The T-80 turned out to be a complete disaster. T-80 turned out to be a complete disaster T 80 mass

Main battle tank T-80 and T-80B

General view of the T-80 tank produced in 1977

Longitudinal, transverse sections and plan view of the T-80 tank produced in 1977. The turret is monolithic.

Object 219R sb-3 (1983)

Object 219R sb-3 (1983) Top view. Tower with sand cores.

History reference

After the cessation of work on heavy tanks, the design bureaus of the Leningrad Kirov Plant were engaged in the creation of a rocket tank based on the Kharkov “object 432”. In 1967, work on the tank was stopped, which was a serious blow to the team and chief designer J. Ya. Kotin.

By this time, preparations were underway for the serial production of the T-64 tank at tank factories, the Kirov Plant was instructed to prepare mass production of this tank. The idea of ​​installing a gas turbine engine on the T-64 tank arose, attempts to install a gas turbine engine on a tank were made earlier, but these were modifications of the existing engines developed for helicopters. In those years, the gas turbine engine was considered a fairly promising engine, the development of a specialized tank gas turbine engine began at the Leningrad NPO named after V. Ya. Klimov under the leadership of S. P. Izotov.

In 1968, Zh.Ya. Kotin took up the duties of deputy. Minister of the Ministry of Defense, his place was taken by N. S. Popov.

March 1974 Sea trials of the first tank "Object 219" produced in 1974

The decision to create a gas turbine tank was made by the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR on April 16, 1968. From that moment, the history of the T-80 tank began. Already in May 1969, a new gas turbine engine was installed on prototype tank. In 1970 The Kaluga Motor-Building Plant was entrusted with the development of serial production of the GTD-1000T tank engine, developed by NPO named after. V. Ya. Klimova.

The vehicle was put into service in 1976 and became the world's first mass-produced tank with a main power plant based on a gas turbine engine. Three main tanks began to be in service - T-64, T-72 and T-80. In terms of combat characteristics, they differed slightly from each other.

Fighting compartment T-80.

The design of the T-80 used used elements of the T-64A tank: gun, ammunition, loading mechanism. The first T-80s were equipped with turrets similar to those installed on the T-64A. A monolithic cast tower was installed on the "object 219-sb2SB".

Improvement of the SLA of the tank "Object 219" was carried out in the direction of increasing the accuracy of measuring the range and, as a result, reducing the time for preparing a shot. The work was carried out on an initiative basis together with the Krasnogorsk Central Design Bureau and the State Optical Institute. S. I. Vavilov (GOI) as part of the modernization of the standard optical tank sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 along the path of pairing a laser rangefinder with it. The work from OKBT was headed by Deputy Chief Designer I. A. Madera, from the Central Design Bureau - by K. Z. Tsiganer, from the GOI - by I. F. Balashov. By the time the main fundamental decisions were worked out, the work met with support from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Defense. As a result, by joint efforts, it was possible to create a quite successfully working design of the TPD-K1 quantum rangefinder sight (code "Toros").

Layout of stabilizer nodes 2E28M2

Windshield wiper for the protective glass of the rangefinder sight TPD-K1

The volume of field tests TPD-K1 on tanks T-72, "Object 219" and T-64A, carried out from December 26, 1974 to March 15, 1975, included stationary tests, field, firing, shelling tests of the tank "Object 219", special and mileage tests. The TPD-K1 and the electric block were installed in tanks at the standard mounting points for the TPD-2-49 rangefinder sight and differed only in the location of the power supply unit and the range output unit, depending on the availability of free space in the combat compartments.

Additionally, it was necessary to refine the armor protection of the head of the rangefinder sight: on the towers of all tanks, the entrance window of the sight shaft was expanded, and the right entrance window was drowned out. The test results showed a reduction in the preparation time for the first shot by 1.5-2 times, an increase in the effective range when firing from a standstill by 500 m, while on the move by 300 m, and a significant simplification of the range measurement process.

On the T-80B, the control system 1A33 "Ob", developed on the T-64B, was adopted without changes.

Thus, in terms of individual structural elements, the T-80 was unified with the previously released T-64A and T-64B tanks.

The layout of the T-80 tank is similar to that adopted on the T-64A. Improved visibility from his seat was achieved by installing three viewing devices instead of one.

T-80B (1978) - a modernized 2A46–2 gun was installed, a new fire control system (FCS) 1A33, a 9K112 guided weapon system was introduced, protection characteristics were improved. Since 1980, a GTD-1000TF engine with a power of 809 kW (1,100 hp) has been installed.

The undercarriage of the T-80 was designed specifically for this tank, and unlike the T-64, it contains road wheels with an outer rubber band. Caterpillar track, made of stampedelements connected to each other parallel, those. double The use of suchcaterpillars reduced vibrations,transmitted from the running gear totank hull, and significantly reducednoise level generated by movement.

In the period of the mid-70s, diesel engines with a power of 1000 hp had not yet been created. and more, therefore, a number of high-ranking officials, primarily D.F. Ustinov, saw the prospect of tank building in the gas turbine engine.

The T-80 tank with a gas turbine engine arose as an alternative to the T-64 tank with5TDF engine. PTherefore its designer N.S. Popov tried in every possible way to prevent the organizationproduction of the 6TD-1 engine, which was developed in the late 70sand its installation in the T-80 tank. In the highest circles of the country there was a constant discussion - which of the engines is better. It was obvious that the gas turbine engine is significantly inferior to the piston engine in terms of cost, has largetravel fuel costs, which requires additional costsfor its transportation and large volumes in the tank to accommodate it.

But few could resist D. F. Ustinov - one of the first persons of the state. For D. F. Ustinov wasimportant is the fact that the American tank "Abrama" was preparedthe answer is in the form of a Soviet T-80 tank.

And few people asked the economic aspect of this issue. The cost of one experimental GTD-1000T for the period of 1970 was 167 thousand rubles. the cost of a whole T-64 tank at that time was 174 thousand rubles. that is, in the T-80, only the engine cost as much as a whole T-64 tank, while the main characteristics, except for the maximum speed, the tanks were similar.

For the period of adoption in 1976, the cost of the T-80 exceeded the cost of the T-64A three times - 480 and 140 thousand rubles, respectively.

By the beginning of the 80s, the cost of serial production of gas turbine engines, due to mass production, had dropped to 100 thousand rubles. But the cost of the T-80B compared to the T-64B equipped with the same FCS and produced in the same period of time was 2 times higher. But, the economic characteristics did not change the determination of D. F. Ustinov to focus on the T-80 as a single tank for the army. Opinion of D.F. Ustinov was not supported by many, including the head of the GBTU A.Kh. Babadzhanyan, who replaced him in 1980 Yu.M. Potapov, but did not openly express their opinion.

By the end of the 1980s, the Soviet army (east of the Urals) had about 100 T-80 tanks, 3700 T-80B tanks and 600 T-80BV tanks. In GSVG in 1987 there were 2260 T-80B and T-80BV tanks and about 4000 thousand T-64A, T-64B and T-64BV. Tanks T-64 and T-80 formed the basis of the Soviet tank forces.

More « The history of domestic tank building in the post-war period.

At the moment, T-80BV tanks make up a significant part of the Russian tank forces and are in need of modernization. In the absence of a mass-produced engine with a capacity of 1200 hp at the moment in the Russian Federation. the modernization of the T-80B is quite reasonable. Existing developments to improve firepower, such as the 45M complex, the active protection complex, introduction of hydrostatic transmission (GOP) of the turning mechanism, the reserves of the modernization of the loading mechanism provide the T-80B with great potential for modernization. It is also rational to equip T-80B tanks with turrets of decommissioned T-80UD tanks with more advanced protection and weapons systems. The direction chosen in the Russian Federation for the modernization of the existing tank fleet until 2015, instead of expensive purchases of new equipment at UVZ, opens up prospects for the modernization of the T-80B and T-80U.

Firepower

On all modifications of the main battle tank T-80 as artillery weapons a 125 mm smoothbore gun of the D-81 type was installed, unified with domestic tanks.

The fighting compartment is similar in layout to the fighting compartment of the T-64 tank. In addition to 28 shots in the mechanized ammo rack, there are three shots within the fighting compartment (7 shells and charges for them are placed in the control compartment).

Ammunition for the gun consists of 38 shots. 28 shotscatches are placed in the conveyor and by type fit into anyratio. 10 shots placed in non-mechanizedlaying and are completed only with high-explosive fragmentation and kumu-lazy shots.

The fighting compartment contains: 1 projectile - vertically on the cabin floor, behind the back of the commander's seat; 1 sleeve - on the floor of the front right side of the cab; 2 shells and 2 shells - at the partition between the middle fuel tanks.

In the department of management are placed: 5 shells and 7 shells - in the tank rack; 2 shells - on the bottom of the tank rack.

Sleeves installed in the fighting compartment must be covered with covers.

The ammunition load of the coaxial PKT machine gun includes 1250 rounds of ammunition, equipped in five belts (250 rounds each) and stacked in their magazines.

Five stores included in the ammunition are located in the fighting compartment of the tank:

one store - on a machine gun;

three shops - in the niche of the tower on the right;

one store - on the front right side of the cab.

Ammunition for anti-aircraft installation consists of 300 cartridges,

equipped with three belts (100 rounds each) and packed in regular magazines, which are located:

one shop - on an anti-aircraft installation;

two shops - on the right side of the stern of the tower.

Ammunition for the AKMS assault rifle includes 300 rounds, filled in 10 magazines (30 pieces in each). Stores are stacked in two bags and placed; one bag - in a rack in the tower, behind the back of the commander's seat; the other is in a rack in the tower, in front of the commander, above the radio station. F-1 hand grenades (10 pcs.) Are stacked in five bags and placed in a rack in the tower, in front of the commander, above the radio station. On the shelf of the cockpit, behind the back of the commander's seat, there is an expelling charge for emergency ejection of the 9M112M product. Ammunition for the rocket launcher (12 signal rockets) is packed into two cartridge belts, which are placed in a rack on the wall of the commander's cabin.

The T-80 tank and its modifications are equipped with MZs similar to those used on the T-64 tanks.

The first T-80 tanks were equipped with a gunner's sight TPD-2-49 with an optical base rangefinder, with independent stabilization of the field of view only in the vertical plane. Later, the development of a tank sight with a laser rangefinder began. The task was to develop the designs of the laser rangefinder and its installation in the TPD2-49 tank sight-rangefinder, the development was carried out by the Central Design Bureau of the Krasnogorsk Mechanical Plant. Zverev.

It was possible to place a laser rangefinder module and elements of its interface with the optics of this sight in the body of a serial sight. The sight of the first stage was named TPD-K1. The specialists of the Kirov plant took an active part both in the "binding" of the modernized sight to the tank, and in the creation of the sight itself. With this sight, the tank was put into service, but the most common modification of the T-80 was the T-80B with the 1A33 Ob control system and the 9K112 guided weapon system, completely borrowed from the T-64B. More about the SLA 1A33. The gunner also has a TPN3-49 night sight with an image intensifier I - generation and target identification range in passive mode 850 m and in active mode with illumination up to 1200 m.

The TPD-K1 sight was later used in the T-72A and T-64A tanks. The task of the T-80B gunner is to point the mark of the sight at the target, measure the range, select the ammunition and fire the shot.

A 7.62 mm PKT machine gun is paired with the cannon. For firing at air targets, there is a 12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the base of the tank commander's hatch.

The ZPU on the commander's turret is made in the old fashioned way, without any electric drives. Moreover, whether or not an anti-aircraft machine gun is needed to rotate commander's cupola the tank commander must rotate the entire structure together with the ZPU, and this is approximately 300 kg of mass, and even the NSV-12.7 Utes machine gun protrudes from the axis of rotation by one and a half meters, that is still a lever.

