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

Thirty-five years ago, on July 6, 1976, the main battle tank (MBT) T-80 was adopted by the Soviet army. Currently, the T-80 MBT is in service in the Western Military District (ZVO). tank brigade, 4 motorized rifle brigades, and is also used to train personnel in the district training center, as well as cadets and officers in military universities and academies. In total, the Western Military District has more than 1,800 T-80 tanks and its modifications, the Information Support Group of the Western Military District said.

The combat vehicle was created in a special design bureau (SKB) for transport engineering at the Leningrad Kirov Plant by a group of designers led by Nikolai Popov. The first series of T-80 tanks was produced in 1976-1978. Main Feature The T-80 was a gas turbine engine that was used as a tank power plant. Some of its modifications are equipped with diesel engines. The T-80 tank and its modifications are characterized by high speed (up to 80 km/h with a crew of 3 people). The T-80 took part in the fighting in the North Caucasus. It is in service with the ground forces of Russia, Cyprus, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea and Ukraine.

The T-80 tank is designed to conduct offensive and defensive battles in various physical, geographical, weather and climatic conditions. For fire destruction of the enemy, the T-80 is armed with a 125-mm smoothbore, stabilized in two planes cannon and a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun coaxial with it; 12.7-mm anti-aircraft machine-gun system "Utes" on the commander's cupola. To protect against guided weapons, the tank is equipped with a Tucha smoke grenade launcher. The T-80B tanks are equipped with the 9K112-1 Cobra ATGM system, and the T-80U tanks are equipped with the 9K119 Reflex ATGM system. The loading mechanism is similar to the T-64 tank.

The T-80B fire control system includes a laser rangefinder sight, a ballistic computer, an armament stabilizer and a set of sensors to control wind speed, tank roll and speed, target course angle, etc. Fire control on the T-80U is duplicated. The gun is made with strict requirements for the barrel, which is equipped with a metal heat-shielding casing to protect it from external influences and reduce deflection when heated. The combat weight of the tank is 42 tons.

The 125 mm smoothbore gun ensures hitting targets at ranges up to 5 km. Tank ammunition: shots - 45 (type BPS, BKS, OFS, guided missile). Armor protection combined. As a power plant, a multi-fuel GTD-1000T with a power of 1000 kW is used. Cruising on the highway - 500 km, the depth of the overcome water barrier - 5 m.

Main tank T-80

USSR

When the Minister of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mustafa Glas, who led the fighting of the Syrian army in Lebanon in 1981-82, the correspondent of the magazine "Der Spiegel" asked: "I would like former driver tank Glas to have the German "Leopard 2" that is so eager to get in Saudi Arabia?", the minister replied: ".... I do not strive to have it at any cost. The Soviet T-80 is Moscow's answer to the Leopard 2. It is not only equal to the German machine, but also significantly superior to it. As a soldier and specialist in tanks, I consider the T-80 the best tank in the world. "The T-80, the world's first production tank with a single gas turbine power plant, began to be developed at the Leningrad SKB-2 Kirov Plant in 1968. However, domestic gas turbine tank building began much earlier.GTE, which won an absolute victory over piston engines in combat aviation in the 1940s, began to attract the attention of tank builders.The new type of power plant promised very solid advantages over a diesel or gasoline engine: with an equal occupied volume, a gas turbine had significantly more power, which made it possible to sharply increase the speed and acceleration characteristics of combat vehicles, improve tank control.Reliably ensured and quick start of the engine at low temperatures.For the first time, the idea of ​​a gas turbine combat vehicle originated in the Main Armored Directorate of the USSR Ministry of Defense back in 1948.

