Kharkov T-80UDs could become “donors” for the Russian Army’s “eighty” jets

Characteristics of the T-80 main battle tank

A country:USSR/RussiaType:Main tankDate of issue:1976Length:9.65 mWidth:3.58 mHeight:2.22 mArmor, forehead:combined, equivalent to 750 mm steelArmor, side:combined, equivalent to 750 mm steelArmor, tower:combined, equivalent to 750 mm steelCrew:3 personsEngine:Gas turbine GTD-1000TF, 1100 hp.Travel range:600 kmMaximum speed:70 km/hWeight:42.5 tonsWeapons:1x 2A46M-1 125-mm cannon (38 rounds), 1x PKT 7.62-mm machine gun (1,250 rounds), 1x NSVT 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun (300 rounds), 8 81-mm launchers for launching smoke grenades . UR: 9K112-1 “Cobra” with radio control and optical feedback.

Characteristics are given for T-80B

Diesel T-80 UD "Bereza" produced in 1987

Published by: dokaspez, 8-10-2017, 18:30, Equipment and weapons, 1,585, 0

This tank is a further development of the T-80BV tank.
The improvements affected all basic combat and operational properties. First of all, the survivability of the tank has been significantly increased due to changes in the design of armor barriers, the inclusion of built-in dynamic protection, a slight increase in the mass of material allocated for the armor. The capabilities of conducting both long-range and close-range fire combat have been improved thanks to the use of a new complex of guided weapons, increased characteristics of weapons and fire control systems. Mobility indicators have increased due to the use of a more powerful gas turbine engine (919 kW), improved transmission and motion control drives. The tank entered service in 1985. Since 1987, production of a modification with a diesel engine, designated T-80UD, has been mastered.
The use of a two-stroke diesel engine led to design changes in the transmission and motion control drives.
There are other design differences, for example, in the installation of an anti-aircraft machine gun. The main characteristics remained unchanged. The tank has adopted the now traditional layout scheme. The crew is three people, the commander and gunner are located in the turret to the right and left of the gun, respectively, the driver is located in the bow of the hull along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In order to improve the mine resistance of the tank, the driver's seat is not attached to the bottom, but is suspended from the roof (turret plate). A pillar is installed on the left behind the seat, increasing the rigidity of the structure. In the fighting compartment, unlike the T-80BV
, seven additional rounds are placed (non-mechanized ammunition rack). The relative position of the devices has changed somewhat due to the introduction of duplicate fire control and the use of a thermal imager.

In the engine-transmission compartment, the engine is installed in a monoblock with units and system components.
Mounted on two rear yokes and a front suspension support. The transmission is mechanical, planetary, with hydraulic servo control. It consists of two gearboxes, each of which structurally combines a gearbox, final drive and hydraulic brake. In addition, it includes an oil system and a hydraulic servo control system. Fuel tanks
are located in the control compartment, in the fighting compartment and in the logistics compartment.
The capacity of the internal fuel tanks is 1090 liters. Another 680 liters of fuel are stored in five external tanks. Three additional barrels of 200 liters each can be installed on the tank. Thus, the transportable fuel supply reaches 2370 liters. To supply
consumers with electricity and recharge the battery when the main engine is not running, supply electricity together with the battery when starting and cranking the main engine, the tank has a gas turbine power unit with a generator with a capacity of 18 kW.
It is located at the rear of the vehicle in a bunker on the left fender. The power unit control panel is located in the control compartment. The main armament
is a 125-mm modernized 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun - launcher.
In the cradle of a new design, to reduce the influence of the gap between the pipe and the cradle guides on the shooting accuracy, three backlash selecting devices are mounted. To adjust the zero aiming line without the crew leaving the tank, there is a built-in control device consisting of a rear sight on the muzzle of the barrel, a long-focus lens and a prism between the protective glass and the head of the rangefinder sight. The ammunition for the gun consists of 45 rounds of separate cartridge loading. It includes a round with a 9M119 guided missile, which has a cumulative warhead. The main part of the ammunition is placed in the rotating conveyor of the loading mechanism (28 shots). Other artillery rounds are located in non-mechanized stowages in the hull and turret (seven shells and charges in the control compartment, the rest in the fighting compartment). The fire control system
provides search for targets and tracking of them by the commander and gunner, automatic input of corrections for deviations of firing conditions from normal, guidance and stabilization of the cannon and coaxial machine gun, launch and automatic guidance of the missile, target designation from the commander.
Functionally, it combines a control complex for a cannon and a coaxial machine gun; complex of guided weapons. The control equipment for the cannon
and coaxial machine gun includes the gunner's information and computing day sighting system, a weapon stabilizer, the commander's sighting and observation system, and the gunner's night sighting system.
Rangefinder sight
- the guidance device has independent stabilization of the field of view in two planes and a pancratic magnification system from 3.6x to 12x.
It provides guidance and stabilization of the information laser beam, measurement and indication of range to targets, and generation of control signals for the gun and turret drives. The electronic ballistic computer
produces corrections for the range to the target, its flanking movement, the speed of the tank itself, the deviation of the air and charge temperatures, the wear of the barrel bore, atmospheric pressure, side wind, and the angle of inclination of the axis of the gun trunnion.
stabilizer
includes an improved small-sized electro-hydraulic drive for vertical guidance of the gun and an electric machine drive for the turret.
At night, the gunner's sighting system
includes a thermal imaging sight, which can be used by the tank commander using his video viewing device, and a parallelogram drive with a device for introducing corrections to the position of the illuminator.
The PNK-4S commander's sighting and observation system provides battlefield surveillance, priority duplicate control of the cannon and coaxial machine gun, firing of artillery shells from the cannon day and night, and target designation. combined day-night sight
TKN-4S has independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane.
The sight includes two daytime optical channels (single and 7.5x magnification) and a passive-active night channel. As auxiliary weapons, the tank has a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun coaxial with the cannon and a 12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun. The 9K119 guided weapon system
consists of equipment installed in the tank and a shot with a guided missile.
A semi-automatic laser beam remote control system is used to guide the missile. The missile's firing range is up to 5000 meters. The hull has a welded structure, with large angles of inclination of the bow parts. The upper frontal sheet is combined, with an inclination angle of 68 degrees from the vertical. The turret is cast and has combined armor protection in the frontal sector. Dynamic protection
is made in a built-in version.
This scheme provides increased protection from both cumulative and kinetic projectiles. Protection of the crew
from the damaging factors of weapons of mass destruction is provided by a collective protection system similar to the system of the T-80BV tank.
The machine includes individual anti-radiation vests. The tank is equipped with a fast-acting PPO system ZETS13 “Iney”. The tank is equipped with a GTD-1250 gas turbine engine,
made according to a three-shaft design, with two independent compressors and a free power turbine. Engine power 919 kW (1250 hp). The main fuel is diesel. In addition, it is allowed to use low-octane gasoline and jet fuel. The transmission has, in comparison with the T-80BV tank, some differences due to the increased engine power and the use of hydraulic brakes. The chassis is the same as that of the T-80BV tank.

Main modifications of the T-80 tank:
T-80 (1976) - basic model.
T-80B (1978) - a modernized gun was installed, an improved fire control system was installed, a guided weapon system was introduced, and protection characteristics were improved. Since 1980 - GTD - 1000TF with a power of 1100 hp,
T-80BV (1985) - mounted dynamic protection was installed, T-80U (1985) - a modernized gun was installed, a new control system with duplication from the commander, a new complex was introduced guided weapons with missile guidance along a laser beam, gas turbine engine GTD-1000TF with a power of 1100 hp (or GTD-1250 with a power of 1250 hp), protection characteristics have been improved.
Since 1992, a thermal imager has been installed on the tank. T-80UD (1988) - equipped with a 6TD
with a power of 1000 hp, built-in dynamic protection. The main battle tank T-80UD "Bereza" shown in the photograph was put into service in military unit 42712 of the Central Group of Forces of the TsGV. In 1990, the military unit was redeployed to the territory of the Chelyabinsk region in the city of Chebarkul Purvo. It was used for training and training specialists and junior commanders of tank crews for military units and formations of the Ground Forces of the Russian Defense Ministry. In 2008, it was decommissioned, demilitarized and, by order of the commander of the Regional Military District, transferred for storage to the museum of military equipment in Verkhnyaya Pyshma.

Performance characteristics:
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Years of production: 1986-1991 Produced in Russia as of 1996, pcs. — 4839 (in all modifications) Crew, persons. — 3 Weight in running order, t — 46 Main dimensions: Length, mm — 9.72 Width, mm — 3590 Height, mm — 2202 Ground clearance: 515 mm Armor: rolled and cast steel and steel-textile-steel three-layer combined, projectile-proof armor — front of the hull, mm - 305 - side, mm - 206 - turret, mm - 410 Maximum speed: - on the highway, km / h - 70 Cruising range, km - 400 Engine: diesel, power; engine power, l. With. — 1000 Armament: — 125 mm smoothbore gun 2A46M-1 — machine guns: 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, 12.7 mm Utes anti-aircraft

;
— ATGM 9K119 “Reflex”
.
ammunition: - shells for 125 mm cannon, pcs. - 45, including 6 9M119 guided missiles - cartridges for 7.62 mm machine guns, pcs. — 1250 — cartridges for 12.7 mm ZP NSVT, pcs. — 450 The tank can be seen in an open area in the Museum of Military Equipment of the city of Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Sverdlovsk region, Verkhnyaya Pyshma, st.
  Lenina, 1 (located near checkpoint No. 1 of Uralelectromed OJSC). Phone: +7 (34368) 4-69-83.

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History of the creation of the T-80 tank

The T-80 main battle tank has been developed since 1968 at SKB-2 of the Kirov plant, as a further development of the T-64 main tank. Initially, it was planned to simply replace the original diesel power plant with a GTD-1000T gas turbine engine with a power of 1000 hp. designs by V.Ya. Klimov, and it was in this form that the first prototype of the T-80, “object 219 sp 1,” was manufactured in 1969.

However, the change in the mass-dimensional and dynamic characteristics of the tank compared to the original was too serious, so for the second prototype “object 219 sp 2” a more advanced chassis and a new turret were developed. In fact, it was already a fundamentally different tank, the similarity of which with the T-64 mainly concerned the gun with a loading mechanism, as well as individual structural elements.

On August 6, 1976, the T-80 main tank was adopted by the USSR, becoming the world's first production tank with a gas turbine power plant, as well as the world's first main tank with shell-proof dynamic protection.

Drawing of the main tank T-80UD

Production of the T-80 was launched:

• At the Kirov plant (LKZ), from 1976 to 1990.
• At Omsktransmash (OZTM), from 1985 to 1998. modification T-80U was produced
• At the Kharkov plant named after Malyshev (KhZTM), from 1985 to 1991, a modification of the T-80UD (diesel) was produced.