Protection

Strengthening the protection of the T-80B was carried out through the use of rolled armor of increased hardness of the BTK-1 type for the frontal and side parts of the hull. The frontal part of the hull had an optimal ratio of three-barrier armor thicknesses similar to that proposed for the T-72A.

During the development of the tank, there were attempts to create a cast turret from steel with increased hardness, which were unsuccessful. As a result, the design of the turret was chosen from cast armor of medium hardness with a poured core similar to the turret of the T-72A tank, and the thickness of the armor of the T-80B turret was increased, such turrets were accepted for serial production from 1977.

Further reinforcement of the armor of the T-80B tank was achieved in the T-80BV, which was put into service in 1985. The armor protection of the frontal part of the hull and turret of this tank is fundamentally the same as on the T-80B tank, but consists of reinforced combined armor and hinged dynamic protection "Contact-1". In the course of the transition to serial production of the T-80U tank, some T-80BV tanks of the latest series (object 219RB) installed turrets of the T-80U type, but with the old FCS and the Cobra guided weapon system.

To provide protection against high-precision weapons that hit the tank, as a rule, from the upper hemisphere to the engine compartment area (all of them are mainly with thermal homing heads), the exhaust manifold guide grille was made in a box shape. This made it possible to somewhat remove the exit point of hot gases from the aft armor plate and actually "deceive" the homing aids. In addition, the set of underwater tank driving equipment (OPVT) available on the machine was placed at the stern of the tower, thus covering a significant part of the MTO roof.

The inner walls of the fighting compartment and the control compartment were covered with a layer of lining made of polymer material. It performs a double protective function. When kinetic and armor-piercing high-explosive anti-tank ammunition enters the tank, it prevents small armor fragments that form on the inner surface of the armor from scattering inside the hull. In addition, thanks to a specially selected chemical composition, this lining significantly reduces the effect of gamma radiation on the crew. For the same purposes, a special plate and an insert in the driver's seat (protecting it from radiation when overcoming contaminated terrain) serve.

Protection against neutron weapons is also provided. As is known, these particles with zero charge are most effectively retained by hydrogen-containing materials. Therefore, the lining, which was mentioned above, is made of just such a material. The fuel tanks of the engine power system are located outside and inside the vehicle in such a way as to surround the crew with an almost continuous anti-neutron belt.

Also, to protect against weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical and bacteriological) and to extinguish fires arising in the vehicle, a special semi-automatic collective protection system (SKZ) installed in the tank is designed. It includes: a radiation and chemical reconnaissance device (PRKhR), ZETs-11-2 switching equipment, a filter-ventilation unit (FVU), a sub-pressure meter, an engine stop mechanism (MOD), closing seals with actuators and permanent hull and turret seals. The system operates in two modes: automatic and manual - by commands from the control panel (in exceptional cases, to extinguish fires by command from the P11-5 panel).

In the automatic (main) mode, when radioactive or chemical air contamination is detected outside the tank (using the PRHR device in the constant air monitoring mode), a command is sent from the sensors of the system to the actuators of the closing seals and the filter-ventilation unit is turned on, creating an excess pressure of purified air in the habitable compartments . At the same time, sound and light alarms are activated, notifying the crew of the nature of the contamination of the area. The efficiency and reliability of the system has been proven during special tests with modeling situations of air contamination close to realistically possible.

The fire-fighting equipment is connected to the CPS through the ZETs-11-2 switching equipment and can operate automatically or from the buttons on the consoles of the driver and commander. In automatic mode, the equipment is triggered by a signal from the temperature sensors of the ZETs-11-2 equipment. At the same time, the supercharger is turned off and the HVU valves are closed and the MOD is activated. As a result, air access to the MTO is stopped. Then the squib of one of the three cylinders with fire extinguishing composition is blown up and through the sprayer it is filled with the appropriate (place of fire) compartment of the tank. After extinguishing the fire, the HVU supercharger automatically turns on with the opening of the valves, which contributes to the rapid removal of combustion products and fire extinguishing composition from the habitable compartments of the tank. In this case, an electrical signal is removed from the MOD, which makes it possible to start the engine.

The listed design solutions serve to protect the crew and internal equipment of the tank in case of hit by various anti-tank weapons. In order to reduce the likelihood of their hit, thermal smoke equipment was installed on the T-80 for setting up TDA smoke screens and smoke grenade launchers of the 902B Tucha system. The tank is equipped with equipment for self-digging and for hanging a mine trawl.

Mobility characteristics

Power point

The power plant consists of a gas turbine engine and systems that ensure its operation: fuel, control, oil, air cleaning, air and special equipment. The special equipment of the power plant includes dust blowing and vibration cleaning systems, a fuel spraying device and nozzle purge, thermal smoke equipment.

T-80 tank with gas turbine engine from 1976 produced in Omsk with an engine that producedKaluga Motor Plant of the Ministry of Aviationindustry. The development of this engine wasimplemented LNPO them. Klimov in the period 1968-1972.

The engine had symbol GTD 1000T. Power it upwas 1000 hp on the stand, which corresponded to 795 hp. intank, specific effective fuel consumption in benchconditions - no more than 240 g/e.l.s.h. In tank conditions - 270 g / e.l.s.h. The warranty period is 500 hours, engine life is 1000 hours.

GTD 1000T engine -three-shaft, with two-stage centrifugal-centrifugalcompressor, two single-stage compressor turbines,annular countercurrent combustion chamber, freesingle-stage power turbine with adjustable nozzle.

The working cycle of a gas turbine engine consists of the same processes as the cycle of a piston engine - intake, compression, combustion, expansion and exhaust. However, unlike piston engines, in which these processes proceed sequentially in the same place (in the cylinder), in GTE they are carried out simultaneously and continuously in different places: intake and compression processes in compressors; combustion - in the combustion chamber; expansions - in turbines; release - in the outlet pa-tube.

The power take-off to the driving wheels of the machine is carried out from a free turbine through the engine gearbox and transmission. The frequency of rotation of the rotor of a free turbine, depending on the position of the fuel supply pedal and soil resistance, can vary from zero to 26650 rpm.

The engine in the power section of the machine is installed in a monoblock with units and system nodes, which speeds up and simplifies assembly and disassembly work.

The monoblock is mounted along the longitudinal axis of the tank on three supports: two rear yokes and a front suspension support. On the T-80 tank, the time to replace the engine is 5 hours, each gearbox - 4.5 hours. (Final report on military operation of the 3rd company in the PriVO).

On the T-72 tank, the engine replacement time is 24 hours. (Report 38 of the Research Institute of BTT, “Control over the course of military operation of T-72 tanks in the BVO). The replacement time for each gearbox is 10.5 hours, the guitar is 17.7 hours (Manual for the military repair of T-72 tanks).

Fuel system

The fuel system includes eight internal and five external fuel tanks, pumps, filters, valves, taps, pipelines and control drives.

To refuel the fuel system, fuel grades T-1, TS-1, RT, as well as diesel fuel L, 3, A are used. The main fuel is T-1 and TS-1. It is allowed to mix diesel fuel with fuel T-1, TS-1 and RT in any proportion. The total fuel supply in the booked volume is 1110 liters, external tanks - 700 liters, additional barrels 400 liters.

Air cleaning system

The air cleaning system is designed to clean the air entering the engine, the high-pressure turbine nozzle, for blowing the power compartment units.

The air cleaning system includes air intake louvers of the roof of the power compartment with a protective mesh, an air cleaner and radiator unit, a fan for blowing units, two fans for dust extraction and oil cooling, an air duct for blowing units,

two air ducts for ejection of cooling air and dust, hatch of the bulkhead of the power compartment, air filters for the nozzle apparatus of the high-pressure turbine and pressurization of the support cavities.

Transmission

The transmission of the machine is mechanical, with a hydraulic servo control system, based on that used on the T-64, adapted for the gas turbine engine.

Chassis

The design of the chassis T-80contains track rollers with outer rubber, a caterpillar track made of stampedelements connected to each other parallel, those. doublerubber-metal hinge, whilestamped track elements in placescontact with road wheels (i.e. on the tracktrack) are made with a rubber band.

The suspension of the tank is individual, torsion bar, with hydraulic shock absorbers. It consists of 12 suspension units and 6 shock absorbers.

The placement of the torsion bars is parallel, for the entire width of the machine body, with the torsion bars of the starboard side shifted forward, while the torsion bars of the left and right sides are not interchangeable.

Shock absorbers - hydraulic, piston, telescopic type, double-acting. The tank has six shock absorbers (three on each side): on the first, second and sixth suspension units.

Used materials:

“A tank that defies time. To the 25th anniversary of the T-80 tank. Team of authors: M. V. Ashik, A. S. Efremov, N. S. Popov. St. Petersburg. 2001

“Motors and destinies. About time and about myself. N.K. Ryazantsev. Kharkiv. 2009

It just so happened that almost all MBTs (main battle tanks) in the world have a diesel engine. There are only two exceptions: T-80U and Abrams. What considerations were guided by Soviet specialists when creating the famous "eighties", and what are the prospects for this machine at the present time?

How it all began?

For the first time, the domestic T-80U saw the light of day in 1976, and in 1980 the Americans made their Abrams. Until now, only Russia and the United States are armed with tanks with a gas turbine power plant. Ukraine is not taken into account, because only the T-80UD, the diesel version of the famous "eighties", is in service there.

And it all started in 1932, when a design bureau was organized in the USSR, which belonged to the Kirov Plant. It was in its bowels that the idea of ​​​​creating a fundamentally new tank equipped with a gas turbine power plant was born. It was from this decision that it depended what type of fuel for the T-80U tank would be used in the future: conventional diesel or kerosene.

The famous designer Zh. Ya. Kotin, who worked on the layout of formidable ISs, at one time thought about creating even more powerful and better armed vehicles. Why did he turn his attention to the gas turbine engine? The fact is that he planned to create a tank weighing in the range of 55-60 tons, for the normal mobility of which a motor with a capacity of at least 1000 hp was required. With. In those years, such diesel engines could only be dreamed of. That is why the idea arose of introducing aviation and shipbuilding technologies (that is, gas turbine engines) into tank building.

Already in 1955, work began, two promising samples were created. But then it turned out that the engineers of the Kirov plant, who had previously created only engines for ships, did not fully understand the technological task. The work was curtailed, and then completely stopped, since N. S. Khrushchev completely "ruined" all the development of heavy tanks. So at that time, the T-80U tank, whose engine is unique in its own way, was not destined to appear at that time.

However, indiscriminately accusing Nikita Sergeevich in this case is not worth it: in parallel, promising diesel engines, against which a frankly crude gas turbine engine looked very unpromising. But what can I say, if this engine was able to “register” on production tanks only by the 80s of the last century, and even today, many military men do not have the most rosy attitude towards such power plants. It should be noted that there are quite objective reasons for this.

Continuation of work

Everything changed after the creation of the world's first MBT, which was the T-64. Soon, the designers realized that an even more advanced tank could be made on its basis ... But the difficulty lay in the stringent requirements put forward by the country's leadership: it must be as unified as possible with existing vehicles, not exceed their dimensions, but at the same time be able to be used as a means for "jerk to the English Channel".

And then everyone again remembered the gas turbine engine, since the native power plant of the T-64 even then decisively did not meet the requirements of the time. It was then that Ustinov decided to create the T-80U. The main fuel and engine of the new tank were supposed to contribute to its highest possible speed characteristics.