The development of the project of a heavy tank with a gas turbine engine was completed under the leadership of the chief designer A.Kh. However, this tank remained on paper: an authoritative commission that analyzed the results of design studies came to the conclusion that the proposed vehicle did not meet a number of important requirements. In 1955, in our country, they again returned to the idea of ​​​​a tank with a gas turbine engine, and the Kirov Plant again took up this work, which was instructed on a competitive basis to create a new generation heavy tank - the most powerful in the world. combat vehicle weighing 52-55 tons, armed with a 130-mm gun with an initial projectile velocity of 1000 m / s and an 1000 hp engine. It was decided to develop two versions of the tank: with a diesel engine (object 277) and with a gas turbine engine (object 278), differing only in the engine compartment. The work was headed by N.M. Chistyakov. In the same 1955, under the leadership of G.A. Ogloblin, the creation of a gas turbine engine for this machine began. The meeting on this topic, held by the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR V.A. Malyshev in 1956, also contributed to an increase in interest in caterpillar gas turbine technology. The famous "tank people's commissar", in particular, expressed confidence that "in twenty years gas turbine engines will appear on ground transport vehicles."

In 1956-57. For the first time, Leningraders manufactured two experimental tank gas turbine engines GTD-1 with a maximum power of 1000 hp. The gas turbine engine was supposed to provide a tank weighing 53.5 tons with the ability to develop a very solid speed - 57.3 km / h. However, the gas turbine tank never came into being, largely due to subjective reasons known in history as "voluntarism": two diesel objects 277, released somewhat earlier than their gas turbine counterpart, in 1957, successfully passed factory tests, and soon one of them was shown to N.S. Khrushchev. The display had very negative consequences: Khrushchev, who had taken a course towards the abandonment of traditional weapons systems, was very skeptical about the new combat vehicle. As a result, in 1960, all work on heavy tanks was curtailed, and prototype object 278 was never completed. However, there were also objective reasons preventing the introduction of GTE at that time. Unlike a diesel engine, a tank gas turbine was still far from perfect, and it took years of hard work and many experimental "objects" that ironed polygons and tracks for two and a half decades before the gas turbine engine could finally "register" on a serial 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 experienced T-64T, which differs from its diesel counterpart by installing a GTD-ZTL helicopter gas turbine engine with a power of 700 hp. In 1964, an experimental object 167T with a GTD-3T (800 hp), developed under the direction of L.N. Kartsev, left the gates of Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil. The designers of the first gas turbine tanks faced a number of intractable problems that prevented the creation of a combat-ready tank with a gas turbine engine in the 1960s. Among the most challenging tasks. requiring the search for new solutions, issues of cleaning the air at the turbine inlet were highlighted: unlike a helicopter, whose engines suck in dust, and even then in relatively small quantities, only in takeoff and landing modes, a tank (for example, when marching in a column) can constantly move in a dust cloud, passing 5-6 cubic meters of air per second through the air intake. The gas turbine attracted the attention of the creators of a fundamentally new class of combat vehicles - missile tanks, which were actively developed in the USSR since the late 1950s.

This is not surprising: after all, according to the designers, one of the main advantages of such machines was increased mobility and reduced dimensions. In 1966, an experimental object 288, created in Leningrad and equipped with two GTD-350s with a total power of 700 hp, went for testing. The power plant of this machine was created in another Leningrad team - the aircraft building NPO. V.Ya.Klimov, who by that time had extensive experience in creating turboprop and turboshaft engines for aircraft and helicopters. However, during the tests, it turned out that the "spark" of two gas turbine engines does not have any advantages over a simpler monoblock power plant, the creation of which, in accordance with a government decision, "Klimovtsy", together with KB-3 of the Kirov Plant and VNIITransmash, began 1968. By the end of the 1960s, the Soviet army had the most advanced armored vehicles for its time.

The T-64 medium tank, put into service in 1967, was significantly superior to foreign counterparts - M-60A1, "Leopard" and "Chieftain" in terms of main combat indicators. However, since 1965 in the United States and Germany, joint work has begun on the creation of a new generation main battle tank, the MVT-70, which is distinguished by increased mobility, enhanced armament (a 155 mm Shileila ATGM launcher) and armor. The Soviet tank-building industry needed an adequate response to the NATO challenge. 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 the SKB-2 at the Kirov Plant was tasked with developing a variant of the T-64 medium tank with a gas turbine power plant, featuring increased combat characteristics. The first "Kirov" gas turbine tank of a new generation, object 219sp1, manufactured in 1969, outwardly was similar to the experimental Kharkov gas turbine T-64T.