In total, approximately 10,000 T-80 tanks of all modifications were manufactured. The tank was exported abroad, and is currently in service with the army of the Russian Federation. Operating countries include:

• Russia (about 4 thousand T-80s, most of them in storage).
• Angola (number unknown).
• Belarus (about 70 cars).
• Yemen (66 T-80s delivered).
• Cyprus (82 tanks delivered).
• DPRK (about 80 T-80U tanks).
• Pakistan (320 T-80UD tanks delivered).
• Uzbekistan (number unknown, modification of T-80BV).
• Ukraine (165 T-80 tanks were in storage in 2013).
• Great Britain and the USA received a number of T-80s from Ukraine.

Fraza.ua - the author's view of life

The last main battle tank developed in the Soviet Union was the fairly technologically advanced T-80. There were many new features in its design. Thus, it became the first Soviet tank with a gas turbine engine, which allowed it to move on roads at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour and made it the fastest Soviet tank of the 1970s–1980s.

Features of the T-80 include the first implemented combined braking system with the simultaneous use of a gas turbine engine and mechanical hydraulic brakes. The turbine's adjustable nozzle apparatus allows the direction of gas flow to be changed, causing the blades to rotate in the opposite direction. That is, the tank braking process occurs as follows: when the driver presses the brake pedal, braking begins through the turbine. When the pedal is further depressed, the mechanical braking devices are also activated.

T-80 first releases at the Odessa Military Academy.

An extremely interesting and innovative solution was the mechanized ammunition rack “Basket”, which is located along the perimeter of the fighting compartment, the habitable part of which is made in the form of a cabin, separating it from the ammunition rack conveyor. The projectiles are placed horizontally in the tray, with their “heads” facing the axis of rotation. Propelling charges with a partially combustible cartridge case are installed vertically, with the pallets facing upward (this distinguishes the mechanized ammunition rack of the T-64 and T-80 tanks from the ammunition rack of the T-72 and T-90, where shells and charges are placed horizontally in cassettes).

At the gunner’s command, the “drum” begins to rotate, bringing the cartridge with the selected type of ammunition into the loading plane. Then the cassette along a special guide with the help of an electromechanical lift rises upward to the ramming line, after which the charge and projectile are pushed into the charging chamber fixed at the loading angle of the gun with one stroke of the rammer. After the shot, the pallet is caught by a special mechanism and transferred to the vacated tray. This ensures an almost maximum rate of fire for a gun of this caliber of six to eight rounds per minute. Moreover, what is very important, the rate of fire does not depend on the physical condition of the loader. In addition, Soviet designers provided for the possibility of loading manually in the event of a machine gun failure, but in this case the rate of fire naturally decreases sharply.

In fact, the T-80 became a further development of the T-64. The first model (simply T-80 “without the letter”) was put into service in 1976. Moreover, even for the Soviet Union this was an unaffordable luxury compared to the four types of main battle tanks produced: T-64, T-72, T-55 and T-62. The first modification lasted only two years in production, reviews from the troops were very mixed - as it turned out, the fuel consumption was simply enormous. In addition, the car cost three and a half times more than, for example, the T-64A.

Tanks of the 79th separate air assault brigade during exercises.

The main model was replaced by the T-80B model in 1978. With this modification, the T-80 crews had the opportunity to fire 9K112 Cobra anti-tank missiles from the 125-mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun (by the way, unified with the T-64 and T-72). However, there were only four such missiles, which were designed to shoot down helicopters while hovering and hit targets outside the firing range with conventional shells (of which there were as many as 38).

Since the tank was considered the most modern in the Soviet army, most of the T-80B was sent “to the front line of the fight against imperialism” - to the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany. At the same time, a “horror story” began to circulate in the West that, supposedly, the T-80s, thanks to their speed, with proper logistics, were able to reach the shores of the English Channel in five days.

The next modification was the T-80BV; in fact, the main difference from the T-80B was the presence of the Kontakt-1 dynamic protection system. In 1987, instead of the T-80B, they began to produce the T-80U, and then the diesel version - the T-80UD. By the way, it was the latter that was the first of the T-80 line to use its weapons in combat conditions. True, if by them we mean the shelling of the Russian “White House” from tank guns in October 1993.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was virtually no T-80 production left in Russia: the Leningrad LKZ had stopped producing the T-80BV by that time, and the plant in Omsk, where the T-80U was produced, was bankrupt. In fact, engine repairs and major overhauls of the tank were possible only at one armored plant - in Kharkov.

Therefore, a completely natural solution for the Russian army was to remove the T-80 tanks from service, with the T-72B and its variants becoming the main type. However, it was also removed from service in Ukraine, while the diesel version of the T-80 was offered for export under the designation T-84. In 1996, a stunning deal was made to supply 320 T-84s to Pakistan. At the same time, the export value of one tank amounted to 1.8 million dollars. For comparison, at that time the cost of competitors was significantly higher. Thus, the price of the American Abrams was 4.8 million, and the French wanted 5.5 million for their Leclerc.

T-84 Pakistani ground forces.

Work under the Pakistani contract was a serious breakthrough for Kharkov residents. Serial production of welded turrets was established on site: armored steel was supplied from Azovmash, and the final assembly and processing of the turrets was carried out in-house.

At the same time, work began on creating a Ukrainian version of the 2A46M-1 tank gun. Back in 1993, the State Scientific and Technical Center for Artillery and Small Arms at Kiev began the design development of the 125th KBAZ smoothbore gun. By 1996, a prototype was made and preliminary tests were carried out. The guns were produced according to the following scheme: gun steel was supplied by the Zaporozhye enterprise Dneprospetsstal, barrels were supplied by JSC SMNPO im. M. Frunze" (Sumy), the guns were assembled at the plant named after. A. Malyshev, design support was again provided by the Kharkov Design Bureau named after. Morozov (KhKBM).

The T-84 tank was actively promoted, but the parallel competitions for the supply of tanks to Turkey, Greece and Malaysia, in which the tank participated, turned out to be a failure for it.

At the end of 1991, in the European part of the USSR there were 4839 T-80 tanks of all modifications, of which Ukraine received only 248. Moreover, only 60 T-80UD, the rest - modifications T-80, T-80B and T-80BV.

T-80UD as part of NTU KhPI (photo before 2014).

Unlike the T-72, the tank was not exported en masse during independence. In 2004 alone, four modernized T-80UD tanks were sold in the United States. In fact, these were T-84s from which some of the equipment was dismantled - the Drozd active protection complex was installed on three tanks, and air conditioning was installed on one. Why the Americans needed tanks and what their future fate was is unknown. At the start of the war in Donbass, there were no T-80 tanks in the army; about three dozen of them were in various training units. So, there were at least three in the 184th training center in Yavorov, Lviv region, 1 T-80UD in the 169th training center of the ground forces "Desna" in the Chernihiv region, at least five in NTU KhPI (Kharkov), etc. .

Therefore, it is quite natural that in 2014, in the conditions of a severe tank crisis, no one was going to restore the T-80 fleet - there was enough work to repair and restore the T-64s. Only in 2015, when the country received a respite in the form of the Minsk agreements, the massive formation of new units began and there were not enough tanks for everyone, then they remembered the T-80. This was a fairly simple decision, since we have already mentioned that during the years of independence, Kharkov residents were able to preserve technology and personnel. In addition to the Pakistani contract, it is worth recalling, for example, the delivery of a batch of T-80s from Belarus to Yemen, the overhaul of which was carried out in Kharkov.

T-80BV of the 80th separate air assault brigade.

Moreover, it is clear that restoring the T-80UD fleet simply did not make sense - they simply did not physically exist after numerous “overcuts” into “Oplot” and other “hybrids”. Therefore, we turned to the T-80B and BV. Moreover, the speed of restoration of the fleet of these vehicles is limited only by the possibility of equipping them with engines (of which there were quite a lot left after the USSR, and they have mastered the production of their own), sighting and optical devices. Moreover, the tanks are “almost new” by Ukrainian standards - produced in the second half of the 80s; Soviet tank crews simply did not have time to shoot off the barrels and wear out the chassis too much.

In 2015, by decision of the General Staff, T-80 tanks were adopted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. True, a problem immediately arose: who should be given such fairly modern technology? Tank brigades quite successfully “ride” on the “good old” T-64, they were also the best choice for tankers of motorized infantry brigades, newly created on the basis of territorial defense battalions.

T-80BV from the 95th separate air assault brigade.

In addition, the tank is fast, and is more characterized by an aggressive offensive nature of use. Therefore, the natural choice was to equip tank companies with separate air assault brigades. Already in July 2015, the first 8 restored and several modernized T-80BVs entered service with the 95th Airborne Assault Brigade.

In total, by the beginning of 2022, four brigades (79th, 95th, 80th and 25th) had about 60 tanks in service. And their number is constantly increasing. So, just the other day, President Petro Poroshenko announced the transfer of another batch of such tanks to the troops.

These tanks did not take part in the fighting in the Donbass; they, like many relatively modern weapons, are “held back” in the event of a large-scale war with the Russian Federation.

Military experts are still arguing about their effectiveness - apparently, everything will depend on the tactics of use. If there is a fast “blitzkrieg” in the style of the Croatian “Storm” of 1995, then the high-speed T-80s are just a godsend. If the army gets bogged down in battles, God forbid, urban ones, then, judging by the Chechen experience of the Russian army, T-80s will burn many times more than the same T-64 or T-72.

T-80BV as part of the 95th separate air assault brigade.

After all, in the battles for Grozny in January 1995, it was the T-80s that suffered the heaviest losses. It turned out that the revolutionary loading system had a fatal flaw in the design: the projectiles in a vertical position (unlike the T-64 and T-72) were practically not protected by the road wheels, and an RPG shot fired from the side and aimed above the road wheels caused instantaneous detonation of the ammunition and led to the collapse of the tower.

The second drawback of the T-80, which Russian tank crews spoke about, was the minimum level of vertical aiming of the gun, which did not allow it to hit targets at the level of the upper floors of buildings or basements.

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Advantages and disadvantages of the T-80 main tank

From the moment it was adopted into service, and to this day, disputes have not subsided regarding the advisability of using the “eighties” and their combat effectiveness. The arguments of opponents and supporters of the T-80 are equally logical, however, both of them are far from “reinforced concrete”, and mainly concern not even the tank itself, but its “turbine” - the gas turbine engine. The debate about the fighting qualities of this unique machine has long turned into a sluggish “holivar” of the type “who is stronger - an elephant or a whale?” The following is an approximate list of the advantages and disadvantages of the T-80, which are most common.

The T-80 is called a “flying tank.” But not because it is very fast, but because during testing it had to be blown through in a real wind tunnel to make sure that the gas turbine engine “chews” the dust well!