Difficulties encountered

The huge problem was that the new power plant with air purifiers had to somehow fit into the standard MTO T-64A. Moreover, the commission demanded a block system: in other words, it was necessary to make the engine so that during a major overhaul it would be possible to remove it entirely and replace it with a new one. Without spending, of course, a lot of time on it. And if everything was relatively simple with a relatively compact gas turbine engine, then the air cleaning system gave the engineers a lot of headaches.

But this system is extremely important even for a diesel tank, not to mention its gas turbine counterpart on the T-80U. Whatever fuel is used, the blades of the turbine plant will instantly stick to slag and fall apart if the air entering the combustion chamber is not properly cleaned of impurities that pollute it.

It should be remembered that all engine designers strive to ensure that the air entering the cylinders or the working chamber of the turbine is 100% free of dust. And it is not difficult to understand them, since the dust literally devours the insides of the motor. In fact, it acts like a fine emery.

Prototypes

In 1963, the notorious Morozov created a prototype T-64T, on which a gas turbine engine with a very modest power of 700 hp was installed. With. Already in 1964, designers from Tagil, who worked under the direction of L. N. Kartsev, created a much more promising engine that could already produce 800 “horses”.

But the designers, both in Kharkov and in Nizhny Tagil, faced a whole range of complex technical problems, due to which the first domestic tanks with gas turbine engines could appear only in the 80s. In the end, only the T-80U received a really good engine. The type of fuel used to power it also set this engine apart from earlier prototypes, as the tank could use all types of conventional diesel fuel.

It was not by chance that we described the dust aspects above, since it was the problem of high-quality air purification that became the most difficult. The engineers had great experience in the development of turbines for helicopters ... but the engines of the helicopters worked in a constant mode, and the issue of dust pollution of the air at the height of their work did not arise at all. In general, the work was continued (oddly enough) only at the suggestion of Khrushchev, who was raving about rocket tanks.

The most "viable" project was the "Dragon". For him, an engine of increased power was vital.

Experimental objects

In general, there was nothing surprising in this, since increased mobility, compactness and a lowered silhouette were important for such machines. In 1966, the designers decided to go the other way and presented to the public an experimental project, the heart of which was two GTD-350s at once, giving out, as you can easily understand, 700 hp. With. The power plant was created in NPO them. V. Ya. Klimov, where by that time there were enough experienced specialists involved in the development of turbines for aircraft and ships. It was they who, by and large, created the T-80U, the engine of which for its time was a truly unique development.

But it soon became clear that even one gas turbine engine is a complicated and rather capricious thing, and even their pairing has absolutely no advantages at all over the usual monoblock circuit. And therefore, by 1968, an official decree was issued by the government and the Ministry of Defense of the USSR on the resumption of work on a single version. By the mid-70s, a tank was ready, which later became known to the whole world under the designation T-80U.

Main characteristics

The layout (as in the case of the T-64 and T-72) is classic, with a rear MTO, the crew is three people. Unlike previous models, here the driver was given three triplexes at once, which significantly improved visibility. Even such an incredible luxury for domestic tanks as heating the workplace was provided here.

Fortunately, there was plenty of heat from the hot turbine. So the T-80U with a gas turbine engine is quite justifiably a favorite of tankers, since the working conditions of the crew in it are much more comfortable when compared to the T-64/72.

The body is made by welding, the tower is cast, the angle of inclination of the sheets is 68 degrees. As in the T-64, combined armor was used here, made up of armor steel and ceramics. Thanks to rational tilt angles and thickness, the T-80U tank provides increased chances of crew survival in the most difficult combat conditions.

There is also a developed system for protecting the crew from weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear ones. The layout of the combat compartment is almost completely similar to that of the T-64B.

Engine room specifications

The designers still had to arrange the gas turbine engine in the MTO longitudinally, which automatically resulted in a slight increase in the dimensions of the machine compared to the T-64. The gas turbine engine was made in the form of a monoblock weighing 1050 kg. Its feature was the presence of a special gearbox that allows you to remove the maximum possible from the motor, as well as two gearboxes at once.

For power, four tanks were used at once in the MTO, the total volume of which is 1140 liters. It should be noted that the T-80U with a gas turbine engine, the fuel for which is stored in such volumes, is a rather "gluttonous" tank, which consumes 1.5-2 times more fuel than the T-72. And therefore the sizes of the tanks are appropriate.

GTD-1000T was created using a three-shaft scheme, has one turbine and two independent compressor units. The pride of engineers is the adjustable nozzle assembly, which allows you to smoothly control the turbine speed and significantly increases its operational life of the T-80U. What fuel is recommended to use in this case to extend the durability of the power unit? The developers themselves say that high-quality aviation kerosene is the most optimal for this purpose.

Since there is simply no power connection between the compressors and the turbine, the tank can confidently move on soils even with very poor bearing capacity, and the engine will not stall even if the vehicle stops abruptly. And what does the T-80U "eat"? The fuel for his engine can be different ...

Turbine plant

The main advantage of the domestic gas turbine engine is its fuel omnivorousness. It can work on any type of diesel fuel, low-octane gasoline intended for cars. But! T-80U, the fuel for which should only have a tolerable fluidity, is still very sensitive to "unlicensed" fuel. Refueling with non-recommended fuels is possible only in a combat situation, as it entails a significant reduction in the life of the engine and turbine blades.

The engine is started by spinning the compressors, for which two autonomous electric motors are responsible. The acoustic visibility of the T-80U tank is significantly lower than its diesel counterparts, both due to the characteristics of the turbine itself and due to a specially located exhaust system. In addition, the car is unique in that both the engine and the engine itself are used during braking, due to which heavy tank stops almost instantly.

How is it done? The fact is that when you press the brake pedal once, the turbine blades begin to rotate in the opposite direction. This process gives a huge load on the material of the blades and the entire turbine, and therefore it is controlled by electronics. Because of this, if you need to brake hard, you should immediately fully depress the gas pedal. At the same time, hydraulic brakes are immediately activated.

Thanks to the automatic control system, blade wear was reduced by at least 10%, and with proper work of the brake pedal and gear shifting, the driver can reduce it by 5-7%. By the way, what is the main type of fuel for this tank? The T-80U should refuel under ideal conditions, but high-quality diesel fuel will also do.

Air purification systems

A cyclone air purifier was used to ensure 97% removal of dust and other foreign matter from the intake air. By the way, for Abrams (due to normal two-stage cleaning), this figure is close to 100%. It is for this reason that fuel for the T-80U tank is a sore subject, since it is consumed much more when compared to its American competitor.

The remaining 3% of dust settles on the turbine blades in the form of caked slag. To remove it, the designers provided an automatic vibration cleaning program. It should be noted that special equipment for underwater driving can be connected to the air intakes. It allows you to overcome rivers up to five meters deep.

The transmission of the tank is standard - mechanical, planetary type. Includes two boxes, two gearboxes, two hydraulic drives. There are four speeds forward and one reverse. The track rollers are rubberized. The tracks also have an internal one. Because of this, the T-80U tank has a very expensive undercarriage.

The tension is carried out by means of worm-type mechanisms. The suspension is combined, it includes both torsion bars and hydraulic shock absorbers on three rollers.

Weapon characteristics

The main gun is a 2A46M-1 cannon with a caliber of 125 mm. Exactly the same guns were placed on the T-64/72 tanks, as well as on the notorious Sprut self-propelled anti-tank gun.

Armament (as on the T-64) was fully stabilized in two planes. Experienced tankers say that the range of a direct shot at a visually observed target can reach 2100 m. Standard ammunition: high-explosive fragmentation, sub-caliber and cumulative shells. And the automatic loader can simultaneously hold up to 28 shots, and several more can be located in the fighting compartment.

Auxiliary armament was a 12.7-mm Utes machine gun, but the Ukrainians have long been putting any similar weapons, focusing on the requirements of the customer. A huge disadvantage of the machine gun mount is the fact that only the tank commander can shoot from it, and for this he in any case has to leave the armored space of the vehicle. Since the initial ballistics of the 12.7 mm bullet is very similar to that of the projectile, the most important purpose of the machine gun is also to zero the gun without spending the main ammunition.

ammo rack

The mechanized ammo rack was placed by the designers around the entire perimeter of the habitable volume of the tank. Since a large part of the entire MTO of the T-80 tank is occupied by fuel tanks, the designers, in order to preserve the volume, were forced to place only the shells themselves horizontally, while the propellant charges stand vertically in the drum. This is a very noticeable difference between the "eighties" and the T-64/72 tanks, in which shells with expelling charges are located horizontally, at the level of the rollers.

The principle of operation of the main gun and loader

When an appropriate command is received, the drum begins to rotate, simultaneously bringing the selected type of projectile to the loading plane. After that, the mechanism is stopped, the projectile and expelling charge are sent into the gun with the help of a rammer fixed at one point. After the shot, the sleeve is automatically captured by a special mechanism and placed in the vacated cell of the drum.

The loading "carousel" provides a rate of fire of at least six to eight rounds per minute. If the automatic loader fails, you can load the gun manually, but the tankers themselves consider such a development unrealistic (too complicated, dreary and long). The tank uses the TPD-2-49 model sight, which is stabilized in the vertical plane regardless of the gun, allowing you to determine the distance and aim at the target at ranges of 1000-4000 m.

Some modifications

In 1978, the T-80U tank with a gas turbine engine was somewhat modernized. The main innovation was the appearance of the 9K112-1 Cobra missile system, which was fired with 9M112 missiles. The missile could hit an armored target at a distance of up to 4 kilometers, and the probability of this was from 0.8 to 1, depending on the characteristics of the terrain and the speed of the target.

Since the rocket completely repeats the dimensions of a standard 125-millimeter projectile, it can be located in any tray of the loading mechanism. This ammunition is “sharpened” exclusively against armored vehicles, the warhead is only cumulative. Like a conventional shot, structurally, the rocket consists of two parts, the combination of which occurs during the standard operation of the loading mechanism. It is induced in semi-automatic mode: the gunner must firmly hold the capture frame on the attacked target for the first few seconds.

Guidance is either optical or by a directional radio signal. To maximize the probability of hitting the target, the gunner can choose one of three missile flight modes, focusing on the combat situation and the surrounding area. As practice has shown, this is useful when attacking armored vehicles protected by active countermeasure systems.

The forties and fifties of the last century was a real "finest hour" for turbine power plants. The turbine engine won an easy victory over the piston engine in the aircraft industry and tank builders also began to produce the first drawings of tanks with similar power plants. And this is not surprising: this engine has much higher performance compared to a traditional diesel or gasoline engine; having the same weight, a gas turbine engine is much more powerful, and this increases the speed of the tank and allows you to install more powerful weapons on it.

The Soviet Union is the first country in the world to start serial production of a tank powered by a gas turbine engine (GTE). Although I must say that it took several decades. Drawings of tanks with gas turbine engines began to appear in the late 40s, and the T 80 battle tank was put into service in 1976. But the task was not easy. The first turbines were imperfect and ill-suited for use as tank engines.

In Kharkov, in 1963, a modification of the T-64 tank was created, on which a gas turbine engine was installed, but this tank did not go into series. Despite all the advantages of gas turbine engines, there were problems that could not be solved in the 60s. The main difficulty in using a gas turbine power plant was to clean the air from dust. If the aircraft turbine encounters this problem only during landing and takeoff, then the tank engine operates in completely different conditions and the tank column often travels in a continuous cloud of dust. Also, gas turbine engines had higher fuel consumption than traditional engines. In the 50-70s of the last century, numerous drawings of tanks with gas turbine engines were created, but most of them remained at the project stage.