The machine was equipped with a GTD-1000T engine with a capacity of 1000 hp. with., developed by NPO them. V.Ya.Klimova. The next object - 219sp2 - was already significantly different from the original T-64: tests of the first prototype showed that the installation of a new, more powerful engine, increased weight and changed dynamic characteristics tanks require significant changes to the chassis. It required the development of new driving and steering wheels, support and support rollers, tracks with rubberized treadmills, hydraulic shock absorbers and torsion shafts with improved performance. The shape of the tower was also changed. From the T-64A, the cannon, ammunition, automatic loader, individual components and systems, as well as elements of armor protection have been preserved. After building and testing several experimental vehicles, which took about seven years, on July 6, 1976, the new tank was officially put into service under the designation T-80. In 1976-78, the production association "Kirov Plant" produced a series of "eighties" that entered the troops.

Like other Russian tanks of the 1960s and 70s. - T-64 and T-72, T-80 has a classic layout and a crew of three. Instead of one viewing device, the driver has three, which significantly improved 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 °, the turret is cast. The frontal parts of the hull and turret are equipped with multi-layer 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 mass destruction (lining, linting, sealing and air purification system). The layout of the fighting compartment of the T-80 is generally similar to the layout adopted on the T-64B. The motoblock 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 engine is made in a single unit 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 engine compartment has four fuel tanks with a capacity of 385 liters each (the total fuel supply in the booked volume was 1140 liters). The GTD-1000T is made according to a three-shaft scheme, with two independent turbochargers and a free turbine. The adjustable nozzle apparatus (RSA) of the turbine limits the frequency of its rotation and prevents "spacing" when shifting 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 stalling when the vehicle suddenly stopped with the gear engaged.

An important advantage of the gas turbine power plant was its multi-fuel capability. The operation of the engine on jet aviation fuels TS-1 and TS-2, diesel fuels and automobile low-octane gasolines is ensured. 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 turbine's own quietness compared to a diesel engine, it was possible to somewhat reduce the acoustic visibility of the tank. The features of the T-80 include the first implemented combined braking system with the simultaneous use of a gas turbine engine and mechanical hydraulic brakes. The adjustable turbine nozzle allows you to change the direction of the gas flow, forcing the blades to rotate in the opposite direction (of course, this heavily loads the power turbine, which required special measures to protect it). The process of braking the tank is as follows: when the driver presses the brake pedal, braking begins through the turbine.

With further depression of the pedal, mechanical braking devices are also included in the work. The gas turbine engine of the T-80 tank uses an automatic engine control system (ACS), 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 pedals and RSA associated with the RT and fuel supply system. 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 for gear shifting (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 was used, which provides 97 percent purification. However, unfiltered dust particles still settle 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. In addition, before the engine starts and after it stops, a purge is performed. Transmission T-80 - mechanical planetary. It consists of two units, each of which includes an onboard gearbox, an onboard gearbox and hydraulic servo drives of the motion control system. Three planetary gear sets and five friction control devices in each side box provide four gears forward and one reverse. The track rollers have rubber tires and aluminum alloy discs. Caterpillars - with rubber treadmills and rubber-metal joints.

Tension mechanisms - worm type. Tank suspension - individual torsion, with misaligned torsion shafts and hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers on the first, second and sixth rollers. There is equipment for underwater driving, providing, after special training, overcoming a water barrier up to five meters deep. The main armament of the T-80 includes a 125 mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun, unified with the T-64 and T-72 tanks, as well as the Sprut self-propelled anti-tank gun. The gun is stabilized in two planes and has a point-blank range ( sub-caliber projectile with an initial speed of 1715 m / s) 2100 m. The ammunition also includes cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation shells. Shots - separate-sleeve loading. 28 of them (two less than those of the T-64A) are placed in the "carousel" of the mechanized ammunition rack, three shots are stored in the fighting compartment and another seven shells and charges - in the control compartment. In addition to the cannon, a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun coaxial with the gun was installed on the experimental vehicles, and a 12.7-mm NSVT Utes anti-aircraft machine gun was also installed on the serial tank on the basis of the commander's hatch.

