T-80BVM is one of the most modern main battle tanks (MBT) in service with the Russian Armed Forces. The combat vehicle is equipped with a GTD-1250 gas turbine engine and can be operated in northern conditions. This is according to military expert Brandon J. Weichert in an article for The National Interest.
Since the T-80BVM was developed for combat operations in the Arctic and northern regions, the designers abandoned the diesel engine. This is due to the temperature regime: in the cold, a diesel engine is difficult to start, but with a gas turbine engine, there is no such problem.
The expert claims that in the last 3 years, the Russian Armed Forces have actively used the T-80BVM in real combat. The tank surpassed the T-72 in mobility and firepower.
However, the modernized version of the T-80 is not without its drawbacks. If a shell hits, the autoloader will most likely be damaged and the tank will not be able to return fire, Weichert explained.
The West claims that Russian tankers are unhappy with the T-80BVM
The author of The National Interest referred to material from Vault8. The foreign media published an interview with a Russian soldier who criticized the T-80BVM.
The build quality of the tank is poor, as the bolts are made of a soft alloy. The hydraulics leak. The gas turbine engine is very noisy - this is bad in combat. The T-80BVM power unit requires a lot of fuel. The dynamic protection kit is incomplete. The Russian soldier recommends the T-90, not the T-80BVM.
If the tanks are unreliable and there are problems with their maintenance, a quick transfer to a new deployment location will not give the troops an advantage. However, "the equipment does not have to be perfect," the main thing is that it helps to exhaust the enemy's forces. Perhaps the T-80BVM will be modernized in the future, he suggested.
About the T-80BVM tank
The combat vehicle was developed by engineers at Omsktransmash (part of Uralvagonzavod). Unlike the T-80BV, the T-80BVM received an increased ammunition load for the 125-mm 2A46M-4 gun (45 shells). In addition, the creators equipped it with anti-cumulative lattice screens and the Relikt modular dynamic protection system, and refined the autoloader for 3BM59 Svinets-1 and 3BM60 Svinets-2 shells.
Technical characteristics of the T-80BVM tank
- Length — 9554 mm
- Width — 3384 mm
- Height — 2202 mm
- Weight in combat readiness — 46 t
- Gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1250 hp
- Ammunition used — sub-caliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation and anti-tank guided missile 9M119 «Reflex»
- Highway speed — 70 km/h, cross-country — 50 km/h
- Crew — commander, gunner and driver
Read more materials on the topic:
- Serial production of the latest TOS-3 «Dragon» with a chassis from the T-80 has begun in Russia
- Russian T-80U tanks in service with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea попали на видео
- Production of «flying» T-80 tanks with a GTD-1250 engine has been revived in Russia: the disadvantages of the project are named