In 1969, the development of a new tank began at the Kirov Plant, on which a gas turbine engine was installed. The tank was developed on the basis of the T-64, but after the first tests it became clear that the drawings of the tank required significant changes. First of all, this applied to the chassis of the car. It took seven years to develop all the changes, and in 1976 the main tank T 80 was adopted. This tank was in service with the USSR army for more than 20 years, now it is the main battle tank of the Russian armed forces. This machine went through many conflicts and wars, was involved during the CTO in Chechnya.

Battle tank T-80. Description

Like any other Soviet tank, the main tank T 80 had a classic layout, inside it housed a crew of three. The mass of the vehicle was 42 tons, the frontal parts of the tank were made of layered armor. This made it possible to increase the security of the tank without increasing the thickness of the armor and adding extra weight. The tank engine had a special air purification system from dust, which made it possible to retain 97% of dust particles. The use of the GPA made it possible to seriously improve the technical characteristics of the new tank, the speed and maneuverability of the vehicle were seriously increased. One of the positive features of machines with gas turbine engines is their "illegibility" in terms of fuel; gasoline, aviation kerosene, diesel and other types of fuel can be used to refuel the T-80. Fuel consumption is relatively small. The internal structure of the tank and the conditions for the crew are well thought out - driving the tank is very easy and convenient.

The tank is armed with a 125-mm smoothbore gun (firing range up to 5 km), the ammunition load includes 40 shells (later modifications have 38 and 45 shells), both sub-caliber, and cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation. Later modifications of the vehicle were able to fire Cobra and Reflex missiles (firing range 4 and 5 km). The armament also includes an anti-aircraft machine gun and a PKT (7.62 mm).

The Soviet main tank T 80 had the following modifications: T-80U, T-80B (T-80BV), T-80UD and T-80U-M1 Bars, although the latter is a completely Russian tank created in Russia after the collapse of the USSR. Below is a table describing all the main characteristics of the T-80 and its modifications.

TTX of the main modifications of the T-80 tank

Modifications T-80U and T-80UD are the most advanced versions of this tank. T-80U was created in 1985 in Leningrad, and T-80UD - in 1987 in Kharkov. And the T-80U-M1 "Bars" was already created in Russia, after the collapse of the USSR. These vehicles received the most advanced fire control system, their protection was improved (by increasing the thickness of the armor and installing dynamic protection). At the same time, the weight of the car increased slightly. The T-80UD is distinguished by a more powerful engine (diesel 1000 hp), a new turret with improved armor and an improved fire control system. Ammunition was increased.

All modifications of the T-80 tank use an automatic engine control system, which significantly reduces fuel consumption. The visibility for the crew has been improved.

T-80U-M1 "Bars"

I would like to talk separately about the latest modification of this very interesting machine - about the famous Russian "flying" tank T-80U-M1 "Bars", which was created in the early 90s in Russia.

The creators of the Russian "Bars" aimed to improve the protection of the tank, increase its maneuverability and provide it with a lighter and more advanced weapon system. The aiming systems and visibility of the crew members have also been significantly improved. The tank weighs 47 tons. The layout is classic. The tank can fire guided missiles, firing range up to 5 km. Ammunition consists of different types of projectiles.

The Russian "Bars" is equipped with the same reliable and proven 125-mm 2A46M cannon (firing range up to 5 km), ammunition - 45 rounds. The rigidity of the barrel was increased and this improved the accuracy of fire. The fire control system, which is installed on the tank, takes into account many characteristics: the range to the target, its speed, the speed of the tank itself, wind strength, charge temperature. All this significantly improves the accuracy of shooting and allows you to send the projectile right on target. The control system allows the tank commander to shoot as well. The T-80U-M1 provides excellent visibility for all crew members. The tank can be equipped with a night sight or a thermal imager. The thickness of the armor has been increased, with a slight increase in the mass of the tank.

Tank protection also corresponds to the best world analogues. It consists:

• combined multi-layer armor of the upper front of the hull and turret;
• built-in dynamic protection (VDZ);
• complex of active protection "Arena";
• KOEP "Shtora-1".

The installation of an active protection complex increases the survivability of the tank several times, even without increasing the thickness of the armor and maintaining the weight of the tank. Especially when participating in local conflicts, when hand grenade launchers are the main means of destruction. The experience of using "Bars" during the CTO in Chechnya confirmed this. We can safely say that the T-80U-M1 is one of the most protected tanks modern Russia. Built-in protection provides better protection against projectiles.

This tank has an engine with a maximum power of 1250 hp. Its specific power is 27.2 hp/t, which is a record. No wonder the Bars is called the "flying tank", it is distinguished by excellent speed and maneuverability. Below is a description of the T-80U-M1 tank. The engine management system can significantly reduce fuel consumption.

The T-80U-M1 automatic loader contains 28 rounds of ammunition and this ensures a fast rate of fire.
Below is a table describing the parameters of the tank.

At the same time, the Russian "Bars" is easy to operate, the arrangement of the fighting compartment is extremely well thought out and convenient. For this tank, Russian specialists developed unique system air conditioning, which makes driving easy and comfortable. It can be said that the Russian tank T-80U-M1 is the best of all modifications of this machine.

Video about the T-80 tank

T-80U-M1 "Bars"

The T-80 tank is in service with Russia and a dozen other countries. The tank took part in many wars and conflicts, including in Chechnya and the Caucasus. How many more years this tank will be in service in Russia, no one can say.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

It is a further development of the T-80B tank. Improvements have affected all the main combat and operational properties. First of all, the survivability of the tank has been significantly increased due to changes in the design of armor barriers, the inclusion of built-in dynamic protection, and a slight increase in the mass of material released for armor. The capabilities of both long-range and close-range fire combat have been improved thanks to the use of a new guided weapon system, improved weapon characteristics and a fire control system. Mobility indicators have increased due to the use of a more powerful gas turbine engine (919 kW), improved transmission and motion control drives.

The tank was put into service in 1985. Since 1987, the production of a modification with a diesel engine, which received the T-80UD index, has been mastered in Kharkov. The use of a two-stroke diesel engine led to design changes in the transmission and motion control drives. There are other design differences, for example, in the installation of an anti-aircraft machine gun. The main characteristics remained unchanged.

In order to improve the mine resistance of the tank, the driver's seat is not attached to the bottom, but is suspended from the roof (turret sheet). On the left behind the seat, a piller is installed, which increases the rigidity of the structure.

In the fighting compartment, in contrast to the T-80BV tank, an additional seven shots are placed (non-mechanized ammo rack). The relative position of the instruments has changed somewhat due to the introduction of duplicated fire control and the use of a thermal imager.

Fuel tanks are located in the control compartment, in the fighting compartment and in the MTO. The capacity of internal fuel tanks is 1090 liters. Another 680 liters of fuel is placed in five external tanks. Three additional barrels of 200 liters each can be installed on the tank. Thus, the transportable fuel supply reaches 2370 liters.

To supply consumers with electricity and recharge the battery when the main engine is off, to supply electricity together with the battery when starting and cranking the main engine, the tank has a gas turbine power unit with a generator with a capacity of 18 kW. It is located in the stern of the machine in the bunker on the left fender. The power unit control panel is located in the control room.

The main armament is a 125-mm modernized 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun - a launcher.

In the cradle of a new design, to reduce the effect of the gap between the pipe and the guides of the cradle on the accuracy of shooting, three backlash-selecting devices are mounted.

To align the zero line of sight without the crew leaving the tank, there is a built-in control device, consisting of a rear sight on the muzzle of the barrel, a telephoto lens and a prism between the protective glass and the head of the rangefinder sight.

Ammunition for the gun consists of 45 rounds of separate-sleeve loading. It includes a shot with a 9M119 guided missile, which has a cumulative warhead. The main part of the ammunition is placed in the rotating conveyor of the loading mechanism (28 shots). Other artillery rounds are in non-mechanized stacks in the hull and turret (seven shells and charges in the control compartment, the rest in the fighting compartment).

The fire control complex provides for the search for targets and tracking them by the commander and gunner, automatic input of corrections for deviations from normal firing conditions, guidance and stabilization of the gun and the machine gun coaxial with it, launch and automatic guidance of the missile, target designation from the commander. Functionally, it combines the gun and coaxial machine gun control complex; guided weapon system.

The cannon and coaxial machine gun control equipment includes a gunner's information-computing day sighting system, a weapon stabilizer, a commander's sighting and observation system, and a gunner's night sighting system.

The sight-rangefinder - guidance device has independent stabilization of the field of view in two planes and a pancratic magnification system from 3.6 to 12 times. It provides guidance and stabilization of the information laser beam, measurement and indication of the range to targets, and generation of control signals for the gun and turret drives.

An electronic ballistic computer generates corrections for the range to the target, its flank movement, the speed of the tank itself, the deviation of air and charge temperature, bore wear, Atmosphere pressure, side wind, angle of inclination of the axis of the trunnions of the gun.

The armament stabilizer includes an improved small-sized electro-hydraulic drive for vertical guidance of the gun and an electric machine drive for the turret.

The gunner's night sighting system includes a thermal imaging sight, which can be used by the tank commander with the help of his video viewing device, and a parallelogram drive with a device for correcting the position of the illuminator.

The sighting and observation system of the PNK-4S commander provides observation of the battlefield, priority duplicated control of the cannon and coaxial machine gun, firing from the cannon day and night artillery shells, target designation.

Combined day-night sight TKN-4S commander has an independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane. The sight includes two daytime optical channels (single and 7.5x magnification) and a passive-active night channel.

As an auxiliary weapon, the tank has a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun coaxial with a cannon and a 12.7 mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun.

The 9K119 guided weapon system consists of equipment installed in the tank and a guided missile shot. A semi-automatic remote control system using a laser beam is used to guide the missile. Rocket firing range - up to 5000 meters.

The hull has a welded structure, with large angles of inclination of the bow parts. The upper frontal sheet is combined, with an angle of inclination of 68 degrees from the vertical. The tower is cast, in the frontal sector it has combined armor protection.

Dynamic protection is made in the built-in version. Such a scheme provides an increase in security, both from cumulative and kinetic projectiles.

Crew protection from damaging factors WMD is provided by a collective protection system similar to that of the T-80BV tank. The machine is equipped with individual anti-radiation vests. The tank is equipped with a high-speed PPO 3ETs13 "Hoarfrost" system.

The tank is equipped with a gas turbine engine GTD-1250, made according to a three-shaft scheme, with two independent compressors and a free power turbine. Engine power 919 kW (1250 hp). Diesel is considered the main fuel. In addition, it is allowed to use low-octane gasolines, jet fuels. The transmission has, in comparison with the T-80BV tank, some differences due to the increased engine power and the use of a hydraulic brake.

The chassis is the same as that of the T-80BV tank.

The main modifications of the T-80 tank

T-80 (1976)- basic pattern.

T-80B (1978)- a modernized gun was installed, an improved FCS was installed, a KUV was introduced, protection characteristics were improved. Since 1980, the GTD-1000TF engine with a power of 1100 hp.

T-80BV (1985)- installed hinged dynamic protection.

T-80U (1985)- a modernized gun was installed, a new FCS with duplication from the commander, a new guided weapon system with laser beam guidance, a GTD-1000TF gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1100 hp was introduced. (or GTD-1250 with a power of 1250 hp), protection characteristics have been improved. Since 1992, a thermal imager has been installed on the tank.

T-80UD (1987)- a diesel engine 6TD with a power of 1000hp was installed, dynamic protection in a built-in design.