Shooting from it is conducted by the commander, being at this time outside the booked volume. The firing range for air targets from Utes can reach 1,500 m, and for ground targets, 2,000 m. The shells are placed in the tray horizontally, "heads" to the axis of rotation. Propelling charges with a partially burning cartridge case are installed vertically, with pallets up (this distinguishes the mechanized ammunition rack of the T-64 and T-80 tanks from the T-72 and T-90 ammunition rack, where shells and charges are placed horizontally in cassettes). At the command of the gunner, the "drum" begins to rotate, bringing the cassette with the selected type of ammunition into the loading plane. Then the cassette along a special guide with the help of an electromechanical lift rises up to the ramming line, after which the charge and the projectile are pushed into the charging chamber of the gun fixed at the loading angle with one stroke of the rammer. After the shot, the pallet is caught by a special mechanism and transferred to the vacated tray. A rate of fire of six to eight rounds per minute is provided, which is very high for a gun of this caliber and does not depend on the physical condition of the loader (which significantly affects the rate of fire of foreign tanks). In the event of a failure of the machine, it is possible to load manually, however, at the same time, the rate of fire, of course, decreases sharply. Optical stereoscopic sight-rangefinder TPD-2-49 with independent stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane provides the ability to high precision determine the range to the target within 1000-4000 m.

To determine shorter ranges, as well as firing at targets that do not have a vertical projection (for example, trenches), there is a rangefinder scale in the field of view of the sight. Data on the range to the target is automatically entered into the scope. A correction for the speed of the tank and data on the type of the selected projectile is also automatically entered. In one block with a sight, a weapon guidance control panel with buttons for determining the range and firing is made. The night sights of the commander and gunner of the T-80 are similar to those used on the T-64A. The tank has a welded hull, the front part of which is inclined at an angle of 68 °. The tower is cast. The sides of the hull are protected by rubber-fabric screens that protect against damage by cumulative projectiles. The frontal part of the hull has multi-layer combined armor, the rest of the tank is protected by monolithic steel armor with differentiated thicknesses and angles of inclination. In 1978, the T-80B modification was adopted. Its fundamental difference from the T-80 was the use of a new gun and a complex of controlled missile weapons 9K112-1 "Cobra" with 9M112 radio-controlled missile. The complex included a guidance station installed in the fighting compartment of the vehicle, behind the gunner. "Cobra" provided rocket fire at a distance of up to 4 km from a stop and on the move, while the probability of hitting an armored target was 0.8.

The missile had dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of a 125-mm projectile and could be placed in any tray of a mechanized ammunition rack. In the head part of the ATGM there was a cumulative warhead and a solid propellant engine, in the tail part there was an equipment compartment and a throwing device. The docking of parts of the ATGM was carried out in the tray of the loading mechanism when sent into the gun barrel. Missile guidance is semi-automatic: the gunner only needed to keep the aiming mark on the target. The ATGM coordinates relative to the aiming line were determined by means of an optical system using a modulated light source mounted on the rocket, and control commands were transmitted via a narrowly focused radio beam. Depending on the combat situation, it was possible to select three missile flight modes. When firing from dusty soils, when dust raised by muzzle gases can close the target, the gun is given a small elevation angle above the aiming line. After the rocket leaves the barrel, it makes a "slide" and returns to the line of sight. If there is a threat of the formation of a dust plume behind the missile, unmasking its flight, the ATGM, after climbing, continues to fly with some excess above the line of sight and, only directly in front of the target, descends to a low altitude. When firing a rocket at a short range (up to 1000 km), when the target suddenly appears in front of the tank, the gun of which is already loaded with a rocket, the gun barrel is automatically given a small elevation angle, and the ATGM is lowered to the aiming line 80-100 m from the tank.