• The gas turbine allows you to start the tank without warming up even at a temperature of -40 degrees Celsius.
• The gas turbine engine is an all-weather, all-season and omnivorous thing - the same tank can be used in a wide variety of climatic zones without the need to re-equip the power plant with additional filters, etc. The type of fuel for such a machine is not critical - the main thing is that it burns well!
• The gas turbine engine has exceptional power, and thanks to the design features of the T-80 chassis, it allows the tank to provide a very smooth ride (including when firing), and at the same time very high maneuverability.
• A tank with a gas turbine engine will not stall if it hits a solid obstacle, such as a stone wall.
• Fuel consumption for a gas turbine engine is no less than 1.5-2 times higher than for a diesel engine. Accordingly, with a comparable volume of fuel, the cruising range of a tank with a gas turbine engine is significantly less.
• A gas turbine engine is an order of magnitude more difficult to maintain than a diesel engine, and is more demanding both in terms of technical personnel and repair conditions.
• 1 T-80 gas turbine engine costs approximately the same as 10 T-72 diesel engines. At the same time, the main armament and protection of the three Soviet main tanks T-64, T-72 and T-80 are approximately the same, and the T-80 does not stand out at all.

Diesel eighties

EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS No. 12/2007, pp. 6-15

Diesel "eighties"

Victor Berezkin

Continuation.

For the beginning, see “TV” No. 11/2007

In 1976, Kharkov residents proposed an option for combining the T-80 chassis with its own turret and 6TD engine - “object 478”. An even more daring “476M” project was also considered, with a completely new “System” fire control system, a 1500-horsepower diesel engine and the “Shater” active protection complex, which used cluster rounds to defend the tank from incoming shells and anti-tank guns R.

Ultimately, guided by the principle “the best is the enemy of the good,” the choice was made in favor of a more realistic machine, the “Object 478B,” which became known as the “Birch.” The new tank was supposed to replace the T-64, which had already exhausted its improvement reserves over 20 years of production: this was especially noticeable in the chassis, which no longer met the requirements for speed and load-bearing capacity - the weight gain after a series of modifications was noticeable. The Bereza design successfully combined a “hardy” T-80 chassis with large-diameter rollers, modern weapons and protection systems, including combined armor, side shielding and dynamic armor, and a powerful diesel engine made it possible to maintain mobility at an acceptable level even with increased up to 46 tons in weight (for the first T-80 it was 42 tons).

The high power ratio made it possible to achieve remarkable specific power characteristics of the tank - 21.7 hp/t (for the T-72B with the V-84 diesel engine it was 18.8 hp/t, for the latest modifications of the T-64 - 16.5 liters .s/t), ensuring the speed and mobility of the machine. At the same time, the specific consumption characteristics of the engine remained practically at the same level as those of “conventional” diesel engines, which had a beneficial effect on the autonomy of the tank - the cruising range of fuel and oil without refueling, in which it surpassed the gas turbine T-80 by almost 40%.

True, the production of the 6TD engine as a high-tech and complex product required significant expenses - its estimated cost in the series was approximately 20 thousand rubles, twice as expensive as the Chelyabinsk and Barnaul engines. However, in production, the new diesel engine retained a high degree of unification with the 5TDF, using the same machine park, production lines, technical processes, and the goal was considered to justify the means (after all, it was much cheaper than the gas turbine engine).

A new weapon system was prepared for the vehicle, which included the best that the industry could offer then - a modern 9K119 "Reflex" guided weapon system (KUB) with a 9M119 laser-guided missile (instead of the previous 9K112 "Cobra" radio command complex), an automated fire control system 1A45 " Irtysh" and sighting equipment with a combined commander's sight/surveillance device TKN-4S "Agat", an infrared night sight TPN-4 "Buran-PA" and a laser sight-rangefinder 1G46. The weapon system, tested on Kharkov tanks, also had such an invaluable advantage as simplicity and ease of use, accessible to the average tanker in conscript service, which could not be said about the first generation of controlled ATGMs and fire control systems, which not every officer could handle. . By the way, when it came to modernizing the T-72, it was equipped with the same proven 1A45 fire control system, which ultimately led to the appearance of the now widely known T-90.

The main tank T-80UD of early production.

The tank's security was increased by the Kontakt-1 mounted dynamic protection device, which supplemented the armor from combined barriers combining armor steel with fiberglass laminate packages, which is an effective anti-cumulative agent. The tower in the front projections was covered with additional dynamic protection containers placed in front of its surface, as well as overhead containers in the upper projection. The design of the engine compartment also contributed to the survivability of the tank: while in tanks with a fan cooling system, contact with the hull by incendiary agents or fuel spilled from broken tanks led to them leaking inside, hitting the hot engine, transmission and an almost inevitable fire, then the ejector used to cool the turbodiesel was located in in a sealed box above the engine and the burning fuel or fire mixture of “lighters” that got there was thrown out by exhaust gases, preventing a fire from developing (which happened during the operation of the T-64). The tank was equipped with a closed anti-aircraft machine gun mount of its own design, which made it possible to conduct targeted fire directly from the commander’s workplace without opening the hatches, which distinguished it favorably from other models (the same T-72 and the “eightieth” series).

The proposals of the Kharkovites were considered quite convincing (a special role in this was played by the assertive and disruptive deputy chief designer I.L. Protopopov, who defended his product). Production of the T-80U in Kharkov, which produced only 45 vehicles, was curtailed, and in its place the production of diesel tanks was restored (it did not stop completely, continuing deliveries of modernized “sixty-fours” until 1985). Of course, it could not do without the weighty words of the Minister of Defense. However, by that time and in the position of D.F. Ustinov has undergone some changes: having a broad outlook and having devoted his entire life to the “defense industry,” he was least inclined to blindly “push” certain ideas, having a very objective idea of ​​​​the results of the “turbinization” of the armored forces, including from an economic point of view vision. On September 11, 1984, a government decree, signed by him, was issued on measures to create new gas turbine engines and organize mass production of these engines and improved T-80B tanks. Despite the name, the document contained an order for the Ministry of Defense Industry to create, by the end of the five-year period, the capacity to produce 6,000 diesel engines of the 6TD type and 2,500 tanks with them, while GTD-1250 was ordered to produce only 2,000 units and 1,500 gas turbine tanks. The next government document on this matter was prepared without the participation of D.F. Ustinov, who died on December 20, 1984, and it was bluntly called “On measures to organize mass production of tank multi-fuel diesel engines 6TD and tanks of the T-80U type with these engines.” With this decree, issued on September 2, 1985, the Ministry of Defense Industry and the State Planning Committee of the USSR were obliged to submit a decision in 1987 on the start of mass production of diesel "eighties".

The engine and transmission compartment of the T-80UD tank of early production.	Placement of containers for mounted dynamic protection "Kontakt-1" on the early production T-80UD turret.

By the end of the same 1985, the first five “Berez” were assembled and immediately transferred to the test site (at the same time, for safety purposes, a couple of tanks with a greater degree of continuity were prepared, on which they limited themselves to replacing the power plant of the conventional “219A” with a 6TD diesel engine).

The machines were tested in different latitudes and climatic conditions, including testing grounds in the Siberian Yurga and Kelyata near Ashgabat, where the performance of the machine was tested in mountainous areas with thin air and high dust levels, protection from which was a special concern of the designers. Using these samples, we managed to get rid of many defects: we modified the oil system, improved the ejection cooling system, and adjusted the startup (at a demonstration to the military in the cold winter of 1987, the tank, which had stood for more than a month in the factory yard at 25° below zero, started up even without heating).

During the development of 6TD, an interesting episode took place: when in 1985 L.N. was appointed secretary of the CPSU Central Committee for the defense industry. Zaikov, formerly the first secretary of the Leningrad Regional Committee, arrived in Kharkov to get acquainted with the progress of affairs. The display of equipment at the factory site was attended by military personnel led by the head of the GBTU, Colonel General Yu.M. Potapov and representatives of the Ministry of Defense. For comparative evaluation, a T-80 with a GTD-1000T engine and a diesel tank (this was an experimental T-64A with a 6TD) were presented. In winter conditions and frosty weather, the tanks had to go through a route with obstacles from combat readiness No. 1 (the engines were warmed up, the tanks were ready to move, as prescribed in combat conditions).

T-80UD at the Kharkov Tank School training ground.

On command, the engines on the tanks were started and one immediately rushed forward, overcame a steep hill and, picking up speed, went to the training ground. The other with the engine running still stood in place, attracting everyone's attention. Finally, he too set off and, whistling, drew level with the commission. A high-ranking curator, smiling with satisfaction, remarked: “Yes, there is a clear advantage of the gas turbine engine: the T-80 has already disappeared over the horizon, and this one, with a diesel engine, is just getting underway.”

Those accompanying us also could not hide their smiles - the fact was that the first to move was a diesel tank, which had managed to get out of sight, and a gas turbine “80” was passing by.
The party leader even shuddered: “How is this possible, since Popov personally told me in Leningrad that in winter weather diesel is inferior to gas turbine engines in all respects, especially in terms of start-up time?!”
It was necessary to explain that a gas turbine tank requires a considerable amount of time to reach operating speed, warm up and spin up the turbine, while a diesel engine reaches operating speed in seconds. Zaikov didn’t ask any more questions and didn’t talk about continuing the production of tanks with gas turbine engines in Kharkov.

However, during the tests, the customer again made a number of complaints, especially regarding the air cleaning, the shortcomings of which affected the wear and service life of the engine. In addition, the engine of increased power consumed more fuel, which is why the range in real conditions decreased (specific indicators are calculated per developed horsepower, which was added, and each of them turned out to be very voracious).

Nevertheless, the tank was still put into production with the condition of parallel development. Due to the high degree of novelty, they initially planned to call the car T-84, but after a poorly hidden “fight under the carpet” they limited themselves to the less flashy T-80UD (“improved diesel”). The reason, considered at the level of the CPSU Central Committee, was the reluctance to acquire a fourth, but again “main” type of tank, which is why the term itself began to acquire a curious sound (there was also another name - “T-80U tank with a 6TD-1 diesel engine” , which took place when the documentation was approved by the interdepartmental commission in 1985). Under the same name, it was accepted into production by the mentioned resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the USSR Council of Ministers dated September 2, 1985, and two weeks later the task acquired the force of an order from the Ministry of Defense Industry, which prescribed the deployment of the series.

Elimination of the comments took more than two years. The tanks received effective multi-cyclone air purification, an improved lubrication system, a modified 1A45 weapon control system and a 9K119 Reflex guided weapon system, as well as optical sensors of the ZETS13 “Iney” fire extinguishing system.

