The T-80 main battle tank has been in production since the late
1970's. KBTM of Omsk, Russian Federation, manufactures the T-80U for
general use in infantry and tank units and the T-80UK command tank and
XKBM, Kharkov, Ukraine, manufactures the T-80UD and the T-84. 320 T-80UD
tanks have been ordered from Ukraine by Pakistan.
ARMAMENT
The T-80U carries the 9M119 Refleks (NATO designation AT-11 Sniper)
anti-tank guided missile system which is fired from the main gun. The
range of the missile is 100 - 4,000 m and takes 11.7sec to reach maximum
range. The system is intended to engage tanks fitted with ERA (Explosive
Reactive Armour) as well as low-flying air targets such as helicopters, at
a range of up to 5 km. The missile system fires either the 9M119 or 9M119M
missiles which have semi-automatic laser beamriding guidance and a hollow
charge warhead. Missile weight is 23.4 kg.
The tank is fitted with a 125 mm 2A46M-1 automatic smoothbore gun with
thermal sleeve which can fire between 6 and 8 rounds per minute. Loading
is hydromechanical with a 28 round carousel container. 45 rounds are
carried. Elevation limits of the gun are -5 to +15 degrees. The gun fires
separate loading projectiles which have semi-combustible cartridge case
and sabot. Ammunition can be AP (Armour Piercing), APDS (Armour Piercing
Discarding Sabot), HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) and HE-FRAG (High
Explosive-Fragmentation).
Armament also includes a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm
Utes (NSVT-12.7) air defence machine gun.
FIRE CONTROL
The tank fire control system is the 1A42 which includes 1V517 ballistic
computer, two-axis electrohydraulic weapon stabiliser, rangefinder sight
stabilised in two axes as well as a GPK-59 hydro-semicompass azimuth
indicator and an azimuth indicator for the turret rotation. This system
permits firing on the move.
The gunner has the 1G46 day sight and also an infrared sight.
PLATFORM
The tank is protected by a combination of explosive reactive armour
(ERA) at the front and gill type armour panels elesewhere. Other
countermeasures include quieter running, gas-turbine engine which exhausts
smokeless gases, improved heat insulation of roof and hatches, ventilation
of the engine-transmission system, cooling system, smoke-laying system and
smoke discharging system.
The T-80U's gas turbine engine is the GTD-1250 which produces 920 kW
(1250 hp). The GTD-1250 is a three shaft engine with two cascades of
turbocompression. There is also an independent GTA-18 auxiliary power unit
for use when the tank is stationary.
The tank has a planetary power transmission with hydraulic servo-system
for increased mobility. The track and suspension system is fitted with
RMSh track and rubber-tyred road wheels, torsion bar suspension with
hydraulic telescopic double-acting shock absorbers.
Maximum speed of the vehicle is 70 km/hour. NBC protection, automatic
firefighting, mine-clearing and self-entrenching equipment are fitted.
T-80UK COMMAND TANK
The T-80UK tank is designed to provide command and control capability
for field commanders and enable communications with superior command. It
is similar to the T-80U in terms of armament and equipment but has a
number of additional features.
It is fitted with the Shtora-1 countermeasures suite also fitted on the
T-90 tank. Shtora-1 is produced by Electronintorg of Russia. This system
includes infrared jammer, laser warning system with four laser warning
receivers, grenade discharging system which produces an aerosol screen and
a computerised control system. Operational range against anti-tank guided
weapons and fire control systems with laser rangefinders is 200 m.
The T-80UK's communications system includes UHF, and HF systems as well
as intercom. The tank has a combined symmetric dipole antenna for both UHF
and HF communications. This increases range when the tank is stationary -
up to 40 km for the R-163-50U radio and 350 km for the R-163-50K radio. An
11 m antenna feed is mounted on the hull. There is also a UHF-4m rod
antenna and a 4m HF antenna with variable beam control which gives a range
up to 250 km while the tank is moving. The tank's track is designed to
conduct electricity to avoid interference with the communication systems.
An AB-1-P28 1 kW benzene generator is provided to power communications
when the tank is stationary.
T-80UK also has a more advanced fire control system, automatic loader
for the gun, built-in turret ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour), TNA-4-3
navigational aid, hydropneumatic cleaning system for vision devices.
T-80UM2
The latest version of the T-80U being developed is the T-80UM2 which is
designed to engage targets while stationary or on the move. It has a new
all-welded cast steel turret with ERA (explosive reactive armour) on the
hull front and turret, an automatic loading system and relocation of the
ammunition to the turret bustle for improved survivability. Other
improvements include a computerised fire control system, thermal imaging
sights for commander and gunner, and the Arena active countermeasures
system.