Combat and technical characteristics of the T-80U tank

When the Minister of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mustafa Tlas, who commanded the fighting Syrian army in Lebanon in 1981-82, a correspondent for the Spiegel magazine asked: “Would the former driver of the Tlas tank want to have the German Leopard that the Saudis so desire to receive?”, He replied: “... There is a desire, but there is also T -80 is Moscow's response to the Leopard. It is not only equal to the Leopard, but also significantly superior to it. As a soldier and tank specialist, I consider the T-80 best tank in the world".

HISTORY OF CREATIONT-80

By the end of the 1960s, the Soviet Army had the most advanced tanks at that time. In 1967, the T-64 tank was adopted, which was significantly superior to foreign counterparts - the M-60, Leopard 1 and Chieftain. However, since 1965, joint work has begun in the United States and Germany on the creation of a new generation MBT MBT-70. The new NATO tank, in addition to enhanced armament and armor, was to be distinguished by increased mobility characteristics. An adequate response was required from Soviet tank builders.

On April 16, 1968, a joint resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR was issued, in accordance with which SKB-2 at the Kirov Plant was tasked with developing a variant of the T-64 medium tank with a gas turbine power plant.

By the end of the 60s, the USSR already had developments on the use of gas turbine engines in tanks. The gas turbine engine, which in the 1940s won a victory over piston engines in combat aviation, began to attract the attention of tank builders. A gas turbine engine gave significant advantages over a diesel or gasoline engine: with similar sizes, a gas turbine had much more power, which made it possible to dramatically increase the speed and acceleration qualities of combat vehicles, improve tank control and ensure quick engine start at low temperatures.

The first development of a tank with gas turbine engines in the USSR began as early as 1948. And in 1955, two experimental tank gas turbine engines with a capacity of 1000 hp each were manufactured for the first time. In 1957, at the Kirov Plant, under the leadership of the chief designer of the design bureau Zh.Ya. Kotin, the first domestic turbine tank, an experimental object 278, was manufactured and tested. t develop good speed- 57.3 km / h. Two tanks of this type were built and tested, however, unlike the diesel engine, the gas turbine was still far from perfect and it took more than 20 years of work and many experimental machines before the gas turbine engine could be installed on a production tank.

In 1963, in Kharkov, under the leadership of A.A. Morozov, simultaneously with the T-64 medium tank, its gas turbine modification was created - an experimental T-64T, with a GTD-3TL helicopter engine with a power of 700 hp. In 1964, an experimental object 167T with a GTD-ZT (800 hp), developed under the direction of L.N. Kartsev, left the gates of Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil.

The first experimental "Kirov" tank - object 219SP1, manufactured in 1969 - outwardly was almost similar to the experimental Kharkov T-64T. An experimental GTD-1000T engine with a power of 1000 hp was installed on the machine. development of NPO them. V.Ya.Klimova. The next vehicle, the 219SP2 object, was already significantly different from the original T-64: it turned out that the installation of a new, more powerful engine, the increased weight and the changed dynamic characteristics of the tank required significant changes to the undercarriage. The shape of the tower was also changed.

From the T-64A there were weapons and ammunition, an automatic loader, individual components and systems, as well as armor elements.

After building and testing several experimental vehicles, which took about 7 years, on July 6, 1976, the new tank was officially put into service under the designation T-80 (“object 219”). In 1976-78, the Leningrad production association "Kirov Plant" produced a series of "eighties". The T-80 became the world's first mass-produced tank with a gas turbine power plant.

The first information about the new Soviet main battle tank in the West began to appear in the mid-70s. This information was initially very vague. Initially, the NATO assigned the T-80 index to the modified "seventy-two" - T-72M1. For some time, the T-80 was considered as a modification of the T-64. It seemed unlikely to Western experts that the Soviet Union would arm its ground troops simultaneously three types of similar tanks.

The first image of the T-80 in a Western edition was published in the official Pentagon brochure "Soviet military power"For 1981. This drawing did not reflect reality: on the body of the T-64, the artist placed an angular tower, similar to the tower of the Leopard-2." In 1982, the "Soviet military power" issued the T-72M1 for the T-80. Once again, the Pentagon yearbook returned to the T-80 only in 1986, when it published a heavily retouched photograph of the tank. However, Western experts did not come to a consensus: however, some called the T-64 as the progenitor, others called the T-72.

Quote from the magazine "Military Technology" No. 6, 1986: "The T-80 tank is the result of evolutionary development. This is nothing more than a T-72 tank with a new engine ... The turret of the new tank is the same as the turret of the T-74 tank (meaning T-72M). A year later, Jane's Defense Weekly writes: “... it can be expected that the T-80 tank is closer in design to the T-72 than to the T-64 ... the principles underlying the design of the T-72 tank , had only a minor impact on the creation of the tank. "Armor magazine for January-February 1987 wrote:" the T-80 tank is a combination of a new hull and suspension system adapted to the turret from the T-64V tank.

Against the background of such different opinions about the very origin of the tank, the wrong assessment of its "stuffing" is not surprising. The location and configuration of the lattice in the aft part of the armored hull suggests that a gas turbine engine is hidden under it, however (quote again) “a gas turbine engine is incompatible with general principles construction of Soviet tanks, besides, there is not enough space for its placement in their cramped internal volume.

Therefore, many believed that the modernized diesel engine was installed on the T-80. The grating, according to the author of Jane's Defense, serves to suppress IR radiation. At the same time, the Military Technology magazine was of the opinion that the T-80 still uses a gas turbine engine.

The initial analysis of the tank's cannon in relation to the possibility of firing from it was also erroneous. anti-tank missiles, charged from the breech. In extreme cases, it was allowed to load the ATGM from the side of the muzzle, while the ATGM ammunition is placed on the outer part of the tower. In the end, Western experts got acquainted with the real state of affairs: the ammunition load of the 2A46 gun does indeed include ATGMs, and rockets are loaded from the breech, like ordinary shots. The combination of rocket and artillery weapons in the T-80 tank is noted as one of the most important features of this tank, especially since the attempts of the Americans to create a 152-mm tank gun - a launcher were unsuccessful.

DESIGN OF THE T-80 TANK

The design of the T-80 tank uses the systems and units of the T-64 tank, in particular elements of the fire control system, automatic gun loader, armor protection. In terms of armament (125-mm smoothbore gun 2A46), the tank is unified with the T-64 and T-72. However, the use of a new engine and the associated increase in mass required the creation of a new undercarriage: caterpillars, hydraulic shock absorbers and torsion shafts, support and support rollers, drive and guide rollers.

Layout

Like other Russian 4th generation tanks - T-64 and T-72 - T-80 has a classic layout and a crew of three. The mechanics-drivers of the T-64 and T-72 tanks have one viewing device each; the driver of the T-80 tank had three, which made it possible to significantly improve visibility. The designers also provided for the heating of the driver's workplace with air taken from the gas turbine engine compressor.

The body of the machine is welded, its frontal part has an angle of inclination of 68 degrees, the turret is cast. The T-80 hull is 90 cm longer than the T-64 hull. The frontal parts of the hull and turret are equipped with multilayer combined armor combining steel and ceramics. The remaining parts of the body are made of monolithic steel armor with a large differentiation of thicknesses and angles of inclination. There is a complex of protection against weapons of mass destruction (lined, undercut, sealing and air purification system).

The layout of the fighting compartment of the T-80 is similar to the layout of the T-64B.

Engine

The motor monoblock in the aft part of the tank hull is located longitudinally, which required some increase in the length of the vehicle compared to the T-64. The structure of the monoblock includes the gas turbine engine itself, an air cleaner, oil tanks and radiators for the engine and transmission, fuel filters, a generator, a starter, fuel and oil pumps, a compressor, and fans. The engine is made in a single block with a total weight of 1050 kg with a built-in bevel-helical reduction gear and is kinematically connected to two onboard planetary gearboxes.

The GTD-1000T is designed according to a three-shaft scheme, with two independent turbochargers and a free turbine. The adjustable nozzle apparatus of the gas turbine limits the frequency of its rotation and prevents it from "spacing" when changing gears. The absence of a mechanical connection between the power turbine and turbochargers increased the tank's patency on soils with low bearing capacity, in difficult driving conditions, and also eliminated the possibility of engine shutdown when the vehicle suddenly stopped with the gear engaged. This means that even if the T-80 suddenly hits a wall, its engine will not stall.

The fuel system consists of an external and internal group of tanks. The outer group includes two tanks on the right fender and three on the left. Eight internal tanks are installed along the perimeter of the hull, encircling the fighting compartment. The front left and front right tanks, as well as the back rack, are installed in the front. Ammunition is stowed in the storage tank (wet stowage). Further clockwise are the middle right (in the fighting compartment), the right aft and supply tanks (in the MTO) and the middle left (in the fighting compartment). The total capacity of the internal tanks is 1140 liters. Engine operation is possible on TS-1 and TS-2 jet fuels, diesel fuels and low-octane automobile gasolines. The GTE start-up process is automated, the compressor rotors are spinning up using two electric motors.

Due to the rear exhaust, as well as the inherent low noise of the gas turbine engine compared to a diesel engine, it was possible to reduce the acoustic visibility of the tank. Reducing the thermal visibility of the tank is facilitated by the use of a box-shaped guide grille of the exhaust manifold and the placement of equipment for underwater driving of the tank on the aft part of the tower. A massive OPVT pipe hangs over the roof of the MTO and partially shields the thermal radiation of the engine.

The features of the tank include the combined braking system implemented for the first time on the T-80 with the simultaneous use of a gas turbine engine and mechanical hydraulic brakes. The adjustable nozzle apparatus (RSA) of the turbine allows you to change the direction of the gas flow, forcing the turbine blades to rotate in the opposite direction. This heavily loads the power turbine, which required the introduction of special measures to protect it. The process of braking the tank is as follows: when the driver presses the brake pedal, braking begins with the help of the turbine. When the pedal is pressed further, mechanical braking devices are also included in the work.

To control the gas turbine engine, an automatic engine operation mode control system (ACS) was used, including temperature sensors located in front of and behind the power turbine, a temperature controller (RT), as well as limit switches installed under the brake pedal and the PCA pedal, connected to the RT and the supply system fuel. The use of ACS made it possible to increase the life of the turbine blades by more than 10 times, and with frequent use of the brake and the PCA pedal to change gears (which occurs while the tank is moving over rough terrain), fuel consumption is reduced by 5-7%.

To protect the turbine from dust, an inertial (so-called "cyclone") air purification method is used, providing 97% purification. However, unfiltered dust particles still remain on the turbine blades. To remove them when the tank is moving in especially difficult conditions, a procedure for vibro-cleaning the blades is provided.

Transmission

Transmission T-80 - mechanical planetary; consists of two units, each of which included an onboard gearbox, an onboard gearbox and hydraulic servo drives of the motion control system. Provides four gears forward and one reverse.

Chassis

Dual track rollers with external shock absorption consist of two ramps fastened with ten bolts; rollers have rubber tires; roller disks are made of aluminum alloy. Wider compared to the tracks of the T-64 tank, the T-80 tracks have rubber treadmills and rubber-metal joints. The use of tracks of this design reduces the vibrations transmitted from the undercarriage to the tank hull, in addition, the level of noise generated by the tank during movement is reduced. Thanks to the wider and longer tracks with 80 tracks, despite the increase in the mass of the T-80 tank compared to the T-64, its ground pressure decreased by 5%, and the engagement area with the ground increased by 25%.

Tank suspension - individual torsion, with misaligned torsion shafts and double-acting hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers on the first, second and sixth rollers. The supporting and upper part of the road wheels are covered with rubber aprons, which weaken the action of the cumulative jet; aprons also somewhat reduce the cloud of dust raised by the tank when moving at high speed.