The first “public” display of the T-80UD at the Kharkov Guards Tank School training ground was impressive. The squat car smoothly diving over potholes with a smooth rumbling sound, different from the sharp whistle of gas turbine “samovars”, rushed along the highway with mesmerizing ease, squeezing between scarps and gouges, diving down hills, maneuvering on “snakes” and accelerating to 50-60 km/h with such recklessness that almost fifty tons of weight could not be felt in the colorfully camouflaged tank. On the move, the tank jumped into the firing position and with the very first shell from a distance of 1700 m hit the T-64A that was serving as a target: the armor-piercing projectile pierced its frontal armor, turned around the loading mechanism, knocked out the mechanical partition and, tearing the engine from its mounts, took out the cover of the engine compartment.

The fate of this tank was influenced by a change in the country's leadership: during the summer display of new military equipment, the spectacularly passed T-80UD “appeared” to M.S. Gorbachev. Having attracted the attention of the Secretary General, Bereza began to be intensively prepared for production. On the initiative of the “general designer” N.A. Shomin (the main one had the rank of lieutenant general), the first ten production T-80UDs underwent intensive testing in the tank unit of the Gorokhovets training ground near Gorky, where a “supervised operation team” was formed with the participation of experienced factory engineers and mechanics, who promptly solved problems on the spot and introduced the necessary improvements. Constant “author’s support” of the leadership unit made it possible to catch defects ahead of time, preparing the vehicle for large-scale deployment to the troops.

According to tradition, new tanks were first delivered to the 2nd Motorized Rifle Taman and 4th Kantemirovskaya Tank Divisions located near Moscow. The first basic model T-80UD in 1988 was replaced by a modification, on which a set of works was carried out to improve the reliability of the power plant and its units, improved equipment and guided weapons, modified the Reflex KUV, replaced the mounted dynamic protection with the built-in Kontakt-5 type, giving the hull and turret an impressive streamlined shape. A new system developed at the Steel Research Institute, made in the form of panel sections with explosive plates inside, provided improved protection against both cumulative and high-velocity armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles. By the way, contrary to usual ideas, the main effect when dynamic protection is triggered is not produced by the “counter explosion” of the filler, but by the metal plates covering it, dispersing the cumulative jet or reflecting the impact core of the sub-caliber projectile. The covers of the Kontakt-5 sections were made of thicker panels of armored steel, the impact of which better reflected high-energy projectiles. In the series, the placement of boxes with spare parts and attachments was also changed, partly for more convenient configuration, but also for the purpose of more effectively using them as “strapping” - screens covering the main armor and mechanical equipment.

After the first public displays of the Kantemirovsky T-80UD at parades on May 9 and November 7, 1990, these same tanks appeared on the streets of Moscow during the days of the August 1991 putsch. The autumn events of 1993 were not without them: it was the “Kantemirovsky” T -80UD, who made a hasty night march, joined the blockade of the White House on October 4 and fired at it. In the morning, six tanks from the 12th Guards Shepetovsky Red Banner Order of Suvorov and Kutuzov Tank Regiment moved to the Kalinin Bridge, taking up a position opposite the building of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation.

Around noon, the tanks began firing at a target located less than a kilometer away. The cannons fired 12 shells of 125 mm caliber: ten high-explosive fragmentation and two armor-piercing sub-caliber (it’s not very clear what use they were - either one of the crews did not want to cause too much destruction in the city center, or they were just firing , than was at hand). At the same time, BMP-2 and BTR machine guns fired. Later, the tanks were taken to the Shevchenko embankment, where they remained until the end of the events.

It seemed that the T-80UD had good prospects: a large plant with free production capacity, prepared to produce “its own” vehicle, a fairly high degree of succession (especially in terms of the power plant, weapons and equipment), designer supervision of the design bureau at the plant, a favorable attitude “from above” and the ever-growing government order for weapons and military equipment. The latter was visible during the years of “developed socialism” in relation to armored vehicles very impressively: during the X and XI five-year plans (1976-1980 and 1981-1985), at the request of the Ministry of Defense, it was planned to almost fully utilize the industry’s capacities, and from year to year the production of tanks new samples should have increased by 5-7%, or even 10%. In absolute numbers, the volumes were even more striking - the task of each five-year plan provided for the replenishment of the army by an additional quarter, or even a third, to the already existing tank fleet, in which the USSR was already superior to all countries of the world combined.

It is a rare case that during a public display of a tank, an anti-aircraft machine gun and ammunition boxes are left behind, usually removed as a precaution.

However, the start of serial production of the T-80UD coincided with the well-known perestroika reforms, which had the saddest impact on the defense industry. The production of military equipment was curtailed by order, giving way to the evil memory of “conversion” with the repurposing of production to civilian products. Plant named after Malyshev was instructed to use “Chinese big leaps” to increase the production of “products for national economic purposes” two to three times annually. These included car trailers, spare parts for buses, drilling and mining equipment, and even canned food packaging lines, packaging machines and ovens for roasting pork carcasses. The heralds of perestroika, carried away by the idea of ​​“beating swords into plowshares,” had no idea that those produced on the most sophisticated equipment using unique defense technologies would have a colossal cost, the depreciation of production equipment would cost a pretty penny, and without modern marketing and management, an enterprise accustomed to working in even a directive , but the very efficient and strict style of the military-industrial complex simply has nothing to do in the market. In this regard, the party-economic activity of the plant, held in January 1990, in the usual general phrases proposed solving problems according to the recipes of the recent party plenum, by “introducing cost accounting, independence, new progressive forms of management. and organizational restructuring of production management using economic methods instead of administrative “- good wishes that “died in God” under the pressure of the ensuing economic chaos.

The deployment of production of the T-80UD was planned for 1989, in which the plan agreed upon by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense Industry provided for the production of more than 3,500 tanks - diesel and gas turbine "eightieths", as well as the T-72. The figure was quite realistic for production, but already on March 2, 1989, by a special resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the Council of Ministers, the plan was canceled with a decrease of almost two-thirds. At the same time, the program for 1990 was cut. Then the state order completely disappeared, and at the same time, enterprises were prohibited from searching for export opportunities. The goals of the ban were, as usual, good: to prevent the leakage of weapons to “hot spots”, and to direct all the production capacities of defense factories to the same conversion repurposing and “meeting the ever-growing needs of the population” (for those who don’t remember, this was, by definition , the main task of the socialist economy).

The turret of a tank during marching and parking is usually slightly deployed for ease of entry and exit of the driver.

In this case, the T-80UD found itself in the most disadvantageous position. At the tank factories in Leningrad, Omsk and Nizhny Tagil, there was an established production of mastered serial products, while at the plant named after. Malyshev was going through the stage of establishing a new model of production, which required financial and material investments, which, given the prevailing sidelong glances at the wasteful “defense industry,” could confuse the highest-ranking manager. The matter was further aggravated by the fact that the small-scale nature of such production meant a hefty price for its products: in terms of cost, diesel “eighties”, moreover, filled with the latest and extremely expensive equipment, were 20% more expensive than gas turbine T-80s, produced in large series, and twice as expensive as the T-64BV. In mass production, their price should have decreased significantly (for example, during the four years of serial production of the T-64A, from 1970 to 1974, with the transition from pilot batches to a large series, its cost decreased by 35%), but in new times about I couldn’t dream of such plans. Directive to reduce military production at the plant named after. Malysheva appeared already in 1988. As a result, employees lost their earnings, layoffs began in increasing numbers, and in two and a half years the plant lost 3,500 skilled workers.

The collapse of the Soviet Union did not have the best effect on the fate of the eightieth diesel engines. The barely started production managed to produce about 300 tanks, most of which went to the central military districts of Russia. Cut off from the manufacturer and spare parts by borders, the T-80UD found itself under the threat of quickly depleting the service life of units for which no replacement was expected, and the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry, making a natural choice in favor of tanks entirely produced and provided by domestic forces, began to put vehicles under the knife, not having served for 7-8 years, eliminating surplus equipment that goes beyond the limits of the treaties on the limitation of conventional arms. Voluminous documents with protocols and annexes described in detail the number of combat vehicles and their distribution across the treaty's coverage areas, and indicated the target quota figures that participating countries were allowed to have. In particular, there were 112 gas turbine T-80s in the Soviet Army east of the Urals, T-80B - 3518, T-80BV - 594, command T-80BK - 217, T-80BVK - 23 and the latest T-80U - 410 units. Curiously, among the data provided by the Soviet side, not a single T-80UD appeared at all among the tanks located in the European part of the country and the allied Eastern European states, while even such rare vehicles as the T-55MUK, T-54K or T-64BVK, which were available, were listed in literally single quantities, 1-2 pieces. Mutual compliance with the contractual terms was monitored by inspectors on each side and, apparently, the matter was explained by a pure formality of the approach - after all, the diesel “eighties” were not yet officially listed as being put into service.

The T-80UD tank is in a fairly dismantled state: there are no side screens and

splash guard

An attempt to agree on the exchange of gas turbine T-80s “stuck” in Ukraine for T-80UDs with Russian “registration”, given a certain distrust of the parties, was not successful; keeping them in service was difficult, and getting rid of them by selling them to third parties was even less realistic. for the inability to provide spare parts for the operation of “foreign” tanks. The T-80UD was a real product of Soviet industry, combining the fruits of the labor of hundreds of enterprises: the engine for it was made in Kharkov, the turret in Mariupol, the sights were assembled by employees of Fotopribor in Cherkassy, ​​and the gun was produced by the gunsmiths of the Ural Motovilikha. For Ukraine, which, during the division of the Soviet inheritance, received 4,080 tanks of various types, from T-55 to T-80 (more than Germany or France had), it turned out to be a burden to maintain even the existing tank fleet, and the three dozen T tanks that were finally assembled by the plant from the reserve -80UD had to be immediately mothballed (there are less than fifty Berezs left in Ukraine).

Moreover, the T-80UD turned out to be strangers in their homeland: the final decision to accept the tank for service took place in early 1992 and was endorsed by the Commander-in-Chief of the CIS Ground Forces, whose order was then, with sovereign logic, declared invalid on the territory of Ukraine!

It should be noted that the T-80UD occupies a worthy place among the best third-generation vehicles, standing out favorably among “friends” and “competitors” in a number of parameters. It is characterized by such features of the domestic design school as the density of the layout, ensuring small dimensions and, accordingly, low visibility on the ground; high specific power gave the vehicle excellent mobility and maneuverability. The T-80UD is distinguished from the gas turbine “eighty” by its greater efficiency and range (not the least factor in the Russian expanses), lower cost (only the 6TD engine cost five times less to produce than the GTD-1000T) and operating costs with more convenient maintenance. The resource of the T-80UD power plant is designed for 14,000 km, and it itself is less sensitive to external conditions - heat and dust. In comparison with the T-72, the large power ratio (22 hp/t versus 18.8) looks especially impressive, providing excellent dynamic qualities - for example, the average speed of the T-80UD on rough terrain exceeds the T-72 by almost a quarter. Even more complex, compared to the “classic”, turbodiesel, due to its well-thought-out installation, has advantages in operation: the engine and transmission units are compact, much more affordable and easy to use, and its replacement is twice as fast as on the T-72.

