Images of a new modification of the Russian main battle tank T-80BVM with enhanced armor protection have appeared online, drawing the attention of the Western publication Military Watch. The updated vehicle features a redesigned anti-drone cage, improved reactive armor, and a modernized fire control system.
The most notable change is the modernized "mangál" (barbecue grill) on the turret. Unlike the first improvised steel structures, the new version has a lower profile and better protects the roof. As Military Watch writes, the continuous development of these solutions shows how much threats from unmanned systems have changed the requirements for armored vehicle survivability.
In addition, the T-80BVM received an updated "Relikt" reactive armor system along the hull sides and turret. The new configuration expands protection zones, especially around the side skirts and other vulnerable areas. The tank is equipped with a 1250 hp gas turbine engine, which provides high mobility.
As the authors of the material emphasize, designers continue to improve the T-80BVM in all areas – firepower, protection, mobility, and crew management. The main result of these efforts is an increase in the effectiveness of the armored vehicle's use in modern conditions. From 2021 to 2025, the number of units equipped with the T-80BVM increased from 4 to 23, and in September 2023, the resumption of production of this tank was announced.
Earlier, Eurasian Times noted that a set of measures – the "mangál", double side skirts with active elements, and the "Nakidka" system – makes the updated T-80BVM practically invulnerable to cumulative warheads of drones. The current modernization continues this trend: the design of the anti-drone cage becomes more low-profile and technologically advanced, and the coverage zones of "Relikt" are expanding – this is a natural result of accumulated combat experience.