Tower and armament

The T-80 turret is in many ways similar to the T-64 tank turret.

The main armament of the T-80 tank includes a 125 mm 2A46-1 smoothbore gun. Shots - separate-sleeve loading; 28 of them are placed in the “carousel” of the mechanized ammo rack (the automatic loader is similar to that used on the T-64BV tank), 3 shots are stored in the fighting compartment and another 7 shells and charges are in the control compartment. The rate of fire is 7-9 rounds per minute with automatic loading and 2 rounds per minute with manual loading. Direct shot range - 2100 m, maximum firing range of a high-explosive fragmentation projectile - 11 km; aimed fire at night with the use of active night vision devices can be fired at a distance of 1300-1500 m. In addition to the cannon, the tank is armed with a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun coaxial with the gun (ammunition load - 1250 rounds), and mounted on the bracket of the commander's cupola 12 .7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun NSVT "Utes" (shooting from it is carried out by the commander, being at this time outside the reserved volume); Ammunition "Cliff" is 300 rounds.

The gunner was equipped with a TPD-2-49 sight with a stereoscopic optical rangefinder, which allows determining the distance to the target within 1000-4000 m. The optical axis of the sight has independent stabilization in the vertical and horizontal planes. Night sights of the commander and gunner are similar to those used on the T-64A tank.

WMD protection

The T-80 has a collective system of protection against weapons of mass destruction, similar to the system used on the T-64. The inner walls of the fighting compartment are covered with a lining made of a polymeric material that performs a dual function. Due to its chemical composition, the lining significantly weakens the effect of gamma and neutron radiation on the crew, and when kinetic ammunition enters the tank, the lining prevents small fragments of armor from scattering inside the hull. In addition, fuel tanks provide additional protection for the crew from neutron weapons. The WMD protection system includes a radiation and chemical reconnaissance device, ZETs-11-2 switching equipment, a filter-ventilation unit, an engine stop mechanism, closing seals with actuators and permanent hull and turret seals, the system operates in automatic or manual mode. In automatic mode, when radiation or toxic substances are detected outside the tank, the seals are closed, the FVU is turned on, and sound and light alarms are activated, warning the crew about the contamination of the area.

Engineering equipment

Self-digging equipment is mounted on the lower front armor plate of the hull, which is a blade with four struts and guides. The set of means for self-extraction includes a log, fastening in the aft part of the hull, two cables and brackets with bolts and nuts, with which the log is attached, if necessary, to the tracks. The T-80 has attachments for attaching the KMT-6 mine trawl.

The tank is equipped with equipment for underwater driving, which provides for overcoming water obstacles up to 5 m deep.

T-80B ("OBJECT 219R")

In 1978, a new modification, the T-80B, was adopted. Unlike the T-80, its 2A46M-1 cannon can fire 9M112 guided missiles at a distance of up to 4 km, with a probability of hitting an armored target of 0.8. The missile corresponds in shape and size to the projectile, and can be placed in the trays of the mechanized ammunition rack of the automatic loader.

Missile guidance is semi-automatic: the gunner only needs to keep the aiming mark on the target. The ATGM coordinates relative to the aiming line are determined by means of an optical system using a modulated light source mounted on the missile, and control commands are transmitted via a narrowly focused radio beam.

The TPD-2-49 sight replaced the more advanced 1G42 sight with a built-in laser rangefinder and independent stabilization of the optical axis in two planes.

A ballistic computer was introduced into the 1A33 fire control system. Improved communication equipment; instead of the outdated R-123M radio station, the R-173 radio station is used. Communication equipment with aviation and a friend-foe identification device were introduced into the radio equipment.

Compared to the first T-80 tanks, the T-80B tanks also have more advanced multilayer armor protection, equivalent in properties to steel armor 500 mm thick. Since 1980, more powerful GTD-1000TF engines (1100 hp) have been installed on the T-80B.

Smoke grenade launchers of the 902 Tucha system are mounted on the outer surface of the tower.

T-80BV ("OBJECT 219RV")

In 1985, a modification of the T-80B with hinged dynamic protection entered service. The machine received the designation T-80BV. Somewhat later, the installation of dynamic protection began on the previously built T-80Bs in the process of their overhaul.

The predicted growth in the combat capabilities of foreign main tanks, along with the improvement of means of combating armored vehicles, required further improvement of the "eighties". Work on the development of this machine was carried out both in Leningrad and in Kharkov.

In 1976, the KhMDB completed a preliminary design of the "object 478", which outlined a significant increase in the combat and technical characteristics of the T-80. It was supposed to install a diesel engine, traditional for Kharkivites, - 6TDN with a capacity of 1000 hp, on the tank (the option of 1250 hp was also being worked out). It was supposed to install a new turret, guided missile weapons, a new sight, etc. on the car. Work on the "object 478" served as the basis for the creation in the second half of the 1980s of the serial diesel tank T-80UD.

T-80U ("OBJECT 219AS")

The emergence in NATO countries of new means of combating tanks, primarily A-10A Thunderbolt-2 attack aircraft, AN-64 Apache attack helicopters equipped with powerful Mayverick and Hellfire ATGMs capable of burning through armor up to 1000 thick mm, as well as new modifications of the TOW and Khot missiles, required a further increase in the protection of the main tanks.

At the same time, the variety of types of armored vehicles produced in the country worried the leadership of the USSR Armed Forces. It was decided to install on the T-80 chassis a new turret developed in Kharkov for the modification of the T-64, known as the "object 476". The cast tower, created under the direction of N.A. Shomin, had an increased volume and armored shield, consisting of spaced steel plates with internal armored vertical plates, the space between which was filled with a urethane field.

The development of a modernized tank with a "Kharkov" turret in SKB-2 LKZ began in the early 1980s. The machine, which received the designation T-80A (“object 2I9A”), also had improved weapons (ATGM “Reflex”) and a number of other innovations, in particular, built-in bulldozer equipment. An experimental tank of this type was built in 1982; subsequently, several more experimental vehicles were produced that had minor differences. In 1984, an experimental set of mounted dynamic protection was installed on them.

To test the new Reflex guided weapon system with laser-guided missiles, as well as the Irtysh weapon control system, the LKZ design bureau in 1983 created an experimental vehicle “object 2198” on the basis of the T-80B serial tank.

Both experimental tanks gave impetus to the next important step in the evolution of the "eighties", made by the Leningrad designers. Under the leadership of Nikolai Popov, work began on the T-80U tank ("object 219AC") - the latest and most powerful modification of the "eighties", recognized by many domestic and foreign experts as the strongest tank in the world. The machine, which retained the main layout and design features of its predecessors, received a number of fundamentally new units. At the same time, the mass of the tank compared to the T-80BV increased by only 1.5 tons.

The firepower of the T-80U has been significantly increased due to the use of a new complex of guided missile weapons "Reflex" with an anti-jamming fire control system that provides an increase in the range and accuracy of fire while reducing the time to prepare the first shot. New complex provided the ability to deal not only with armored targets, but also with low-flying helicopters. The 9M119 missile, controlled by a laser beam, provides a range of hitting a tank-type target when firing from a standstill at ranges of 100 - 5000 m with a probability of 0.8.

The ammunition load of the 2A46M-1 gun (other names D-81TM, "Rapier-3"), including 45 rounds, consists of armor-piercing HEAT projectiles ZBK14M and ZBK27, armor-piercing projectiles with a tungsten core ZBM12 and ZBM42, armor-piercing projectiles with a depleted uranium core ZBM32, as well as high-explosive fragmentation projectiles 2OF19 and ZOF26. Armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile has an initial velocity of 1715 m/s (which exceeds the initial velocity of the projectile of any other foreign tank) and is capable of hitting heavily armored targets at a point-blank range of 2200 m.

With the help of a modern fire control system, the commander and gunner can search for targets, track them, as well as aim fire day and night, both from a place and on the move, and use guided missile weapons.

The 1G46 "Irtysh" daytime optical sight with a built-in laser rangefinder allows the gunner to detect small targets at a distance of up to 5000 m and determine the range to them with high accuracy. The sight is stabilized in two planes, regardless of the weapon. Its pancratic system changes the magnification of the optical channel within 3.6 - 12.0.

At night, the gunner searches and aims using the Buran-PA combined active-passive sight, which also has a stabilized field of view.

The tank commander conducts surveillance and gives target designation to the gunner using the PNK-4S sighting and observation day / night complex, stabilized in a vertical plane.

The digital ballistic computer takes into account corrections for range, target flanking speed, own tank speed, cannon trunnion angle, bore wear, air temperature, atmospheric pressure and side wind.

The gun received a built-in control device for the alignment of the gunner's sight; quick-release connection of the barrel tube with the breech, allows the replacement of the barrel in combat conditions, without dismantling the entire gun from the turret.

When creating the T-80U tank, considerable attention was paid to strengthening its protection. Work was carried out in several directions. Due to the use of a new camouflage color, which distorts the appearance of the tank, it was possible to reduce the probability of detecting the T-80U in the visible and IR ranges. Enhanced both armor and dynamic protection of the tank. The first series of the tank were equipped with a hinged set of dynamic protection "Contact". Then (for the first time in the world) elements of built-in dynamic protection (VDZ) were implemented, which is able to withstand not only cumulative, but also kinetic projectiles. VDZ covers more than 50% of the surface, nose, sides and roof of the tank. The combination of advanced multi-layered combined armor and VDZ "removes" almost all types of the most common cumulative anti-tank weapons and reduces the likelihood of being hit by "blanks". In terms of the power of armor protection, which has an equivalent thickness of 1100 mm against a sub-caliber kinetic projectile and 900 mm - under the action of cumulative ammunition, the T-80U surpasses almost all fourth-generation foreign tanks.

When the armor is penetrated, the survivability of the tank is ensured by the use of the fast-acting fire-fighting automatic system "Hoarfrost", which prevents the ignition and explosion of the fuel-air mixture. To protect against the explosion of mines, the driver's seat is suspended from the turret sheet, and the rigidity of the hull in the control compartment area is increased by using a special piller behind the driver's seat.

An important advantage of the T-80U was its perfect system of protection against weapons of mass destruction, surpassing such protection of the best foreign vehicles. The tank has a lining and a lining made of hydrogen-containing polymers with the addition of lead, lithium and boron, local protection screens made of heavy materials, automatic sealing systems for habitable compartments and air purification.

The use of a self-digging system with a bulldozer blade 2140 mm wide and a system for setting smoke screens using the Tucha system, which includes eight 902B grenade launchers, contributes to an increase in survival. The tank can also be equipped with a mounted KMT-6 track trawl. excluding the detonation of mines under the bottom and tracks.

A significant innovation was the use of an auxiliary power unit GTA-18A with a capacity of 30 hp on the tank, which allows saving fuel while the tank is parked, when conducting a defensive battle, as well as in an ambush. The resource of the main engine is also saved. The auxiliary power unit, located in the stern of the machine in the bunker on the left fender, is "built-in" in common system operation of the gas turbine engine and does not require any additional devices for its operation.

Initially, it was supposed to install a gas turbine engine GTD-1000 (“product 37”) with an HP 1200 power on the tank. However, the fine-tuning of the engine, which has a complex adjustment system, was delayed (in particular, due to the fact that the Klimov Design Bureau was loaded with work on aircraft power plants). As a result, it was decided to equip the tank with a less powerful GTD-1000TF engine ("product 38F") with a capacity of 1100 hp.

