The Omsk Transportation Engineering Plant, as part of the State Defense Order, has sent a new batch of T-80BVM tanks modernized to the troops. Previously, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation said that in 2021 Russian ground forces would receive more than 170 modernized tanks. According to the ministry, there are plans to supply the T-90M Breakthrough, as well as the T-72B3, T-72B3M and T-80BVM.
The T-80BVM is an improved version of the T-80BV tank, modified by Omsktransmash OJSC. to a level which meets modern demands, it has increased firepower, safety and maneuverability. This year, the tank underwent summer tests for the first time, which included testing for enhanced armor protection at a distance of five thousand meters.
Recall that the T-80 is called a “ jet tank '', it gets this name from the fact that it does not use a traditional diesel engine, but a gas turbine engine. gas as a power plant, the same as that of turboprop airplanes. As a result, it makes noise like a jet plane. In the 1990s, the T-80 began to be phased out largely because these engines used a lot of fuel (1.6 to 1.8 times more than diesel engines), which drastically reduced range. . But at the same time, a gas turbine engine has a significant advantage over a diesel engine. It starts smoothly in cold weather. Now this quality has become in demand again due to the fact that Russia is increasing its military presence in the Arctic area. & Nbsp;
Maybe that's why the T-80 was 'rehabilitated' and start returning storage bases to the Omsk Transportation Engineering Plant for repair and upgrading, and from there & mdash; in combat units. As the machine is constantly being improved, the latest version of the T-80 received additional improvements, including a & mdash; more economical & mdash; GTD-1250 gas turbine engine with increased power. The tank is now easier to control at night, since the driver has received a TVN-5 night vision device.
In addition, the 46-ton combat vehicle was armed with an improved 125mm cannon and new fire control devices, as well as a guided weapon system and weapon system. a target tracking device. The T-80BVM was equipped with an updated weapon stabilizer and multi-channel Sosna-U gunner sight. with sighting, thermal imaging and rangefinder channels, as well as a missile control channel. At the same time, the manufacturer completely abandoned the use of components of foreign manufacture.
High crew controllability is ensured by the new Aqueduct communications control complex. It includes a tank radio station for digital communication with R-168-25UE data encryption and a complex of hardware and software for internal communication, switching and control.
For greater survivability of the crew in combat, the vehicle has been equipped with three types of protection: a modular dynamic protection complex & # 39; & # 39; Relic & # 39; 39; & # 39 ;, anti-cumulative mesh screens and the active protection system & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; Arena-M & # 39; & # 39;.
The T-80 tank, developed by the Kirov plant, has been in service for more than 40 years. It was produced from 1976 to 1998, more than 10,000 cars were produced in various variations. By the way, there are versions with a diesel power plant, and in total there are 43 modifications of this tank, including the Ukrainian version of the T-84UD, etc. The T-80 is in service in Cyprus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Angola, South Korea, Belarus, Pakistan and Russia. In Russia, it is mainly armed with the T-80B and T-80BV versions, with a total of around 3,500 vehicles.