The presence of the required power reserve (the T-80UD had already tested the 6TD-2 version, boosted to 1200 hp) provided prospects for improving the tank and increasing security, because, as is known, any improvement inevitably entails making the vehicle heavier, and the introduction the same "Contact-5" cost an increase in weight of one and a half tons. In this regard, the T-72 diesel engines, even in the latest modifications, were one and a half times inferior in the number of “horses,” looked like outsiders. In this regard, the newest version of the T-90 main tank, which has an engine power of only 840 hp, left much to be desired. and a specific power indicator of 18 hp/t (only by 2000, at the insistence of the Indian customer, the T-90S received a thousand-horsepower V-92S2 engine).

When comparing the T-80UD with foreign main tanks, one should take into account the specifics of domestic approaches and requirements for these vehicles as a consequence of our adopted military doctrines. Soviet tanks were considered as a mass-produced type of weapon, capable of autonomous “off-road” operations, independent of supporting means and with maximum maneuverability (the differences between our open spaces and the networked highways and bridges of Europe are obvious). Accordingly, the focus was on a “slimmed” silhouette, light weight facilitating mobility, and “self-sufficient” armament.

Self-entrenchment equipment on the T-80UD.	Mine trawl KMT-6 on T-80UD.

The T-80UD can serve as the embodiment of the Soviet approach to the main tank: compared to Western tanks, it has a quarter less weight, outstanding power-to-weight ratio for its generation (the world has not yet come close to the power per liter of its engine displacement achieved by the variant 6TD-2 up to 75 hp; the only exception is the unique “Unidiesel” of the French Leclerc tank with a Hyperbar high-pressure supercharging system, a fuel afterburning chamber and computer control, but it still gives its creators more trouble than benefit) , and more advanced weapons than their Western rivals. At one time, foreign designers were skeptical about the prospects of automatic loading, not believing in its reliability, and retained an extra crew member - as the legend popular among our tank crews said, the imperialists placed hefty blacks in this position. Only twenty years late did they admit that our designers were right. As a result, the reserved volume of the T-80UD is only 11.13 m3, while for the latest Western vehicles it is one and a half, or even almost twice as large: 18.6 m3 for the British Challenger Mk2, 19.4 m3 for “Leopard-da-2A4” and 21m3 for the “Abrams” M1A2, which next to the “eighty” looks like a natural monster, with the dimensions of which it seems difficult not to hit just by shooting in its direction. As for the tank’s turret, its most visible and vulnerable “part” in rough terrain, the T-80UD has an armored volume of 1.93 m3, the Abrams - 4 m3, the M60AZ - 5 m3, and the Leopard-2A4 » — 4.5 m3; In terms of this size indicator, a pair of Challenger towers is comparable to the entire “eighty”.

It should be noted that in the traditions of Western, especially American, tank building there has always been increased attention to the comfort of the crew’s working conditions, albeit achieved through a significant increase in the internal volume and weight of the tank, but giving advantages in battle when tankers get tired less and win thanks to convenience work, precious seconds. Western tankers still have the advantages of high-tech equipment - surveillance and guidance devices, and communications equipment, which ensure high efficiency, all-weather and “round-the-clock” use of combat vehicles and, ultimately, tactical and operational advantages. All this, unfortunately, remains a weak point of our technology, which exploits the developments of the Soviet era.

However, the armament of the T-80UD is clearly recognized as excellent: the 125-mm smoothbore gun 2A46M-1 (“Rapier-3” or D-81TM) with a barrel length of 51 calibers, together with a 1G46 sight with a laser rangefinder, a 2E42 stabilizer and a ballistic computer, has earned the reputation of “ "terrible weapon" due to the long range of fire and the destructive power of the shells (at the same time, the weapon has less mass than its foreign analogues). A sight with a field of view of 4.5-20° has a magnification of 3.6 to 12 times, and when aiming the computer makes the necessary corrections, taking into account the type of ammunition, air and charge temperature, atmospheric pressure, wear of the barrel bore, flanking movement of the target, wind speed , and when firing on the move - the tank’s own speed. The rate of fire is 7-9 rounds per minute in automatic loading mode and 2 rounds per minute in manual loading mode.

The gun can fire cumulative projectiles ZBK14M, armor-piercing finned sub-caliber projectiles ZBM12 and ZBM42 with a tungsten carbide rod and high-explosive fragmentation projectiles 30F19 and ZOF26, as well as use all other types of standard ammunition of 125 mm caliber, including armor-piercing ZBMZZ projectiles with a massive core of depleted uranium and ZBK27 cumulative projectiles with a triple tandem warhead, capable of penetrating multi-layer barriers. The maximum firing range of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile is 11 km, and targeted fire at night using the TPN-4 device with active IR illumination can be carried out from a distance of 1300-1500 m.

Unlike foreign guns, the cannon can fire a guided weapon - a laser-guided 9M119 missile of the 9K119 "Reflex" complex, launched through the barrel (the ammunition rack usually includes four such shots). Accuracy of shooting on the move (and the working conditions of tankers) is facilitated by smooth movement due to the use of a fine-linked caterpillar with a rubberized running track on the inside, a rubber-metal hinge and lightweight aluminum road wheels with a thick rubber bandage.

The advantages of the T-80UD's armament remained largely unclaimed, however, given the period during which they entered service (although this cannot be attributed to the machine's shortcomings): in two years, conscript tankers and in the best of times were limited to 2-3 practical firing standard ammunition and did not have sufficient skills, and most officers did not have the opportunity to launch expensive ATGMs. In the last “perestroika” years, problems with fuel also increased, because of which the training of crews fell and driving practice, which already left much to be desired, was reduced to a minimum (in some places in units even final exercises had to be carried out without removing the tanks from the pits, without starting the engines and testing the equipment “from the socket”). There was no need to talk about practicing actions within units and clear interaction, which require equipping tanks with reliable communications, control systems, data transmission lines and target designation. The state of affairs could be characterized by the words of the German General Mellenthin, who described the events of the summer of 1941: “As for the training of Russian tank crews, especially in the mechanized corps, it seemed as if they had not undergone any training at all...”

Isn't this the most convincing argument in favor of creating a compact, mobile and highly professional army, capable of fighting not with numbers, but with skill?

The ending follows

Design of the T-80 tank

The internal layout of the main T-80 tank is classic, consisting of three compartments. The control compartment is located in the front part of the hull; the driver’s workplace is located here. Behind the seat in the bottom of the body there is an emergency exit hatch. In 1984, a “mine-resistant” mounting of the driver’s seat to the beam was introduced instead of mounting to the bottom.

Tank T-80UD

The fighting compartment is located in the middle part of the tank, includes a turret with a 125-mm smoothbore gun 2A46-1, equipped with a two-plane weapon stabilizer 2E28M2 and a hydroelectromechanical automatic loader of the same design as on the T-64 tank, and a cockpit located in the hull, docked with a tower. The loading mechanism is located in the cockpit, the tank commander is located to the right of the gun, and the gunner is to the left. To the right of the gun there is a coaxial PKT machine gun, an R-123M radio station and an M3 control panel. Above the tank commander's seat in the turret there is a commander's cupola with a hatch. Behind the walls of the cabin there is a ring conveyor of the loading mechanism.

The gun's ammunition consists of 40 rounds of separate cartridge loading with a partially burning cartridge case. The range of a direct shot with a sabot projectile at a tank-type target is 2100 m. The rate of fire is 6 - 8 rounds/min., when loading manually it is reduced to 1 - 2 rounds/min. To fire from a cannon, an optical stereoscopic sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 is used. The sight has independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane and allows you to accurately determine the range to the target within the range of 1000 - 4000 m. Data on the range to the target is automatically entered into the sight. Corrections for the speed of the tank and data on the type of selected ammunition are also automatically introduced. For shooting at night, the TPN-1-49-23 sight is used.

The power compartment is located in the rear of the tank hull. It has a gas turbine engine installed longitudinally. Power is output to the shafts of the onboard gearboxes from both ends of the engine output gearbox. Each final drive is mounted in a block with a coaxial planetary final drive that carries the drive wheel.

The T-80 tracks have a rubberized treadmill, and the road wheels are also rubberized. Suspension - individual, torsion bar, with non-coaxial torsion shafts, with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers on 1, 2 and 6 suspension units.

The most interesting feature of the T-80 tank is its gas turbine engine. It is made according to a three-shaft design with two mechanical independent turbochargers and a free turbine. The main components of the engine are low and high pressure centrifugal compressors, combustion chamber, axial compressor turbines, axial power turbine, exhaust pipe, drive boxes and gearbox. The roof of the power compartment is removable and consists of a front fixed part and a rear lifting part, which is connected to the front using hinges and a torsion bar. The roof opens with the effort of one person and is locked in the raised position with a tie. In the front part of the roof there are entrance blinds, closed at the top with removable metal mesh.

Modification T-80UK

MBT T-80 (MBT T-80)

MBT T-80 (MBT T-80)

T-80 (MBT T-80 - Main battle tank) is a Soviet main battle tank (MBT), the world's first production tank with a monoblock gas turbine power plant.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the main battle tank T-80U (T-80U)

MBT T-80UD (T-80UD), view of the stern

• Overall dimensions - length with gun forward 9.654 m - hull length 6.982 - width 3.525 m - height 2.193 m • Combat weight - 44.5 tons • Crew - 3 people • Ground clearance (ground clearance) - 450 mm • Power plant - gas turbine multi-fuel engine GTD-1250T - power 1250 hp. (919 kW) • Gearbox - 4/1 • Maximum speed - 70 km/h on the highway - 60 km/h over rough terrain • Cruising range - 600 km on the highway with additional tanks • Fuel tank capacity - 1140 l total without additional barrels • Armament - 125 mm smoothbore gun 2A46M-1 - 7.62 mm PKT machine gun - 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun - KUV 9K119 • Ammunition - 45 rounds 125 mm - 2000 rounds 7.62 mm - 300 rounds 12 .7 mm • Reservation - combined projectile-proof armor, dynamic protection • Specific ground pressure - 0.84 kg/cm2 • Obstacle to be overcome - ford 1.2 m deep (1.8 m with preliminary preparation and 5 m with OPVT) — wall 1 m high — ditch 2.85 m wide — elevation angle 32°

The MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80) began to be developed in 1968 in Leningrad, at SKB-2 of the Kirov plant. The gas turbine engine (GTE) has a number of advantages over diesel and gasoline engines. With the same occupied volume, the gas turbine engine had significantly greater power. It also ensured quick engine starting at low temperatures.

The work of Leningraders on a gas turbine tank was carried out back in 1956-57, but the negative attitude of the CPSU General Secretary N.S. Khrushchev towards traditional weapons systems pushed back the experimental project “Object 278” for a long time.