By the end of 1983, an experimental series of ten T-80Us was made in Kharkov, eight of which were transferred to military trials. In 1985, the development of the tank was completed, and its large-scale serial production began in Omsk and Kharkov,

T-80UD

As mentioned above, the T-80 became the world's first production tank with a gas turbine engine. The installation of the turbine was considered a great success for tank builders, but not all tankers agreed with this conclusion. Capricious jet engines greatly complicated the work of the engineering and technical services of combat units; perhaps it was the techies who “launched” the next assessment of the T-80 into the world - this tank has only one drawback - the gas turbine engine.

In addition to the difficulty in operation, the gas turbine engine was inferior to the traditional diesel engine in such an important parameter as efficiency. In addition to everything, the GTD-1000 cost the National Economy 104,000 rubles in the 1980s, and the V-46 tank diesel cost 9,600 rubles.

The answer to the question of which is better - a tank gas turbine or a diesel engine has remained open (and not only in your country, the Americans put a turbine on their Abrams, and the Germans put a diesel engine on the Leopard). In this regard, interest in installing a diesel engine on the most powerful domestic tank was constantly maintained. In particular, there was an opinion about the preference for the differential use of turbine and diesel tanks in various theaters of military operations.

Work on the creation of a diesel version of the "eighties" has been carried out since the mid-1970s. In Leningrad and Omsk, experimental vehicles “object 219RD” and “object 644” were created, equipped, respectively, with A-53-2 and V-46-6 diesel engines. However, the Kharkovites achieved the greatest success, creating a powerful (1000 hp) and economical six-cylinder diesel engine 6TD - a further development of 5TD. The development of this engine began in 1966, and since 1975 its development began on the chassis of the "object 476". In 1976, the Kharkovites proposed a variant of the T-80 tank with 6TD ("object 478"). In 1985, on its basis, under the leadership of General Designer I.L. Protopopov, the “object 478B” (“Birch”) was created. Compared to the “jet” T-80U, the diesel tank had slightly worse dynamic characteristics, but had an increased cruising range. The installation of a diesel engine required a number of changes in the transmission and control drives. In addition, the machine received remote control anti-aircraft machine gun "Cliff".

The first five serial "Birches" were assembled by the end of 1985, they were immediately sent for military trials. In 1986, the machine was launched into a large series, and in 1987 it was put into service under the designation T-80UD. The T-80UD was significantly different from the jet eighties, so it was supposed to give it a new designation T-84, however, they limited themselves to letters - UD (improved diesel), later, after gaining independence, the Ukrainians returned to the next model of the "eighties" to the designation T-84. "Birch" was tested with the condition of subsequent elimination of the customer's comments. The refinement of the tank continued for two years in parallel with mass production.

In 1988, the T-80UD was modernized: the reliability of the power plant and a number of units was increased, the hinged dynamic protection "Contact" was replaced with built-in dynamic protection, and the weapons were finalized. Until the end of 1991, about 500 T-80UDs were produced in Kharkov (of which only 60 were transferred to units stationed on the territory of Ukraine). In total, by this time in the European part of the USSR there were 4839 T-80 tanks of all modifications.

T-80 TWO WAYS: IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

The presence of two centers for improving the T-80 tanks (in St. Petersburg and Kharkov) predetermined the peculiar ways further development constructions in Russia and Ukraine. Perhaps the only thing in common was that both Ukrainian and Russian designers adapted new modifications, first of all, to the requirements of possible foreign customers, since at that time neither the Russian nor the Ukrainian armies were able to purchase sophisticated military equipment in tangible quantities.

T-84

The Ukrainians won in 1996 a tender for the supply of main battle tanks to the Pakistani army. In the same 1996, a contract was signed for the supply of 320 diesel T-80s worth 580-650 million dollars (different sources give different figures), which received the Ukrainian designation T-84, to Pakistan (this number probably included tanks available in the Armed Forces of Ukraine). The export value of one T-84 was $1.8 million.

In Kharkov, a more powerful (1200 hp) 6TD-2 diesel engine was created, designed for installation on modernized T-64 and T-84 samples. Pakistan expressed interest in the participation of specialists from Kharkov in a joint Sino-Pakistani program to develop a promising main tank. Work on this car began back in 1988, but the developers were unable to overcome a number of technical problems, primarily related to the chassis and power plant. In 1998, the Pakistani side proposed installing a turret, developed in China for a promising tank, on the hull of the Ukrainian T-84. As the main engine, it is possible to use a "native" 6TD-2 diesel engine or a diesel engine of the European design "Perkins" V12 with a capacity of 1200 hp.

In 2000, KMDB specialists developed a version of the T-84, modified to NATO standards, called the T-84-120 Yatagan. The tank was equipped with a 120-mm cannon, an FN machine gun and communications equipment from the French Thomson company. The T-84-120 was made in a single copy, and did not go further into the series, since no orders were received for it.

In 2008, the production of the modern Ukrainian MBT "Oplot" was launched in Kharkov. This tank is significantly different from the T-84. It is equipped with a modern digital FCS and a thermal imaging sight, a commander's combined panoramic sight with day and night thermal imaging channels, and a laser rangefinder. The tank received a welded-rolled turret of a new shape, the built-in Duplet dynamic protection system, the Varta optoelectronic suppression system and side screens that protect the hull and chassis from RPG rounds.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine ordered 10 Oplot tanks, for which they could not pay the manufacturer.

In 2011, Thailand ordered a batch of 49 Oplot-T tanks (tropical version). In 2013, the first batch of 5 tanks was delivered to the customer. At present, the factory Malyshev in Kharkov, the assembly of the second batch of "Oplotov-T" for the Thai army is underway.

T-80UM/UK

Russian designers, in the absence of powerful tank diesel engines left in Ukraine, continued to improve the "jet" T-80. The production of gas turbine T-80s has completely moved to a plant in Omsk. In 1990, the production of a tank with a more powerful GTD-1250 engine (1250 hp) began there, which made it possible to slightly improve the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle. Power plant protection devices against overheating were introduced. The tank received an improved 9K119M missile system.

To reduce the radar signature of the T-80U tank, a special radar absorbing coating was developed and applied. The reduction in the effective scattering surface (ESR) of ground combat vehicles has become of particular importance after the advent of airborne real-time radar reconnaissance systems using synthetic aperture side-scan radar, which provides a high resolution. At a distance of several tens of kilometers, it became possible to detect and track the movement of not only tank columns, but also individual units of armored vehicles. The first two aircraft with such equipment - E-8JSTARS - were successfully used by the Americans during Operation Desert Storm, as well as in the Balkans.

On the part of the T-80U, they began to install the Agava-2 thermal imaging observation and aiming device (the industry delayed the supply of thermal imagers, so not all machines received them). The video image (for the first time on a domestic tank) is displayed on a television-type screen. For the development of this device, its creators in 1992 were awarded the Zh.Ya. Kotin Prize.

The serial T-80U tank with the above improvements introduced is known under the designation T-80UM.

Another important innovation that significantly increased the combat survivability of the T-80U was the use of the TShU-2 Shtora optoelectronic suppression system. The purpose of the complex is to prevent anti-tank guided missiles with a semi-automatic guidance system from hitting the tank, as well as to interfere with enemy weapon control systems with laser target designation and laser rangefinders. The complex included an opto-electronic suppression station (SOEP) TShU-1 and an aerosol curtain installation system (SPZ). SOEP is a source of modulated infrared radiation with parameters close to those of ATGM tracers of the Dragon, TOW, HOT, Milan, etc. types. Influencing the IR receiver of the semi-automatic ATGM guidance system, it disrupts the missile guidance. SOEP provides interference in the form of a modulated infrared radiation in the sector +/-20 deg., from the axis of the bore along the horizon and 4.5 deg. - vertical. In addition, TShU-1, two modules of which are located in front of the tank turret, provide IR illumination at night, aimed fire using night vision devices, as well as to blind any (including small) objects.

The SDR, designed to disrupt the attack of such missiles as Maverick, Hellfire and the 155-mm Copperhead artillery projectile, responds to laser radiation within 360 degrees, in azimuth and -5 / +25 in the vertical plane. received signal from high speed processed by the control unit, and the direction to the source of quantum radiation is determined. The system automatically determines the optimal launcher, generates an electrical signal proportional to the angle to which the tank turret with grenade launchers should be turned, and issues a command to fire a grenade that forms an aerosol screen at a distance of 55-70 m three seconds after the grenade is fired, the SOEP operates only in automatic mode, and SPZ - in automatic, semi-automatic and manual.

Field tests of Shtora-1 confirmed the high efficiency of the complex: the probability of hitting a tank with missiles with semi-automatic command guidance is reduced by 3-5 times, missiles with semi-active laser homing - by 4-5 times, and corrected artillery shells - by 1.5 times . The complex is able to provide countermeasures simultaneously against several missiles attacking the tank from different directions.

The Shtora-1 system was tested on an experimental T-80B (“object 219E”) and for the first time began to be installed on a serial command tank T-80UK - a variant of the T-80U vehicle, designed to provide control of tank units. In addition, the commander's tank received a remote detonation system for high-explosive fragmentation projectiles with non-contact electronic fuses. T-80UK communication facilities operate in the VHF and KB bands. The R-163-50U ultra-shortwave radio station with frequency modulation, operating in the operating frequency range of 30-80 MHz, has 10 preset frequencies. With a four-meter whip antenna in medium-rough terrain, it provides a range of up to 20 km. With a special combined dipole antenna mounted on an 11-meter telescopic mast mounted on the body of the vehicle, the communication range increases to 40 km (with this antenna, the tank can only work in the parking lot). The R-163-50K short-wave radio station, operating in the frequency range of 2-30 MHz in telephone-telegraph mode with frequency modulation, is designed to provide communication over a long distance. It has 16 preset frequencies. With a HF whip antenna 4 m long, which ensures operation when the tank is moving, the communication range was initially 20-50 km, but due to the introduction of the possibility of changing the antenna pattern, it was possible to increase it to 250 km. With a whip 11-meter telescopic antenna, the operating range of the R-163-50K reaches 350 km.

The commander's tank is also equipped with a TNA-4-3 navigation system and an AB-1-P28 self-contained gasoline power generator with a power of 1.0 kW, an additional function of which is to recharge the batteries during parking with the engine off.

The creators of the machine have successfully solved the issue of electromagnetic compatibility of numerous radio-electronic means. For this, in particular, a special electrically conductive caterpillar tape was used.

The armament, power plant, transmission, undercarriage, surveillance devices and other equipment of the T-80UK correspond to the T-80UM tank, but the ammunition load of the gun has been reduced to 30 rounds, and the PKT machine gun to 750 rounds.

The development of the T-80 tank was a major achievement of the domestic industry. Designers A.S. Ermolaev, V.A. Marishkin, V.I. Mironov, B.M. Kupriyanov, P.D. Gavra, V.I. Gaigerov, B.A. Dobryakov and many other specialists. More than 150 copyright certificates for inventions proposed in the process of creating this machine speak of the amount of work done. A number of tank designers were awarded high government awards. Decrees of the President Russian Federation group of specialists and general designer tank T-80U N.S. Popov for the development of new technical solutions and the introduction of the machine into mass production was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology.

However, the T-80 is far from exhausting the possibilities for further modernization. The improvement of the means of active protection of tanks also continued. In particular, on the experimental T-80B, the Arena Active Tank Protection Complex (KAZT) was introduced, developed by the Kolomna Design Bureau and designed to protect the tank from ATGMs and anti-tank grenades attacking it. Moreover, the reflection of ammunition is ensured, not only flying directly at the tank, but intended to destroy it when flying from above. To detect targets in the complex, a multifunctional radar with an “instant” view of space in the entire protected sector and high noise immunity was used. For targeted destruction of enemy missiles and grenades, highly-directional protective ammunition is used, which has a very high speed and is located along the perimeter of the tank turret in special mounting shafts (the tank carries 26 such ammunition). Automatic control of the operation of the complex is carried out by a specialized computer, which also provides control over its performance.

