Someone has probably already written off this old combat vehicle. But not Moscow
Russia continues to modernize old tanks. For example, many in the West are surprised that Moscow does not write off the T-80, because it has long been outdated, the author of the article notes. He lists the advantages of this combat vehicle and advises you to stop underestimating it.
Charlie Gao
Although many types of Russian tanks are nominally to be replaced by the T-14 Armata, Russia continues to modernize older models. Few people pay attention to this, but various variants of the T-80 tank are being upgraded in this country.
Some in the West thought that this model had come to an end when the T-80 performed very poorly in Chechnya; however, many companies continued very ambitious projects to improve it. Despite the economic difficulties of the 1990s, which resulted in the cancellation of a number of projects, the Russian military has not abandoned the T-80 tank, and continues work on its modernization, bringing this machine to modern standards.
The main reason for this situation is the geographical location of Russia. The T-72 and T-90 work well in most climatic conditions, but in the north, where temperatures drop to very low levels, the T-80 significantly surpasses them due to its gas turbine engine.
Diesel-powered Russian tanks at temperatures of 30 degrees below zero take about 45 minutes to warm up their engines, while a gas turbine-powered vehicle is ready to start moving in just one minute. It is also said that the T-80 is much more comfortable for the crew, who are much warmer in it in the north than in other tanks.
So how does Russia intend to modernize the T-80? At first, the main focus was on improving the basic (and the best at that time) T-80U model. One of the projects in this area was the "Object 640" ("Black Eagle"), which was developed at the Leningrad (and then Omsk) plant. This tank was very modern and promising for its time, and many innovative ideas were incorporated into its design.
The body of the T-80U tank was lengthened, which significantly strengthened the frontal armor. One support roller was added to the chassis, in accordance with the increase in the length of the hull. Almost all the components of the Black Eagle were divided into compartments, starting with weapons and ending with crew members. This was supposed to reduce damage in the event of a shell piercing the armor, since the scattering of fragments would be limited to one compartment.
The tank's armament was also placed in a separate compartment so that it could be easily changed and upgraded to meet new threats. The carousel-type automatic loader used in the standard T-80 and T-72 was replaced with an armored module with knock-out armor panels, which increased the rate of fire and survivability of the combat vehicle. Unfortunately for the Omsk Tank Factory, neither the Russian Ministry of Defense nor the export market had any particular desire to purchase such tanks.
Another upgraded version in the T-80U line in the 1990s was the T-80UM model, which had a simple thermal imager mounted on the turret and had the ability to fire 9M119M anti-tank missiles through a cannon barrel. The prototypes were manufactured with various active protection complexes: T-80UM1 with KAZ Arena, and T-80UM2 with KAZ Drozd-2.
One of the options for upgrading the T-80U was the T-80UA machine, which was not put into mass production. This tank had an upgraded fire control system and a barrel bending device for new ammunition.
In the 2000s, efforts were also made to modernize the earlier series of T-80B tanks to a limited extent (at that time they were even more outdated). The result was the T-80BA tank, in which, unlike the T-80UA, the fire control system was slightly improved and it became possible to fire more modern armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles. The T-80UE1 model was also created, in which the T-80BV tank turrets were replaced with T-80UD turrets, and some other modifications were carried out (by improving the automatic loader and fire control system).
It is important to note that at this time the T-72B tank was not seriously upgraded. The T-72BA variant created at that time is in many ways similar to the T-80BA, T-80UA and T-80UE1, and it has implemented only minor changes without major modernization.
For some time, there was an opinion that the T-80 had no future in Russia, since the T-80UM, T-80UM1 and T-80 UM2, which had undergone deep modernization, were not put into service. One representative of the Russian military department told the Echo of Moscow radio station that by 2015 only T-72 and T-90 tanks would remain in service.
But in the end, everything turned out to be different. In 2017, the T-80BVM tank, which is a deep modernization of the T-80BV machine, was shown to the public. The modernization elements include the new Sosna-U thermal imaging gunner's sight, the Relict dynamic protection system, as well as a completely redesigned chassis, which brought the T-80BV up to T-72B3 standards.
In some respects, the T-80BVM is even superior to the T-72B3. For example, the gunner's seat is ergonomically better than that of the B3, and the Sosna-U sight is located directly in front of the gunner, unlike the T-72B3, where it was mounted on the side. These improved characteristics led to the T-80BVM entering service with the elite 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Tank Division instead of the T-72 and T-90 variants.
But it's not just the T-80BV tanks that are undergoing the modernization process. In July 2018, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced its intention to modernize the T-80UE tank1. During the modernization, the Plissa sight may be replaced with a new Sosna-U thermal imager. The same modernization can be carried out on the T-80U and T-80UA tanks, which are still in service. As they say, rumors about the obsolescence of the T-80 are greatly exaggerated.
Charlie Gao studied political science and computer science at Grenell College. He often makes comments on defense and national security issues.
