams.

But the National Guard did not have tanks before, so these vehicles went into battle only in the winter of 2015 during an operation in the Shirokino area. This is what one of the tankers recalls: “The tanks belonged to a tank company from Kharkov unit 3017. This company brought these tanks to Mariupol back in the fall of 2014. They served for 2 months, then they were replaced with this equipment by a tank company from 3027. And we were already changing the personnel of 3027, but the equipment was transferred to us by 3017. At the end of February they arrived, and on March 3, our first crews changed them in Shirokino. At that time we had two tanks stationed in Shirokino, one at checkpoint 14, one at checkpoint 14-A, one at checkpoint 13, and three tanks at checkpoint 13-A. We brought two more tanks from Kharkov.”

T-64 tanks were actively used in battles, starting with the liberation of Slavyansk, they played a particularly important role during the battles for Lugansk and Donetsk airports, during the 2015 winter campaign in Debaltsevo. During the fighting, real aces and heroes appeared among Ukrainian tank crews.

For example, the gunner-operator of the T-64BV tank, Sergeant Leonid Sukhansky, has five T-72 and T-64 tanks destroyed, two Grad MLRS and four enemy guns destroyed. It is he who is credited with the epic execution of a militant position at Donetsk airport from a tank gun at full speed. This virtually unique case was even caught on video.

Tanks of the 24th mechanized brigade are going to war, April 2014.

In the history of the war, several oncoming tank battles were recorded, including with modern Russian T-72B3. There are no complete statistics, but in cases known to the author, victory was on the side of our tankers on the T-64.

It is not possible to estimate the exact number of T-64 tanks in the troops today, but, according to rough estimates, both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the NSU are in service with about 550 T-64 tanks of various modifications. At the same time, their number is constantly growing due to vehicles that are being restored - both from storage and those that received combat damage during battles.

The war in Donbass has given rise to a huge number of myths about the unreliability of the Kharkov tank and its dubious combat value, which are persistently spread by the Russian media. However, upon closer examination of the situation, everything turns out to be not so sad.

First of all, without having accurate information about the statistics of damage to damaged vehicles, the state of repair services (the presence of well-trained repairmen and repair “flyers”), the experience of the crews and, most importantly, the specific combat situation that has developed on the battlefield, to assert that T -64 is difficult to repair, of poor quality, and so on “according to the list,” at least incorrectly.

Analyzing the losses of the T-64 known to the author, it is worth saying that most of the combat vehicles were lost during street battles due to poor coordination with the infantry, which was supposed to cover the tankers. Often such mixed groups entered populated areas where their flanks had not been previously cleared by special forces and assault companies. As a result, enemy grenade launchers were able to shoot the T-64 at the rear of the sides and stern, where they do not have dynamic protection elements and the armor is thinner. And as the practice of modern wars shows, not a single tank in the world can withstand hits from tandem PG-7VR shots to an RPG-7 or RPG-27 “Tavolga”. A striking example of this is the catastrophic losses of Turkish Leopards in Syria.

In addition, the militants, based on the experience of the Chechen campaigns, developed quite effective tactics for fighting tanks: snipers and machine gunners “blinded” them by firing at surveillance and aiming devices, pierced the ejector (which caused powder gases to penetrate into the fighting compartment), after which grenade launchers shot the tank ( or more often than not, the crew abandoned the combat vehicle, and the tank became a trophy for the militants).

A damaged T-64BV of the 1st separate tank brigade. Donbass. 2014

However, in the history of war, there are cases when the crew blew themselves up along with the tank to prevent being captured. One of the most covered in the media was the feat of Captain Alexander Lavrinenko from the 93rd separate mechanized brigade. The first such case was recorded on June 17, 2014, in a clash near the village of Metalist in the Lugansk region.

A lot of tanks were lost due to lack of experience in leading combat units on the battlefield. For example, there have been cases where tank units were hit by salvoes of the BM-21 Grad MLRS or large-caliber artillery. A direct hit from a large-caliber projectile on the weakly armored upper part of the hull is critical for a tank. Such cases, for example, were recorded from the 1st Tank during the battles in the summer of 2014 in the Luhansk region.

Numerous interviews with tankers note the unreliability of the chassis - the risk of losing the track on difficult soils, as well as the impossibility of towing the vehicle to the rear on rollers without tracks, since their diameter is too small for this. The vulnerability of the T-64 chassis to mines was also constantly noted.

The disadvantages of the T-64 very often include a greater number (compared to the T-72 or T-80 in the Afghan and Chechen campaigns) of cases of detonation of ammunition when hit by anti-tank ammunition. However, the reason for this is not the design of the tank itself, but the use by our tankers of substandard ammunition produced before the collapse of the USSR (despite the fact that the shelf life of tank shells is only 10 years).

In general, we can safely say that the skillful organization of interaction between all branches of the military allows both to realize the advantages and neutralize the disadvantages of the tank. After all, the T-64 was conceived and created as a tank comparable, if not superior, to heavy tanks in terms of firepower and armored frontal parts, but at the same time remaining average in weight, and therefore maintaining high mobility.

At the front, tanks very often received individual emblems and inscriptions.

Apparently, the T-64 will remain the main tank of the Ukrainian army for some time. Of course, a tank today cannot be called a modern vehicle, but tank builders have not made any fundamental breakthroughs in the design of the hull, chassis, turrets and guns over the past 40-50 years. Since the 1970s, the tank arms race has been taking place in the area of improving dynamic protection, active defense systems, and optical-electronic systems to counter laser ranging and target designation of the enemy.

Over the past years, the development of tank forces in countries around the world has been moving along the path of modernizing the fire control system, surveillance and guidance devices, and navigation equipment without making fundamental changes to the main basic design.

The use of the T-64B tank as a training tank in the training of cadets. Test site "Goncharovskoe", 2015

Ukraine followed the same path. So, starting from January 2017, T-64BV tanks that are coming out of major repairs receive night vision devices, thermal imaging matrices in the gunner’s sight (the target detection range of the “tank” type is 2500 m) of domestic production.

As you can see, vehicles modernized in this way, at several times less cost, will not be much inferior to modern models in their combat capabilities.

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