Tank Object 219sp1

On April 16, 1968, by a joint resolution of the CPSU Central Committee and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, SKB-2 of the Kirov plant was tasked with developing a tank based on the T-64 main battle tank, with a gas turbine power plant and increased combat characteristics. The first version of the tank under the factory designation “Object 219sp1” was manufactured in 1969 and was externally similar to the experimental gas turbine tank T-64T, produced in Kharkov in 1963 under the direction of designer A.A. Morozov. The first version of the tank from the Kirov plant had a gas turbine engine GTD-1000T with a power of 1,000 hp. (735 kW).

Tests of the first sample of the Kirov gas turbine tank forced significant changes to the chassis of the T-64 tank. New drive and idler wheels, support and support rollers, rubber-coated tracks, hydraulic shock absorbers and torsion shafts, as well as the shape of the tower were developed. The gun, automatic loader, armor protection elements and some components were retained from the T-64A tank.

The second version of the tank “Object 219sp2” was already significantly different from the basic T-64A. After testing and refining the armored vehicle, on July 6, 1976, the new tank was put into service under the name MBT T-80 (MBT T-80).

The main battle tank MBT T-80 (MBT T-80) is similar in layout to the T-64B. The gas turbine engine block with a reduction bevel-helical gearbox with a total mass of 1,050 kg is located longitudinally in the rear part of the hull. This required some increase in the length of the tank. The block is connected to two onboard planetary gearboxes.

The gas turbine engine GTD-1000T is three-shaft, multi-fuel, with two independent turbochargers and a free turbine. The engine runs on aviation kerosene TS-1 and TS-2, diesel fuel and low-octane automobile gasoline. The GTD-1000T is started in an automated mode when the turbochargers are spun up by two electric motors. With the help of an adjustable nozzle apparatus (ARA) of the turbine, its rotation frequency is limited and resonance phenomena are prevented when shifting gears. There is no mechanical connection between the power turbine and the engine turbochargers, which prevented the engine from stopping when the MBT T-80 (MBT T-80) tank suddenly stops with the gear engaged, and this increases the vehicle’s maneuverability on heavy viscous soils.

The main battle tank MBT T-80 (MBT T-80) is equipped with an automatic engine operating mode control system (ASUR), which made it possible to increase the turbine operating life by more than 10 times and reduce fuel consumption by 5-7%.

An important factor for the reliable operation of gas turbine engines is high air purification. The MBT T-80 tank uses an inertial cyclone method of air purification from dust, providing 97 percent purification. In addition, when the tank is moving in particularly dusty conditions, vibration cleaning of the turbine blades is provided. Before starting the gas turbine engine and after stopping it, purging is performed.

Four fuel tanks with a total capacity of 1,140 liters are installed in the engine compartment of the MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80).

On the MBT T-80 tank, a combined braking system was used for the first time - braking using a gas turbine engine and hydraulic brakes. When the driver presses the brake pedal, the turbine begins to brake, and the adjustable nozzle apparatus changes the direction of the gas flow, rotating the turbine blades in the opposite direction. When you press the brake pedal further, the hydraulic brake system is activated.

The main battle tank MBT T-80 (MBT T-80) is equipped with a mechanical planetary transmission, consisting of two on-board units, including an onboard gearbox, a final drive and hydraulic servos of the control system. The gearbox provides four forward and one reverse gears.

The MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80) has an individual torsion bar suspension with a non-coaxial arrangement of torsion bar shafts. The track rollers are rubber-coated and made of aluminum alloy. The first, second and sixth rollers are equipped with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers.

The MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80) is equipped with equipment for underwater driving, ensuring overcoming water obstacles up to 5 meters deep.

The main armament of the MBT T-80 tank is a 125-mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun, stabilized in two planes. The direct shot range is 2,100 meters. The tank's ammunition load includes 38 rounds of separate cartridge loading, 28 of which are placed in the mechanized ammunition rack, 3 in the fighting compartment and 7 in the control compartment. In addition, a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun coaxial with the cannon is installed as an additional weapon, and on the base of the commander’s hatch on the turret there is a 12.7-mm NSVT Utes anti-aircraft machine gun with a firing range of 1,500 m against air targets and 2,000 m at by ground.

To ensure firing, an optical stereoscopic sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 is used with independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane, providing accurate determination of the range to the target in the range from 1,000 to 4,000 m. Rangefinder readings, correction for tank speed and data information about the type of the selected projectile is automatically entered into the sight, which is made in the same unit with the weapon aiming control panel.

The MBT T-80 tank has a welded hull, the front part of which is inclined at an angle of 68°. The sides of the hull are protected from cumulative projectiles by rubber-fabric screens. The frontal part of the hull has multi-layer combined armor. The tank's turret is solid.

The main battle tank MBT T-80 (MBT T-80) was constantly improved both in Leningrad and Kharkov. In 1976, the Kharkov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, based on the main battle tank MBT T-80 (MBT T-80), completed a preliminary design of the Object 478 , which had significantly improved combat and technical characteristics. The tank was planned to be equipped with a 6TDN diesel engine with a power of 1,000-1,250 hp, an improved turret, guided missile weapons, a new sight, etc. “Object 478” served as the basis for the creation in the second half of the 1980s of the serial diesel tank T-80UD (T-80UD).

Main battle tank T-80UD (T-80UD)

T-80A tank (object 219A), which has improved protection, new Reflex ATGM missile weapons, and built-in bulldozer equipment for self-digging. A prototype of this tank was built in 1982. Subsequently, a set of mounted dynamic protection was tested on them. In 1983, the Object 219V to test the new Irtysh weapons control system. T- tank by 1985 , which is the strongest tank in the world in terms of firepower, armor protection and survivability. It was also possible to reduce the likelihood of detecting the T-80U tank in the visible and infrared ranges.

The main battle tank T-80U (T-80U) is equipped with a fast-acting automatic fire-fighting system "Rime", effective protection of the driver from mine explosions, a perfect system of protection against weapons of mass destruction (WMD), a lining and lining made of hydrogen-containing polymers with lead additives, lithium and boron, local protection screens made of heavy materials, an automatic sealing system for habitable compartments and air purification.

Modifications of the main battle tank MBT T-80 (MBT T-80)

Object 219Сп1 (Objekt 219Sp1) early 1970s. The experimental tank is a variant of the T-64 with a gas turbine engine.

Object 219Sp2 (Objekt 219Sp2) early 1970s. An experienced tank with a new chassis.

MBT T-80 Object 219sp2 (MBT T-80 Objekt 219sp2)

T-80 "Object 219Sp2" (MBT T-80 Objekt 219Sp2) 1976 Main battle tank with a GTD-1000T engine with a power of 1000 hp. (735 kW) and a turret from the T-64A tank, armed with a 125-mm 2A46-1 smoothbore gun with a heat-protective casing, an electromechanical M3 and a TPD-2-49 optical rangefinder sight. The tank's combat weight is 42 tons. Serial production was carried out from 1976 to 1978.

MBT T-80B "Object 219R" (MBT T-80B Objekt 219R)

T-80B “Object 219R” (MBT T-80B Objekt 219R) 1978. A variant of the MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80) with installed: KUV (weapon control complex) 9K112-1 “Cobra” and FCS 1A33 (fire control system), which includes a laser sight-rangefinder 1G42, BV 1V517, stabilizer 2E26M, 1G43 shot resolution unit, a set of sensors, a 2A46-2 cannon, a 902A “Tucha” smoke grenade launch system, and reinforced turret armor. Since 1980, the T-80B tank has been equipped with a GTD-1000TF engine with a power of 1100 hp. (809 kW) and a turret unified with the turret of the T-64B tank. Since 1982, the T-80B tank began to be equipped with the 2A46M-1 Rapier cannon. The combat weight of the T-80B tank (MBT T-80B) is 42.5 tons.

"Object 219RD" (Objekt 219RD). A prototype of the MBT T-80 (MBT T-80), equipped with an A-53-2 diesel engine with a power of 1200 hp. (883 kW).

"Object 219E" (Objekt 219E). A prototype of the MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80), created for testing combat and technical characteristics.

"Object 644" (Objekt 644). A prototype tank equipped with a V-46-6 diesel engine.

“Object 478” (Objekt 478) 1976. A prototype created in Kharkov, equipped with a 6TD diesel engine and a turret from the Object 476 tank.

T-80БК "Object 630" (MBT T-80BC Objekt 630). Command version of the T-80B tank (MBT T-80B) with additional radio stations and navigation equipment.

MBT T-80BV "Object 219RV" (MBT T-80BV Objekt 219RV)

T-80BV "Object 219RV" (MBT T-80BV Objekt 219RV) 1985. A production version of the T-80B main battle tank (MBT T-80B), equipped with the Kontakt mounted dynamic protection system. The combat weight of the T-80BV tank (MBT T-80BV) is 44.5 tons. The engine is GTD-1100T, with a power of 1100 hp. (809 kW).

T-80BVK (MBT T-80BVC). Command version of the T-80BV tank (MBT T-80BV) with mounted ERA (dynamic protection) and equipment similar to the T-80BK tank (MBT T-80BC).

Т-80БМ1 (MBT T-80BM1). An experimental version of the T-80B tank (MBT T-80B) with the Arena-E active protection complex.

"Object 219A" . An experimental version of the MBT T-80 tank (MBT T-80) with a cast turret from the Object 476 tank and mounted dynamic protection. The vehicle is a prototype of the T-80U tank.

MBT T-80U (T-80U)

T-80U “object 219AS” 1985. Main battle tank T-80U with KUV 9K119 "Reflex" and fire control system 1A45 "Irtysh", which includes: laser sight-rangefinder 1G46, electronic ballistic computer, stabilizer 2E42, sight TPN-4S, combined night sight TPN-4 "Buran" -PA.” The T-80U tank is armed with a 2A46M-1 cannon and a 902B “Tucha” smoke grenade launch system. The vehicle is equipped with the 3ETS13 “Iney” fire protection system and new combined armor with built-in dynamic protection. Since 1990, the T-80U main battle tank has been equipped with a GTD-1250 gas turbine engine with a power of 1250 hp. (919 kW) and KUV 9K119M “Invar”. The combat weight of the T-80U tank is 46 tons.

Main battle tank T-80UK

T-80UK (MBT T-80UC) early 1990s. Command tank T-80U (MBT T-80U) with installed Shtora-1 system, Agava-2 thermal imager, new atmospheric sensor, R-163U and R-163K radio stations, TNA-4 navigation system, remote detonation system high-explosive fragmentation shells, autonomous power plant AB-1-P28.

T-80UM (MBT T-80UM)

T-80UM (MBT T-80UM) 1992. A variant of the T-80U tank (MBT T-80U) with an Agava-2 thermal imager, a radio-absorbing coating and R-163-50U radio stations.

T-80UE (MBT T-80UE) 1995. A variant of the T-80UM tank (MBT T-80UM) with hydrostatic transmission and new controls. The tank was designed specifically for the Greek competition.

