T-80

The T-80 is a main battle tank which was designed in the Soviet Union and entered service in 1976. A development of the T-64, it was the first production tank in the world to be equipped with a gas turbine engine for main propulsion (the Stridsvagn 103 used a supplementary gas turbine by 1971). An advanced derivative, the T-84, continues to be produced in Ukraine. The T-80 and its variants are in service in Belarus, Cyprus, Kazakhstan[6], Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, and Ukraine.
Contents
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* 1 Production history
o 1.1 Ukrainian T-80UD
* 2 Design details
o 2.1 Models
o 2.2 Variants
* 3 Operators
o 3.1 Former operators
* 4 See also
* 5 Notes
* 6 References
* 7 External links

[edit] Production history

Project of the first tank powered by a turbine engine in Soviet Union came into existence back in 1949. It's designer was A. Ch. Starostienko who worked at Kirovsk plant. The tank never got past the design phase because the turbine engines at the time were of very poor quality. Later in 1955 at Kirovsk plant under guidance of G. A. Ogloblin two prototypes of 1,000 hp (746 kW) turbine engine were made. Two years later a team lead by famous heavy tank designer Ż. J. Kotin constructed two prototypes of Ob'yekt 278 tank. Both prototypes were hybrids of IS-7 and T-10, were powered by GTD-1 turbine engine, weighed 53.5 tonnes and were armed with 130 mm M65 tank gun. The turbine engine allowed the tank to reach maximal speed of 57.3 km/h but with 1950 l of fuel the tank could only make 300 km. They were considered experimental vehicles and work on them ceased. In 1963 in Morozov Design Bureau along with T-64 tank, the T-64T tank was created. It used GTD-3TL turbine engine which generated 700 hp (522 kW). The tank was tested until 1965. At the same time at Uralvagonzavod a design team under guidance of L. N. Karcew created Ob'yekt 167T tank. It used the GTD-3T turbine engine with the power of 801 hp (597 kW).[6]

In 1966 experimental Ob'yekt 288 rocket tank powered by two aerial GTD-350 turbine engines with a combined power of 691 hp (515 kW) was created. The trails indicated that twin propulsion wasn't any better than turbine engine which was in development since 1968 at KB-3 of Kirovsk plant (LKZ) and WNII Trans Masz. The tank from LKZ equipped with this turbine engine was constructed in 1969 and designated as Ob'yekt 219 SP1. Essentially it was a T-64T with GTD-1000T multi-fuel gas turbine engine with the power of 1000 hp (746 kW). During the trials it was indicated that the increased weigh and changed dynamic characteristic required a complete rebuilding of vehicle's caterpillar tracks system. The second prototype which was designated Ob'yekt 219 SP2 received bigger drive sprocket and return rollers. The number of wheels was increased from four to five. The construction of the turret was also altered while using the same apartment as the T-64A which was 125 mm 2A46 tank gun, auto loader and the placement of ammunition. Also some of the additional equipment came from T-64A. LKZ plant created a series of prototypes based on Ob'yekt 219 SP2 and upgraded it and seven years later it became the T-80.[6]

The T-80 has been confused by some Western analysts with the Soviet T-72, but a quick overview of Soviet tanks and their histories provides clarity: the T-80 and T-72 are mechanically very different. They are the products of different design bureaus (the T-80 from SKB-2 design bureau of the Kirov Factory in Leningrad, the T-72 from Uralvagonzavod at Nizhny Tagil, Russia), and are really only similar in general appearance. The T-80 is based on the earlier T-64 and incorporates features from the T-72, which was a complementary design.

The T-64 was the earlier offering of the Morozov Design Bureau (KMDB), a high-technology main battle tank designed to replace the obsolescent IS-3 and T-10 heavy tanks, used in the Red Army's independent tank units. The T-72 was intended to be a tank mass-produced to equip the bulk of the Soviet Motor Rifle units, and for sale to export partners and eastern-bloc satellite states. The mechanically simpler T-72 is simpler to manufacture, and easier to service in the field.

