A new armored repair and recovery vehicle (ARV) has been developed in Russia based on the components and assemblies of the T-80 tank with a gas-turbine engine. Technical documents have appeared in the FIPS patent database.
The key feature of the development is an external television surveillance system that complements the standard optical instruments. Protected front- and rear-view cameras are mounted on the vehicle hull, allowing the crew to monitor the situation in areas that previously remained outside the field of view.
The front camera provides visual control of the space in front of the vehicle and the bulldozer blade.
The rear camera is intended for reversing, coupling with damaged equipment, and monitoring the evacuated object during towing.
The video image is fed into the control compartment through a conversion and switching unit, after which it is displayed on the video module at the driver-mechanic's workstation.
The system supports digital data transmission over a protected channel and can be integrated into the onboard telecommunications network. A night vision mode is provided, allowing work to be carried out in the dark without the use of additional lighting.
The developers emphasize that the new T-80-based ARV is intended for the evacuation and repair of damaged tracked armored vehicles, primarily tanks, in field conditions. The use of video cameras is expected to improve crew situational awareness, speed up task execution, and reduce risks while operating under enemy fire.