MBT T-80UM-1 Bars (MBT T-80UM-1 Bars)

T-80UM-1 Bars (MBT T-80UM-1 Bars) 1997. Variant of the T-80UM tank (MBT T-80UM) with the Arena-E active protection complex, GTD-1250G engine, 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun, Shtora-1 system, Velizh, TVN-5 complexes, R radio stations -163-50U, R-163UP and air conditioning system. The Arena radar detects enemy anti-tank guided missiles as they approach the tank at a distance of 50 meters or more and initiates the detonation of one of the fragmentation charges mounted on the tank’s turret, resulting in the destruction of the enemy’s shell by a fan of fragments.

T-80U mod.2001 (MBT T-80U mod.2001) 2001. A modernized version of the T-80U tank (MBT T-80U) with a 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun, an improved 1G46M sight, a 1V558 tank IUS, a TO1-K04 commander's sight, a 2E42M gun stabilizer, a T04V-8 atmospheric parameter measurement system, a 1ETs29 system, a thermally insulated MTO and air conditioning.

MBT T-80UE-1 (MBT T-80UE-1)

T-80UE-1 (MBT T-80UE-1). A modernized T-80BV tank (MBT T-80BV) with a turret from decommissioned T-80UD tanks (MBT T-80UD), an improved 1A45-1 fire control system and other systems.

T-80UA (MBT T-80UA)

T-80UA (MBT T-80UA) 2001 - 2009 A unified modernization of all main battle tanks MBT T-80 (MBT T-80), produced before the T-80U tank variant, and in service with Russia. In terms of equipment, the vehicle has been upgraded to the T-80UM1 level (MBT T-80UM1) and is equipped with a night thermal imaging sight with a third-generation optical-electronic converter.

Main battle tank T-80UM-2 (MBT T-80UM-2)

T-80UM-2 (MBT T-80UM-2). An experimental version of the T-80U tank (MBT T-80U) with the Drozd-2 active protection complex.

T-80UD Berioza (MBT T-80UD Berioza)

T-80UD Berioza (MBT T-80UD Berioza) “object 478B” 1987. Modernization of the Kharkov OKBM with the installation of a 6TD diesel engine with a power of 1000 hp. (735 kW), anti-aircraft machine gun with remote control, mounted, and since 1988, built-in dynamic protection. The combat weight of the T-80UD Berioza tank (MBT T-80UD Berioza) is 46 tons. In total, about 500 T-80UD Bereza tanks were produced, of which only 60 were delivered to units stationed in Ukraine. After the collapse of the USSR, by 1995, all T-80UD Berioza tanks (MBT T-80UD Berioza) that served in units in Russia were decommissioned.

T-80UDK (MBT T-80UDC). Command version of the T-80UD tank (MBT T-80UD) with additional communications and navigation equipment.

"Object 478B" . An experimental version of the T-80UD tank (MBT T-80UD) with the TPN-4 Buran-E combined night sight and the Ainet system.

"Object 478БК" . An experimental version of the T-80UD tank (MBT T-80UD) with a welded turret (“Birch-Rolled”).

"Object 478DU(2)" . An experimental version of the T-80UD tank (MBT T-80UD) with steel and rubber rollers.

Main modifications of the T-80 tank

• T-80 (object 219 sp 2) - basic version. Combat weight 42 tons. Crew 3 people. Serial production was carried out at LKZs from 1976 to 1978.
• T-80B (object 219R, 1978) - the tank has a 9K112-1 “Cobra” guided weapon system and a 1AZZ fire control system. Armament: 2A46-2 cannon, 902A “Tucha” smoke grenade launch system. The tower's armor has been strengthened. Since 1980, the GGD-YOOOTF engine with a power of 1100 hp has been installed. and a turret, unified with the T-64B, since 1982 - a 2A46M-1 "Rapira-3" cannon.
• T-80BV (1985) - T-80B with a set of mounted dynamic protection installed on the turret and hull.
• T-80U (object 219AS, 1985) - the tank has a 9K119 “Reflex” guided weapon system and a 1A45 “Irtysh” weapon control system. Armament - 2A46-M1 cannon, 45 rounds of ammunition (of which 28 are in the loading mechanism), improved multi-layer combined armor with built-in dynamic protection, 902B smoke grenade launch system, PPO ZETSP "Iney" system, built-in self-digging equipment, KMT- mounted track trawl 6. Since 1990 - GTD-1250 engine with a power of 1250 hp, 9K119M guided weapon system. Combat weight 46 tons.
• T-80UD (object 478B “Beryza”, 1987) - differs from earlier models by a 6-cylinder two-stroke turbopiston diesel engine 6TD with a power of 1000 hp, as well as a remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun mount. Since 1988, it has been equipped with built-in dynamic protection.
• T-80UM (1992) - the tank is equipped with an Agava-2 thermal imaging surveillance and targeting device, a radio-absorbing coating, and an R-163-50U radio station.
• T-80UK - command version of the T-80UM. Equipped with a system for remote detonation of high-explosive fragmentation shells with an electronic remote contact fuse, a Shtora-2 optoelectronic suppression complex, and R-163-U and R-163-K radio stations. The TNA-4 navigation system and the AB-1-P28 autonomous power generator are also installed.

Special fire truck SPM - a relative of the T-80

Main tank T-80UD (Object 478B "Birch")

MAIN TANK T-80UD (OBJECT 478B "BEREZA")
Work on the tank "object 478" at the KMDB named after. A.A. Morozov began in the mid-1970s with the goal of increasing the combat and technical characteristics of the T-80 tank and installing a diesel engine on it. It was planned to install a new turret, tested on the ob.476 tank. Two main versions of the tank were designed - object 478, which differed in the installation of different types of diesel engines. As a result of long-term work on the vehicle, the T-80UD main tank (object 478B) was created and put into service in 1987.

The project to improve the tank “object 478” was carried out by the KMDB named after. A.A. Morozov in 1976, it received the designation “object 478M”. The tank was supposed to use the “Shater” active protection complex, which defends the sector at a course of 200 degrees, the number of cluster rounds is 20, the probability of shell damage is 0.7-0.8.

Work on the tank “object 478B” “Birch” was started by KMDB named after. A.A. Morozov (General Designer I.L. Protopopov) in the mid-1970s (object 478) and ended in 1987 with the adoption of the T-80UD tank. As a result, during its creation, the tank was equipped with a Reflex guided weapon system, a 1A45 fire control system, etc. The pilot batch of vehicles was produced at the end of 1985, and the following year a small batch of the T-80UD tank was produced. The series began in 1987. Sometimes referred to as T-80UD (unofficial name). In 1988, the tank was modernized.

In accordance with the Decision of the Council of Ministers Commission on Military-Industrial Issues dated January 21, 1977, development of a more powerful 6TD-2 diesel engine with a power of 1200 hp began for modernized tanks. In 1983, testing of the engine began on experimental tanks, and in 1992 its mass production began.

In 1988, the T-80U tank with a 6TD diesel engine was modernized. Built-in dynamic protection was installed on it, and the weapon systems were modified. In the early 1990s, the tank was being prepared for adoption by the Soviet Army under the designation T-84. Subsequently, the next version of the Ukrainian modernization of the T-80UD tank received the designation T-84.

During serial production, 800 T-80UD tanks were produced for the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR, about 50 tanks were produced. The T-80UD MBT was demonstrated and tested in Pakistan in 1993 and 1995 as part of a tender for the supply of a new MBT for that country.

In 1996, Pakistan signed a contract with Ukraine for the supply of 320 T-80UD. The first batch (15 vehicles) was delivered at the beginning of 1997, and in 1999 the contract was successfully completed.

Since October 1996, Ukraine began deliveries of T-80UD tanks (object 478BE, a variant of the tank with new structural elements from the T-84 tank, including a welded turret of a new design) to Pakistan, the total contract volume includes 320 vehicles. Until June 1997, 50 tanks were delivered; they were rebuilt and modernized old ones, and the rest were manufactured again. Tanks that were modernized with a cast turret received the index “478BE”, and those newly manufactured with a welded-rolled turret received the index “478BE-1”.

Many T-84 systems and components were introduced into the latest batches of vehicles, including a new welded-rolled turret, etc.

The main armament of these tanks is a 125-mm KBA3 smoothbore gun (the 2A46M1 gun was installed in the USSR and Russia), loaded using a conveyor-type automatic loader. The gun is equipped with a powder gas ejector and a thermal casing. The gun barrel is quick-detachable and can be replaced in the field without removing the gun from the tank.

The gun's ammunition load is 45 rounds of separate loading (projectile and charge), of which 28 are placed in the automatic loader conveyor, and the rest are in the control compartment and in the fighting compartment. Ammunition used: armor-piercing sub-caliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation and laser-guided missiles.

A special feature of the tank is the presence of guided weapons, which allows firing laser-guided guided missiles from a cannon at ranges of up to 5000 m. The missile consists of two parts. The first part includes a throwing device and a hardware compartment with a steering device. The second part consists of a propulsion engine and a tandem warhead. Both parts are stored in the autoloader conveyor in the same way as conventional ammunition. The joining of the two parts of the rocket occurs in the barrel when fired.

The T-80UD is equipped with a modern fire control system, which ensures that the gunner and commander can fire at stationary and moving targets from a standstill and on the move with a high probability of hitting with the first shot.

The fire control complex consists of a 1G46 gunner's day sight, a TO1-KO1E gunner's night sight, a PNK-4S commander's sighting and observation system, a PZU-7 anti-aircraft sight, a 1ETs29 anti-aircraft gun control system, a 1V528-1 ballistic computer with input information sensors, and a weapon stabilizer 2E42 and other devices.

The 1G46 gunner's day sight has a line of sight stabilized in two planes, a built-in laser rangefinder and a guided missile control channel. In the standard configuration of the tank, the gunner is equipped with a TO1-KO1E night sighting system with a TPN-4E sight (with an electron-optical converter), but it is possible to install a Buran-Katrin-E thermal imaging sight. The PNK-4S commander's sighting and observation system consists of a TKN-4S commander's combined day-night sight and a gun position sensor.

The TKN-4S commander's combined sight is stabilized in the vertical plane and has three channels: a single day channel, a multiple day channel with a magnification of 8x, and a night channel with a magnification of 5.4x. The commander can switch from the day channel to the night channel (with an electro-optical converter) and back using a lever.

The anti-aircraft sight allows the commander to fire at air targets from an anti-aircraft machine gun mount while being protected by the turret's armor.

To calculate ballistic corrections, the 1B528-1 ballistic computer automatically takes into account signals coming from the following sensors: tank speed, angular speed of the target, roll angle of the gun trunnion axis, transverse component of wind speed, range to the target, heading angle. Additionally, for the calculation, the following parameters are manually entered: ambient air temperature, charge temperature, barrel bore wear, ambient air pressure, etc. The computer also calculates the moment in time when a high-explosive fragmentation projectile explodes over the target.