In addition to improved weapons, the T-80B also had more powerful armor protection. In 1980, the T-80B received a new GTD-1000TF engine, the power of which increased to 1100 hp. With. In 1985, the T-80B modification with a hinged dynamic protection complex was adopted. The machine received the designation T-80BV. Somewhat later, in the process of scheduled repairs, the installation of dynamic protection began on the previously built T-80Bs. The growth of the combat capabilities of foreign tanks, as well as anti-tank weapons, constantly required further improvement of the "eighties". Work on the development of this machine was carried out both in Leningrad and in Kharkov. Back in 1976, the KMDB on the basis of the T-80 completed a draft design of the 478 object, which has significantly increased combat and technical characteristics. It was supposed to install a diesel engine traditional for Kharkiv citizens - 6TDN with a capacity of 1000 liters on the tank. With. (A variant with a more powerful 1250-horsepower diesel engine was also worked out). At object 478, it was supposed to install an improved turret, guided missile weapons, a new sight, etc. Work on this machine served as the basis for the creation in the second half of the 1980s of the serial diesel tank T-80UD. A more radical modernization of the "eighties" was to be the Kharkov object 478M, design studies for which were also carried out in 1976. In the design of this machine, it was planned to use a number of technical solutions and systems that have not been implemented to date. The tank was supposed to be equipped with a 124Ch diesel engine with 1500 hp. with., which increased the specific power of the machine to a record value - 34.5 liters. s. / t and allowed to reach speeds of up to 75-80 km / h. The security of the tank was to be sharply increased by installing a promising active protection complex "Shater" - the prototype of the later "Arena", as well as a remote-controlled 23-mm anti-aircraft gun.

In parallel with object 478, a promising modification of the T-80A (object 219A) was developed in Leningrad, which has improved protection, new missile weapons (ATGM "Reflex"), as well as a number of other improvements, in particular, built-in bulldozer equipment for self-digging. An experimental tank of this type was built in 1982, and several more vehicles were subsequently produced with minor differences. In 1984, they worked out a set of hinged dynamic protection. 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, based on the T-80B serial tank, created another experimental vehicle - object 219V. Both experienced tanks gave impetus to the next important step in the evolution of the "eighties", made by Leningrad designers. By 1985, under the leadership of Nikolai Popov, the T-80U tank was created - the last and most powerful modification of the "eighties", recognized by many domestic and foreign experts as the strongest tank in the world. Machine that 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 tank's fire control system includes an information-computing daytime gunner's sighting system, a commander's sighting and observation system and a gunner's night sighting system. The firepower of the T-80U has increased significantly due to the use of a new complex of guided missile weapons "Reflex" with an anti-jamming fire control system that provides increased range and accuracy of fire while reducing the time to prepare the first shot. The 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 a range of 100-5000 m with a probability of 0.8. The ammunition load of the 2A46M-1 gun, which includes 45 ammunition, also consists of armor-piercing cumulative and high-explosive fragmentation rounds. Armor-piercing projectile has an initial speed of 1715 m / s (which exceeds initial speed projectile of any other foreign tank) and is capable of hitting heavily armored targets at a direct shot range - 2200 m.

With the help of a modern fire control system, the commander and gunner can conduct a separate search for targets, track them, as well as aimed fire day and night, both from a standstill and on the move, and use guided missile weapons. The Irtysh day 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. Regardless of the weapon, the sight is stabilized in two planes. 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 the vertical plane. The digital ballistic computer takes into account corrections for range, flanking target 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 and a quick-release connection of the barrel tube with the breech, which allows it to be replaced in field conditions, without dismantling the entire gun from the turret.

