T-84
Encyclopedia : T : T8 : T84 : T-84
| |
| T-84 | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 3 |
| Length | 9.72 m |
| Width | 3.56 m |
| Height | 2.29 m |
| Weight | 48 tonnes |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | [secret] |
| Main armament | 125mm smoothbore gun KBA-3 |
| Secondary armament | 7.62mm KT-7.62 coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm KT-12.7 AA machine gun |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | 12-cyl. diesel model 6TD-2 1,200 hp (895 kW) |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
| Road speed | 70 km/h |
| Power/weight | 25 hp/tonne |
| Range | 450 km |
The T-84 Main Battle Tank is a Ukrainian development of the Soviet T-80 main battle tank, first built in 1994 and entered service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 1999. The T-84 is based on the diesel-engined version, T-80UD. Its high-performance engine makes it one of the fastest existing MBTs in the world, with a power-to-weight ratio of about 25 horsepower per tonne (19 kW/t). The T-84 Oplot is an advanced version incorporating an armoured ammunition compartment in a new turret bustle; a small number of these entered Ukrainian service in 2001. The T-84-120 Yatagan is a prototype model intended for export, mounting a 120mm gun capable of firing standard NATO ammunition and guided missiles.
Production history
The T-84 is the latest Ukrainian development of T-64 and T-80 series, designed by KMDB in Kharkiv (while the Russian T-90 is an advanced T-72, with some T-80 features). A main design objective was to make Ukraine's arms industry independent of Russia's, after resulting difficulties in fulfilling a contract to supply T-80UD tanks to Pakistan. An external difference from earlier models is the new Ukrainian welded turret, replacing the T-80's Russian-built cast turret (some T-80s shipped to Pakistan have the same welded turret, but lack other T-84 improvements).
The T-84's outstanding feature is the 25 hp/t power-to-weight ratio, compared to the T-90's 18 hp/t (13 kW/t). It has inherited the nickname Flying Tank from the T-80. The tank is also designed to perform well in hot climates, and even includes an air-conditioned crew compartment (operating temperature range is claimed to be −40 °C to 55 °C).
Ukraine has demonstrated several advanced prototypes, intended for both domestic employment and international sale.
Variants
- T-84 — Ukrainian upgrade of the T-80UD. New welded turret and Shtora-1 countermeasures suite, 1,200 hp (895 kW) 6TD-2 diesel engine, auxiliary power unit.
- T-84U — Ukrainian upgrade of the T-84. New armoured side skirts, turret-conformal Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour, auxiliary power unit, thermal imaging sight, satellite navigation, commander's laser range-finder, muzzle reference system, and other improvements.
- T-84 Oplot — T-84U with new western-style turret, but retaining the 125mm gun. The Oplot tank features a new welded turret with separate crew and ammo compartments with blowout panels on the ammo compartment, a new bustle-mounted autoloader. A small number is in service with the Ukrainian Army.
- T-84-120 Yatagan — a prototype version of Oplot tailored for evaluation by the Turkish Army (prototype designation, KERN2-120). Mounts a 120mm main gun which fires both NATO 120mm rounds (like the M829 DU series) and a special 120mm version of the AT-11 Sniper ATGM. It also has automated gear shifting in place of mechanical gear selector, driver's T-bar control replacing tiller bars, air conditioning, and projectile muzzle velocity sensor, as well as differences in the fire control system, communications, etc.
See also
External links
- [Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau]—Ukrainian producer of the T-80. KMDB's pages for [T-80UD], [T-84], and [Oplot].
- [Oplot] and [Yatagan] at army-guide.com
- [T-84 MBT] at globalsecurity.org
- [JED Equipment Database: T-84 Tank information and variants] (requires paid membership)
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