The fire control complex provides a so-called “shot resolution zone”, i.e. after pressing the fire button, the shot will only occur if the mismatch between the line of sight and the axis of the barrel bore does not exceed the specified value. The size of the “shot resolution zone” is adjusted when setting up the fire control complex within the tank.

The armor protection of the T-80UD, which includes modern multi-layer armor and a set of built-in dynamic protection installed on the turret and hull, provides the tank with a high level of survivability on the battlefield.

The T-80UD tank can hide its location on the battlefield by setting up a smoke or aerosol screen. There are four smoke grenade launchers installed on the sides of the tower, which are electrically activated. The T-80UD can also install a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the engine exhaust system (i.e. using so-called thermal smoke equipment).

In order to reduce the thermal signature of the tank on the battlefield, the roof of the T-80UD engine compartment is equipped with special thermal protection. The main battle tank T-80UD is equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine 6TD-1 with a power of 1000 hp.

The engine air intake ensures that air enters the engine from the least dusty point in the tank. In addition, the air intake device allows the tank to overcome water obstacles up to 1.8 m deep without preparation. The air cleaning system consists of two main components: centrifugal pre-filters and an air cleaner cassette. The system allows the tank to be operated in hot and dusty conditions over a 1,000-kilometer range without the need to change filters, as well as in conditions of radioactive contamination.

Suspension – torsion bar. On each side of the hull there are six double rubber-coated road wheels. The guide wheel is located in the bow of the hull, the drive wheel is in the stern. There are also support rollers. The upper part of the suspension is protected by side screens, which are armored in the bow of the hull (with the installation of built-in dynamic protection). A rubber screen is attached to the bottom of the nose of the case, allowing it to contain the spread of dust.

The standard equipment of the T-80UD main battle tank also includes a collective protection system, equipment for underwater driving, an explosion and fire suppression system, anti-radiation protection (lining) and self-entrenchment equipment (located on the lower inclined sheet of the rear part of the hull).

The collective protection system provides protection for the crew and internal equipment of the tank from the effects of nuclear explosions, radioactive dust, toxic and bacteriological substances.

Underwater driving equipment allows the tank to overcome water obstacles up to 5 m deep (the T-80UD tank overcomes water obstacles up to 1.8 m deep without preparation).

The fire extinguishing system provides detection and extinguishing of internal fires both in the habitable compartment and in the engine compartment. Anti-radiation protection is made in the form of a lining on the internal and external surfaces of the tank.

Self-digging equipment allows you to dig a tank caponier within 15-40 minutes, depending on the type of soil.

The T-80UD main battle tank can be equipped with various types of mine trawls (connected to the nose of the hull), including the KMT-6 knife-type mine trawl and the KMT-7 roller-type mine trawl. At the rear of the hull, two barrels with additional fuel can be mounted, as well as a log for self-pulling the tank.

Today it is no secret that after the Second World War the USSR had excess capacity for the creation and production of tanks. This gave rise to fierce competition between the three design bureaus - developers - in Kharkov, Nizhny Tagil and Leningrad - for the right to supply their products for service.

This struggle especially intensified in the 1970-1980s, and the experience gained then came in handy when, as a result of several tender tests, a contract was signed to supply Pakistan with a large batch of T-80UD tanks starting in 1997. By this time, all its components had been put into production, with the exception of the tank gun.

However, the customer’s requirement - independence of supplies from third countries and statements of individual politicians forced to accelerate the organization of barrel production at the Sumy NPO named after. Frunze, and the breech - at the Plant named after. Malysheva. As a result, in 1998, the development of the gun and the organization of its production were completed.

Currently, T-80UD tanks have improved armor protection and an improved fire control system. The tank can be operated at temperatures from -40 to +55 degrees C.

Based on the T-80UD tank, the following were created: T-80UDK command tank; experimental object 478D with a night observation device TPN-4 "Buran-E" and a system for firing high-explosive fragmentation shells "Ainet", detonating them at a given point; experimental objects 478БК with a welded turret, three vehicles were manufactured; experimental tanks - objects 478DU and 478DU2 with various types of chassis (with steel and rubber rollers).

Currently, the T-80UD is in service with Ukraine, Russia and Pakistan. After the collapse of the USSR, work on further improvement of equipment based on the “478D” was designated with the prefix “U”. “Object 478DU” (T-84) is similar to the “478D” tank, but has a T-64 chassis. Passed tests, one copy was made.

In “object 478DU2”, compared to “478D”, there was no auxiliary power unit and a new welded-rolled turret was installed. The turret has a new built-in dynamic protection (ERA), the installation of smoke grenades has been changed. A prototype was manufactured and tested. Not serially produced.

“Object 478DU4” differed from “DU2” by installing a new auxiliary power unit on the left fender. The body has new dynamic protection.

“Object 478DU5” participated in the first stages of testing in the Turkish tender. Unlike “DU4” there is an air conditioner at the rear of the tower. Ankara's requirements turned out to be very strict, especially regarding weapons. It required the installation of a 120 mm cannon for NATO standard shells.

In a short time, the “object 478N” was developed, which received its own name “Yatagan”, with the required artillery mount and a new belt automatic loader for 22 shots, located in the “tail tail” behind the turret. The remaining shells were placed in mechanized stowage in the hull. One prototype was built and underwent the second stage of the tender in Turkey. Based on the results of the competition, the documentation for the tank was finalized and prepared for mass production under the designation “478N1”. “Object 478DU8” was manufactured especially for the tender in Malaysia, taking into account the specifics of the region - the track was expanded to 600 millimeters.

“Object 478DU9” ​​(Oplot tank) was tested and adopted by the Ukrainian Army; a series of ten vehicles was manufactured in 2001. A new commander's sight with a laser rangefinder and the Ainet system are used.

The main battle tank "Oplot" was developed on the basis of the T-80UD, but differs from it in a number of improvements, namely: - new welded-rolled turret - built-in dynamic protection of a new generation, providing increased protection in the front sector from both cumulative and armor-piercing shells - thermal imaging sight - 6TD-2 engine with a power of 1200 hp. instead of the 1000-horsepower engine installed on the T-80UD - transition to digital technology in relation to the components of the fire control complex and related systems - optical-electronic countermeasures complex - auxiliary power unit - barrel bore bending system - navigation support system - wider side screens that provide additional protection for the sides of the hull and chassis components from short-range anti-tank weapons used by enemy infantry.

By order of the US Army, three 478BEM-1 tanks were manufactured for four vehicles with the installation of the Drozd-1 active protection complex (APS) and an auxiliary power unit (APU) on the left fender and one 478BEM-2 tank with air conditioning at the rear of the turret and the APU on the left fender. On May 28, 2009, the Oplot-M tank, “object 478DU10,” was adopted by the Ukrainian Army.

It is possible to supply the following main auxiliary vehicles that provide logistical support for the T-80UD tank during its service life: - armored repair and recovery vehicle (based on the T-80UD chassis) - armored bridge layer (based on the Oplot tank chassis) - tracked transporter , capable of transporting 12 tons of cargo (its main components are similar to those of the T-80UD), various mobile workshops for tank maintenance (based on off-road vehicles)

Product "478BP" - armored repair and recovery vehicle BREM "Atlet" is made on the basis of the chassis components of the Oplot tank, which provides the vehicle with dynamic and mobile characteristics comparable to it, the required level of protection and maneuverability. "Athlete" is designed to solve a wide range of technical support tasks for tank units when conducting all types of combat operations in various weather and climatic conditions: conducting technical reconnaissance on the battlefield day and night, towing faulty and damaged armored vehicles to nearby shelters and prefabricated areas points of damaged vehicles (SPPM), starting the engines of serviced vehicles by electrical and pneumatic methods, assisting crews in carrying out routine repairs, carrying out lifting operations, pulling out stuck and sunken samples of armored vehicles in all types of jamming, forcing water obstacles along the bottom, self-digging, performing welding -cutting work, excavation work when equipping SPPM, entrances and ramps.

Product “478BM” - the MTU-84 bridge layer, documentation for which was developed, but a prototype was not built.

Condition adopted for service in 1985 Developer KMDB im. A.A.Morozova Manufacturer KhZTM Production series from 1985 to 1988

Combat weight, t 46 Dry weight, t 43 Length, mm: - with gun forward 9664 - hull 7085 Width, mm 3589 Tower roof height, mm 2285 Ground clearance, mm 515 Avg. beat ground pressure, kg/cm2 0.93 Obstacles to be overcome: - rise, deg 32 - roll, deg 20 - ditch, m 2.85 - wall, m 1.0 - ford, m 1.8 (with OPVT -5)

Engine type diesel 6TD - manufacturer: Plant named after. Malysheva" Maximum power, hp. 1000 Fuel capacity, l 740+560 Specific power, hp/t 21.7 Maximum speed, km/h 60 Cruising range, km 560

Anti-ballistic armor, combined with mounted dynamic protection "Contact" Means of setting up smoke curtain TDA, 8x902B

Crew, people 3

Armament: - number x caliber, mm and type of gun 125 mm 2A46M1 (ammunition, pcs.) (45) - number x caliber, mm and type of machine guns 12.7 mm NSVT (ammunition, pcs.) (450) - number x caliber , mm and type of machine guns 7.62 mm PKT (ammunition, pcs.) (1250)

Sight-rangefinder 1G46 Night sight: Active-passive type TPN-4 “Buran-PA” - developed by the Krasnogorsk plant named after. S.A. Zvereva Manufacturer ROMZ Target identification range, m up to 3000 Field of view angle, deg. 4 x 2.7 Magnification, times. up to 11 Fire control complex 1A45 Control complex. armed 9K119 Navigation equipment GPK-59 Weapon stabilizer 2E42 Radio station R-173

Vehicles based on the T-80 tank

• Self-propelled artillery unit Msta-S .
• Self-propelled artillery unit 2S7 Pion.
• Combat modules of the S-300V .
• Special crawler-mounted fire truck SPM .
• Armored repair and recovery vehicle BREM-80U .
• Floating conveyor PTS-4 .
• Trench excavator BTM-4M .

152-mm divisional self-propelled howitzer "Msta-S", also the "sister" of the T-80

Also, based on the main tank T-80UD, the following were developed:

• Ukrainian main tank T-84 (T-80UD with a souped-up engine, new aiming devices and dynamic protection).
• “Object 478DU9”, aka T-84U, aka T-84U “Oplot” (T-84 with a modified turret, installation of modern foreign surveillance devices and enlarged side screens).
• BM "Oplot" (aka "Oplot-M") is a further development of the T-80UD concept, a modern main tank.

• Directory of armored vehicles • Equipment of the same period •

Source: compilation based on publicly available information on the Internet