The sequence of operation of the complex is as follows: after it is turned on from the tank commander's control panel, all further operations are performed automatically. The radar provides a search for targets flying up to the tank. Then the station is switched to the auto-tracking mode, developing the parameters of the target's movement and transferring them to the computer, which selects the number of protective ammunition and the time of its operation. Protective ammunition forms a beam of submunitions that destroy the target on approach to the tank. The time from target detection to its destruction is record short - no more than 0.07 s. After 0.2-0.4 s after the defensive shot, the complex is again ready to “shoot” the next target. Each defensive munition fires at its own sector, with sectors of closely located munitions overlapping, which ensures the interception of several targets approaching from the same direction.

The complex is all-weather and "all-day", it is able to work when the tank is moving, when the turret is turned. An important problem that the developers of the complex managed to successfully solve was to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility of several tanks equipped with the Arena and operating in a single group.

The complex practically does not impose restrictions on the formation of tank units under the conditions of electromagnetic compatibility.

"Arena" does not respond to targets located at a distance of more than 50 m from the tank, to small targets (bullets, fragments, small-caliber shells) that do not pose an immediate threat to the tank, to targets moving away from the tank (including its own shells), on low-speed objects (birds, clods of earth, etc.). Measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the infantry escorting the tank: the danger zone of the complex - 20-30 m - is relatively small, when protective shells are fired, no side lethal fragments are formed, there is an external light alarm that warns the infantrymen behind the tank about the inclusion of the complex.

Equipping the T-80 "Arena" allows you to increase the survival rate of the tank during offensive operations by approximately two times. At the same time, the cost of losses of tanks equipped with KAZT is reduced by 1.5-1.7 times. Currently, the Arena complex has no analogues in the world. Its use is especially effective in local conflicts, when the opposing side is armed with only light anti-tank weapons.

Tank T-80UM-1 "Bars" with KAZT "Arena" was first publicly demonstrated in Omsk in the autumn of 1997. A variant of this tank with another active defense system, Drozd, was also shown there.

In order to increase the ability to combat air targets (primarily attack helicopters), as well as tank-dangerous enemy manpower, the Tochmash Central Research Institute created and tested a set of additional weapons for the T-80 tank with a 30-mm 2A42 automatic gun (similar to that installed on the BMP -3, BMD-3 and BTR-80A). The gun, which has a remote control, is installed in the upper rear part of the tower (while the 12.7-mm Utes machine gun is dismantled). The guidance angle relative to the tower is 120 degrees horizontally and -51 + 65 vertically. Ammunition installation - 450 shells.

T-80UM2 "BLACK EAGLE"

A further development of the T-80 was the Black Eagle tank, created in Omsk. For the first time this tank was demonstrated at the international arms exhibition Omsk-97. The demonstration caused considerable excitement in the world military press, especially since the tank was demonstrated at a distance of 500 m, and its turret was completely covered with a camouflage net.

Chassis and body "Black Eagle" inherited from the T-80. The body is fitted with a new welded tower with horizontal placement of the automatic loader. The Cactus dynamic armor protection system is mounted on the frontal parts of the turret and hull, the Cactus blocks are also hung on the front of the side screens covering the undercarriage. GTE power increased to 1500 hp. At the same time, the mass of the vehicle increased to 50 tons. The main armament of the T-80UM2 remained the same - the 125-mm 2A46M gun.

The commander and gunner have stabilized sights with day and night channels; a laser rangefinder is integrated into the gunner's sight. Compared to the tanks of previous models, the commander and gunner have changed places; the workplace of the commander of the Black Eagle tank is located to the left of the gun, the gunner is to the right. The T-80UM2 tank is equipped with the Arena active protection system. According to information published after the first demonstration of the tank, it is equipped with a 1500 hp gas turbine engine. Later, there were reports of the use of a GTD-1250G with a power of 1250 hp on the T-80UM2. and upgraded transmission.

This is how the serial production of the Black Eagle began, however, according to some reports, the developments obtained during the creation of this machine were used to create a new generation Russian tank - the Armata.

T-80 IN THE TROOPS

Unlike the T-72, which was widely exported outside the USSR, the T-64 and T-80 in Soviet times were only in service with the SA. Priority in obtaining these vehicles had the guard units of the Group Soviet troops in Germany. It was planned that in the event of war, a tank fist with a T-64 and T-80 at the tip would be able to reach the English Channel in one to two weeks. These tanks have become a big problem for NATO military leaders. During the 70s - 80s. practically all newly created weapon systems in the West were to one degree or another intended to fight tanks. The Americans even made their Abrams not so much as a traditional breakthrough tank, but as an anti-tank weapon. And yet, despite the highest degree of saturation Western Europe anti-tank weapons (helicopters, aircraft, various ATGMs, and finally tanks), NATO strategists also came to the conclusion that the advanced tank units of the Warsaw Pact would reach the Atlantic no more than two weeks after the start of large-scale hostilities.

The T-64 tanks were the first to receive in 1967 the 100th Guards Training Tank Regiment and the 41st Guards Tank Division, and their military tests were also carried out there. The division was located near the plant number 75 (plant named after Malyshev), which produced the T-64. The choice of a compound located near the manufacturing plant was dictated by the need to assist tankers in the operation and maintenance of new equipment by teams of factory specialists. In the GSVG, the 2nd and 20th guards, 3rd tank armies were armed with T-64 tanks, the 1st guards tank and 8th guards armies were armed with "eighties".

T-80UD units were the first to receive units of the 2nd Guards Motorized Rifle Division Tamanskaya and the 4th Guards Tank Kantemirovskaya Division. Publicly, the T-80UD was first demonstrated at a parade in Moscow on May 9, 1990. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, 4839 T-80 tanks of all modifications were in service.

The T-80 tanks were well received by the troops, bribed them high speed and excellent starting qualities of the gas turbine engine. According to General Staff analysts, in the event of a major war, armored divisions equipped with "eighties" could reach the English Channel in five days, even before reserves from the United States begin to land in Europe. The development of new machines proceeded in an atmosphere of heightened secrecy, and their vague, obscure photographs only occasionally appeared on the pages of the Western press, each time serving as the "highlight of the issue." However, sometimes "jet tanks" appeared before the "general public." So, during one of the exercises of the Western Group of Forces, the T-80 battalion, making a swift maneuver, entered the highway near Berlin and rushed along it, overtaking buses and Trabants.

The real experience of the combat use of the T-80 is very far from the once planned rapid rush to the West. In October 1993, the T-80s of the Kantemirovskaya division shot at the Russian Parliament with direct fire. The track record of the tank includes Chechnya and Tajikistan. With the filing of the media symbol Chechen war was the New Year's assault on Grozny. It is difficult to say what the command was guided by when introducing armored vehicles into the city, because no armor will save from point-blank shots from RPGs and ATGMs. As you know, it ended with the heaviest losses of the Russian army.

In the future, instead of the massive use of armored vehicles, small armored groups were widely used - a tank (T-80 or T-72) and two or three infantry fighting vehicles. Such armored groups no longer entered the settlements, "rolling out" the defense of the Dudayevites from a safe distance. This tactic was successful: on April 4, 1996, the 27th Yekaterinburg Motorized Rifle Regiment, numbering 500 people, with the support of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, captured Gudermes, which was defended by about 800 militants, suffering minimal losses - one killed, several wounded. At the same time, for completely incomprehensible reasons, the use of "clean" tank units continued. So, in the summer of 1995, a separate tank battalion of the 166th motorized rifle brigade, armed with T-80BV tanks, covered the direction to Shali from militant attacks. The divisions of the battalion were located in an open field; I think that a well-trained infantry company would have completed such a task with great success: they had to defend themselves not from the Abrams and Leopards, but from light infantry.

Tanks were involved in escorting convoys, and often a tank with a mounted minesweeper was in the lead.

Currently, the T-80 is one of the most massive main tanks of the fourth generation, second only to the T-72 and the American M1 Abrams. As of early 2013, the Russian army had approximately 4,000 T-80BVs and T-80Us, of which 3,000 are in storage. Some more T-80s are in the Coastal Forces of the Russian Navy. In 2013, the head of the main armored department of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation A. Shevchenko announced the cessation of further operation of the T-80 and the decommissioning of all tanks of this series by 2015, however, then, apparently, these plans were abandoned. In any case, as of 2015, there is no such information in the media. The decommissioning of one of the most massive tanks would have the most serious consequences for the defense of the country. Apparently, the issue of abandoning the T-80 should have been raised no earlier than the start of the massive supply of vehicles more than modern types, for example, "Armata".

The Ukrainian Armed Forces do not actively use T-80s, but as of 2013, there were 165 vehicles of this type in storage.

In addition to Russia and Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, and Syria have T-80 vehicles.

T-80 TANKS OUTSIDE RUSSIA

The first country to officially purchase the T-80 was Cyprus. Delivery of 41 tanks (contract value $174 million) increased the number of tank units almost a third of the Greek community of the island (besides the T-80, the Greek Cypriots are armed with 104 AMX-30V2 tanks). T-80s allow, to some extent, to compensate for the quantitative superiority in tanks that the Turkish community has (265 M-48A5 tanks). In 2009, a contract was signed for the supply of another 41 T-80U / T-80UK. Thus, the total number of T-80s in the Cypriot army was 82 vehicles.

However, Great Britain became the first non-CIS country where the G80 got to. There are several versions of the appearance of the T-80U tank by the British: from the goodwill gesture of President B.N. Yeltsin, made during one of his visits to England (January 1992 or November of the same year) to the successful operation Intelligence Service. According to one version, a certain Russian commercial firm offered the Ministry of Defense in early 1992 its services in selling four T-80Us in Morocco. Officially, the sale was allegedly carried out by the foreign trade organization Voentekh, and each tank was estimated at $5 million, despite the fact that the average cost of more advanced T-80 variants on the foreign market is approximately $2.2 million. tanks sold remained unclear, but the Minister of Defense of Morocco, who arrived on a visit to Moscow in the fall of 1992, was very surprised when he found out about the purchase by his country Russian tanks. But it is quite clear why the British needed the T-80U, which they thoroughly studied, tested and fired at their ranges Chertsey, Fort Halsted and Bovington.

It is possible that the information obtained during the tests of the T-80U made it possible to disrupt a number of deals for the supply of tanks of this type to the countries of the Near and Middle East; the British tried to clearly outline the shortcomings of the tank, modestly shading its advantages. The first reliable information about the presence of the T-80U in England was published in January 1994, and the publications did not indicate when the tank got there.

There were also reports that the T-80U was being tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in the United States. One tank was transferred to the US by the UK, and four more were received in 2003 from Ukraine.

Outside the CIS, the T-80U was first shown at an arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi, held in February 1993. The display aroused great interest, but no contracts were signed, possibly due to the counter-propaganda campaign of Western competitors.

As noted above, Ukraine supplied T-84 tanks to the armed forces of Pakistan. The press reported on the participation of T-84s delivered by Ukraine to Pakistan in combat operations in Afghanistan. Tanks with Pakistani crews fought on the side of the Taliban, but official Islamabad denied this information. As of 2013, the Pakistan Army had 320 T-80UDs.

In addition, the owners of a fairly large fleet of T-80s are the army of South Korea - 80 T-80U and Yemen - 66 T-80.

Prepared for the portalhttp://www.. Army series. The T-80 is the best tank in the world."