When creating the T-80U tank, considerable attention was paid to strengthening its security. Work was carried out in several directions. Due to the use of a new camouflage coloring, 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. The use on the tank of a self-digging system with a bulldozer blade 2140 mm wide, as well as 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 KMT-6 mounted track trawl, which excludes the detonation of mines under the bottom and caterpillars. The armor protection of the T-80U has been significantly strengthened, the design of armor barriers has been changed, and the relative proportion of armor in the tank's mass has been increased. For the first time in the world, elements of built-in dynamic protection (VDZ) have been 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 massive 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 most foreign tanks of the fourth generation. In this regard, it should be noted the assessment of armor protection Russian tanks, which was given by a prominent German specialist in the field armored vehicles Manfred Held. Speaking at a symposium on the prospects for the development of armored vehicles, which took place within the walls of the Royal Military College (Great Britain) in June 1996, M. Held said that Germany had tested the T-72M1 tank, inherited from the Bundeswehr from the GDR army and equipped with active armor . During the firing, it was found that the frontal part of the tank hull has protection equivalent to rolled homogeneous armor with a thickness of more than 2000 mm. According to M. Held, the T-80U tank has an even higher level of protection and is able to withstand the shelling of sub-caliber shells fired from advanced 140-mm tank guns, which are only being developed in the USA and a number of Western European countries. “Thus,” the German specialist concludes, “the latest Russian tanks (primarily the T-80U) are practically invulnerable in frontal projection from all types of kinetic and cumulative anti-tank munitions in service with NATO countries and have more effective protection than their Western counterparts(Jane "s International Defense Review, 1996, No. 7)".

Of course, this assessment can be opportunistic in nature (it is necessary to "lobby" the creation of new types of ammunition and guns), but it is worth listening to it. When armor is penetrated, the tank's survivability is ensured by the use of the fast-acting automatic fire-fighting system "Hoarfrost", which prevents 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. A significant innovation was the use of an auxiliary power unit GTA-18A with a capacity of 30 liters on the tank. s., allowing you to save 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. At the end of 1983, an experimental series of two dozen T-80Us was manufactured, eight of which were transferred for military trials. In 1985, the development of the tank was completed and its large-scale serial production began in Omsk and Kharkov. However, despite the perfection of the gas turbine engine, in a number of parameters, primarily in terms of efficiency, it was inferior to the traditional tank diesel engine. Besides. the cost of a diesel engine was much lower (for example, the V-46 engine in the 1980s cost the state 9,600 rubles, while the GTD-1000 cost 104,000 rubles). The gas turbine had a much smaller resource, its repair was more complicated.

An unambiguous answer: which is better - a tank gas turbine or an internal combustion engine, has not been obtained. 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. Although the idea of ​​creating a T-80 variant with a unified engine compartment that allowed the use of interchangeable diesel and gas turbine engines, which was in the air, was never realized, work on the creation of a diesel version of the "eighty" was carried out from 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 design of this engine began in 1966, and since 1975 it has been tested on the chassis of the "object 476". In 1976, a variant of the T-80 tank with 6TD ("object 478") was proposed in Kharkov. In 1985, on its basis, under the leadership of General Designer I.L. Protopopov, the "object 478B" ("Birch") was created.

Compared to the "reactive" 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 car received remote control of the Utes anti-aircraft machine gun. The first five serial "Birches" were assembled by the end of 1985, in 1986 the machine was launched into a large series, and in 1987 it was put into service under the designation T-80UD. 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. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the production of cars dropped sharply: independent Ukraine was unable to order military equipment for its own armed forces (however, the position of "independent Russia" turned out to be little better).

