Image source: Photo: "Bulletin of Mordovia", "Bravery2004"
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large number of Soviet advanced developments remained in Ukraine and almost all of them, from rocket engines to ground forces equipment, were sold abroad.
For example, in the 80s, tank units of the Transcaucasian Military District received a large number of modernized T-55M, T-55AM, T-55MV and T-55AD tanks. The latter are equipped with 1030M active protection complexes ("Drozd"), ended up in formations stationed on the territory of Azerbaijan.
Image source: Photo: "Bulletin of Mordovia", "Bravery2004"
After the events in Baku in January 1990, the rearmament of troops with T-72 tanks of various modifications began, and the "fifty-fifths" with "Thrushes" were withdrawn to Ukraine. There are 250 units in total. The Kiev authorities did not need these, even significantly improved tanks - they had thousands of T-64 and T-72.
Therefore, the surplus began to be disposed of. However, not all of them. One T-55AD in fully operational condition with ammunition and special equipment was sent to the United States for study. Some of the active protection complexes have been dismantled and sent to warehouses.
Image source: Photo: "Bulletin of Mordovia", "Bravery2004"
In 2003, the US military decided to study the Ukrainian T-84 in detail. Kiev readily responded to the wishes of senior partners, and tanks were sent overseas, including those equipped with KAZ Drozd. It is not known exactly how such combat vehicles were tested, short leaks occur from time to time, in which insignificant details are mentioned, but nothing has yet been reported about work with Soviet active protection complexes. Presumably, if any flaws had been revealed, this would have been trumpeted to the whole world, but here they have been silent for more than 20 years.
Roman Katkov
