War in Ukraine
T-80 – Russia wants to resume production of an “old” Soviet tank
T-80BVM during a parade
© Wikipedia
Putin urgently needs battle tanks. So old models are being refurbished. Now production of the T-80, which was stopped more than 20 years ago, is to be ramped up again.
In addition, the Russian military is known for keeping the variety of its weapons small in order to simplify logistics and maintenance. But the T-80 and T-90 are fundamentally different models. The T-90 in its current form is based on the T-72, the T-80 on the older T-64. The T-64 is Ukraine’s standard tank, the T-72 is Russia’s – both in modernized versions.
Tank construction
The Russian tank losses
Turbine drive
The T-80 differs from all other Soviet tanks in that it is powered by a gas turbine instead of a diesel engine. The T-80’s turbine engine is designed to work better under extreme climatic conditions. In the current “BVM” version, additional adaptive armor is intended to protect the tank against modern guided missiles. In addition, it should be equipped with an active defense system.
The 125mm smoothbore gun will probably not be replaced, but it will now be controlled by the modern Sosna-U fire control system. The cannon is loaded by an automatic machine. The 28-shell carousel rotates on the turret floor rather than the vehicle floor like the T-72. If a hit penetrates into the fighting area, the entire magazine can explode. This is considered a weak point of the Soviet models, but to kill the crew all it takes is a grenade exploding inside. The T-80 is considered a fast and maneuverable tank. He has a crew of only three men.
Some improvements can be expected when production begins again. It can be assumed that the performance of the turbine will be increased and its thirst for fuel will be dampened – and also that the armor will be fundamentally improved. Modules from the T-90 are probably used. Apparently, the Russians managed to improve the speed of the T-80 in reverse gear. One of the biggest design shortcomings of the T-72 and T-90 is the low backward speed. The T-80 will also be equipped with the Volnorez system, which paralyzes the remote control of drones.
Another production line
The T-80 is not really “old” when it is modernized. Ultimately, the current battle tanks of the NATO countries also go back to designs from this era. It is still difficult to say why the T-80 should be produced alongside the T-90. There are probably no advantages of one or the other design at all that are the reason for the decision. Russia’s military urgently needs more tanks to make up for the war’s losses and also to equip another wave of mobilization. In addition to processing old magazine stocks, new production is important. In this context, it may make sense to rebuild Omsktransmash’s former production of the T-80 and not rely solely on Uralvagonzavo’s facilities. Omsktransmash could also divert capacity from its own civilian production.