The way out was found in the proposal of the diesel version of the T-80 for export. In 1996, a contract was made for the supply of 320 vehicles, which received the Ukrainian designation T-84, to Pakistan (this number probably included tanks that are part of the Ukrainian armed forces). The export value of one T-84 was $1.8 million. In Kharkov, work is also underway to create a more powerful (1200 hp) 6TD-2 diesel engine, designed for installation on modernized T-64 samples. However, in the light of the economic situation in Ukraine, as well as the break in cooperation with the Russian military-industrial complex, the prospects for tank building in Kharkov look very uncertain. In Russia, the improvement of the gas turbine T-80U continued, the production of which completely moved to the plant in Omsk. In 1990, the production of a tank with a more powerful GTD-1250 engine (1250 hp) began, 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 (Stealth technology - as such things are called in the West). The reduction in the effective dispersion surface (ESR) of ground combat vehicles has become of particular importance after the advent of aviation systems radar reconnaissance in real time using a side-looking radar with a synthetic aperture providing 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 - Northrop-Martin / Boeing E-8 JSTARS - were successfully used by the Americans during Operation Desert Storm, as well as in the Balkans. Since 1992, the Agava-2 thermal imaging device for observation and aiming began to be installed on parts of the T-80U (the industry delayed the supply of thermal imagers, so not all vehicles received them). Video image (for the first time on domestic tank) is displayed on a TV-type screen. For the development of this device, its creators were awarded the Kotin Prize. The serial T-80U tank with the above improvements introduced is known under the designation T-80UM. Another important innovation. significantly increased the combat survivability of the T-80U. was the use of a complex of optoelectronic suppression TShU-2 "Shtora". 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 interfering 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 IR radiation with parameters close to those of ATGM tracers of the Dragon, TOW, HOT, Milan, etc. types. By acting on the IR receiver of the ATGM semi-automatic guidance system, it disrupts missile guidance. SOEP provides interference in the form of modulated infrared radiation in the sector +/-20 ° from the axis of the bore horizontally and 4.5 "vertically. In addition, TShU-1, two modules of which are located in front of the tank turret, provide IR illumination at night, conduct aimed fire with the help of night vision devices, and are also used to blind any (including small-sized) objects. and artillery corrected 155-mm projectile "Copperhead", reacts to laser radiation within 360 "in azimuth and -5 / + 25" in the vertical plane. The received signal is processed at high speed 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 m three seconds after the grenade is fired. SOEP operates only in automatic mode, and SPZ - in automatic, semi-automatic and manual. Range tests of "Shtora-1" confirmed the high efficiency of the complex: the probability of hitting a tank by missiles with semi-automatic command guidance is reduced by 3 times, missiles with semi-active laser homing - by 4 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 the T-80UK serial command tank - a variant of the T-80U vehicle, designed to provide command and control of tank units. In addition, the commander's tank received a remote detonation system for high-fragmentation projectiles with proximity electronic fuses. T-80UK communication facilities operate in the VHF and KB bands. The R-163-U ultra-shortwave radio station with frequency modulation, operating in the operating frequency range of 30 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 antenna of the "symmetrical vibrator" type, mounted on an 11-meter telescopic mast mounted on the vehicle body, the communication range increases to 40 km (with this antenna, the tank can only work in the parking lot). Shortwave radio station R-163-K, operating in the frequency range of 2 MHz in telephone-telegraph mode with frequency modulation. designed to provide communication over a long distance. It has 16 preset frequencies. With a whip HF antenna 4 m long, providing operation when the tank was moving, the communication range was initially 20-50 km, but by introducing 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-K reaches 350 km. The command tank is also equipped with a TNA-4 navigation system and an AB-1-P28 self-contained gasoline power generator with a power of 1.0 kW, additional function which is to recharge the batteries while stationary 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. Armament, power plant, transmission, chassis, surveillance devices and other equipment of the T-80UK corresponds to the T-80UM tank. however, the ammunition load of the gun has been reduced to 30 rounds, and of 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. The Orders of Lenin were awarded to A.N. Popov and A.M. Konstantinov, the Orders of the October Revolution - to A.A. Druzhinin and P.A. Stepanchenko.....