Also Western analysts for many years denied usage of gas turbine as main propulsion. From a long distance T-64, T-72 and T-80 look pretty much alike even though T-80 is 90 cm longer than T-64.[6]

The T-64's story continues in the T-80. The Leningrad design bureau improved upon the earlier design, introducing a gas turbine engine in the original model, and incorporating suspension components of the T-72. This gave the tank a high power-to-weight ratio and made it easily the most mobile tank in service, albeit with acute range problems, since the turbine consumes fuel very rapidly, even when the engine idles. (Morozov's subsequent parallel development of the T-80UD replaced the gas turbine with a diesel, to decrease fuel consumption and maintenance.) While the M1 Abrams has a 1,500 hp (1,120 kW) gas turbine as well, the T-80 is almost half the size and weight; its consequent maneuverability sees it referred to as the "flying tank". The T-80 can fire the same 9K112 Kobra (AT-8 Songster) anti-tank guided missile through its gun barrel as the T-64.

The T-80U main battle tank (1985, "U" for uluchsheniye ‘improvement’) was designed by SKB-2 in Leningrad (hull) and the Morozov Bureau (turret and armament). It is powered by the 1,250 hp (919 kW) GTD-1250 gas turbine. It is a step ahead of the GTD-1000T and GTD-1000TF engines that were installed on the previous tanks of T-80 line. This gas turbine can use jet fuels as well as diesel and low-octane gasoline, has good dynamic stability, service life, and reliability. the GTD-1250 gas turbine has a built-in automatic system of dust deposits removal. Of course it retains the T-80's high fuel consumption, which the Russian army found unacceptable during the Chechen conflicts. The T-80U is protected by a new generation of explosive reactive armour called Kontakt-5, integrated into the design of the turret and hull, and Brod-M deep wading equipment. It can fire the new 9M119 Refleks (AT-11 Sniper) guided missile. The remotely controlled commander's machine gun is replaced by a more flexible pintle-mounted one.

The T-80U(M) of the 1990s introduced the Buran-P gunner's thermal imaging sight and 9M119M Refleks-M guided missile, and later an improved 2A46M-4 version of the 125 mm gun, 1G46M gunner's sight, and TO-1KO-4 Buran-R gunner's thermal site.

Recently, the Russians seem to be abandoning the T-80. Because of the turbine-powered tank's high fuel consumption, and the poor combat performance of older T-80BV tanks in Chechnya, the Russian Army decided to standardize on the Uralvagonzavod factory's T-90 tank (derived from the T-72BM, but incorporating some T-80 technology), and have had some success selling it to the Indian Army. The Omsk Tank Plant in Siberia, facing a shortage of domestic orders, has sold a small number of T-80 tanks to Cyprus, South Korea, and China, and has demonstrated versions intended for export, including the T-80UM1 with active protection systems, and the advanced T-80UM2 Black Eagle concept tank.

[edit] Ukrainian T-80UD

In parallel with the T-80U, the Morozov Bureau in Ukraine developed a diesel-powered version, the T-80UD. It is powered by the 1,000-hp 6TD-1 6-cylinder multi-fuel two-stroke turbo-piston diesel engine, ensuring high fuel efficiency and a long cruising range. The engine support systems make it possible to operate the tank at ambient fuel temperatures of up to 55°C and to ford to a water depth of 1.8 m. The T-80UD shares most of the T-80U's improvements, but can be distinguished from it by a different engine deck, distinctive smoke-mortar array and turret stowage boxes, and retains the remotely-controlled commander's machine gun. About 500 T-80UD tanks were built in the Malyshev plant between 1987–91. About 300 were still at the Ukrainian factory when the Soviet Union broke up, so the T-80UD is more common in Ukrainian service than Russian.

Ukrainian exports of the T-80UD have been moderately successful, selling 320 units to the Pakistani Army in 1997–99. This contract almost fell through due to Russia withholding cast turrets and other technology. Ukraine was forced to make its tank industry independent by developing domestic components, including a locally-designed welded turret which was installed on some of the last T-80s for Pakistan.

A further improvement of the T-80UD is the Ukrainian T-84 main battle tank, including the new welded turret, 1,200-hp (895 kW) 6TD-2 engine, Kontakt-5 reactive armour, Shtora active protection system, thermal imaging sight, muzzle referencing system, and auxiliary power unit. The T-84U (1999) shows many refinements, including deeper sideskirts, modified reactive armour, a small reference radar antenna near the gunner's hatch (used to track rounds and compensate for barrel wear), and a large armoured box for the auxiliary power unit at the rear of the right fender. The T-84 Oplot (ten delivered in 2001) introduced turret-bustle ammunition storage, and the T-84-120 Yatagan has been offered for export, featuring a very large turret bustle and NATO-compatible 120 mm gun.