On June 8, 1993, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, a group of specialists and the general designer of the T-80U tank, N.S. Popov, were awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology for the development of new technical solutions and the introduction of the machine into mass production. However, the T-80 is far from exhausting the possibilities for further modernization. Improvement and means of active protection of tanks continues. In particular, on the experimental T-80B, the Arena active tank protection complex (KAZT) was tested, 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 also intended to be hit by 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, narrowly targeted 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 provides. as well as monitoring its performance.

The sequence of operation of the complex is as follows: after turning it on from the control panel of the tank commander, 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 seconds. In 0.2-0.4 seconds after the defensive shot, the complex is again ready to "shoot" the next target. Each defensive munition fires at its own sector, with the sectors of closely spaced 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 turning. An important problem that the developers of the complex managed to successfully resolve 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 accompanying the tank: the danger zone of the complex - 20 m - is relatively small, when protective shells are fired, side lethal fragments are not formed. there is an external light alarm that warns the infantrymen behind the tank about the inclusion of the complex. Equipping the T-80 with the "Arena" allows you to increase the survival rate of the tank during offensive operations approximately twice. 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 conditions local conflicts. when the opposing side is armed with only light anti-tank weapons. The T-80UM-1 tank with KAZT "Arena" was first publicly demonstrated in Omsk in the fall of 1997. There was also shown a variant of this tank with another active defense system - "Drozd". In order to improve 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 (at the same time, the 12.7-mm Utes machine gun is dismantled). The pointing angle relative to the tower is 120 "to the horizon and -5 / -65" - vertically. Ammunition installation -450 shells.

Characteristics of KAZT "Arena"

Target speed range: 70-700m/s
Protection sector in azimuth: 110°
Detection range of incoming targets: 50 m
Complex reaction time: 0.07 sec
Power consumption: 1 kW
Supply voltage: 27V
Weight of the complex: 1100 kg
The volume of equipment inside the tower: 30dm sq.

A further development of the T-80 was the Black Eagle tank, the creation of which was carried out in Omsk. The machine, which retained the T-80 chassis, is equipped with a new turret with a horizontal placement of the automatic loader, as well as 1 TD with a capacity of 1500l. With. At the same time, the mass of the vehicle increased to 50 tons. Promising guns with a caliber of up to 150 mm can be used as the main armament on the Black Eagle. 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 1996, the Russian army had approximately 5,000 T-80s, 9,000 T-72s and 4,000 T-64s. For comparison, there are 79 IS Mi tanks in the US armed forces. Ml A and M1A2, the Bundeswehr - 1700 Leopards, and the French army plans to purchase, in total, only 650 Leclerc tanks. In addition to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Syria also have T-80 machines. The press reported on the interest in acquiring the "eighties" of India, China and other countries.

Main battle tank T-80 and T-80B

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 mass production of the T-64 tank at tank factories, the Kirov Plant was instructed to prepare the 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.

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 a 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.

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.

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.

Chassis 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, so the series dignitaries, first of all, 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, economic characteristics did not change the determination of D. F. Ustinov in focusing 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 troops.

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

On the this moment T-80BV tanks make up a significant part of the Russian tank forces and need to be modernized. 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 rounds,

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, in order to rotate the commander's turret, the tank commander must rotate the entire structure along with the ZPU, and this is about 300 kg of mass, and even the NSV-12.7 "Utes" machine gun protrudes from 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". During the transition to serial production of the T-80U tank on some T-80BV tanks latest episodes(object 219RB) towers were installed like the T-80U, but with the old SLA 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 from 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 intended. 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's operation has been proven during special tests with simulations of situations of air contamination that are 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 the 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 take place 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, turbine nozzle high pressure, for blowing the units of the power compartment.

The air cleaning system includes air intake shutters of the power compartment roof 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.

Tactical and technical characteristics
Parameter	Unit of measurement	T-80B
Full mass		42,5
Crew	people
Specific power	hp/t	25,8
Engine (GTE-1000T)	hp	1000
Tank width
Ground pressure	kgf / cm 2	0,86
Temperature mode of operation	°С	40…+55 (with power reduction)
Tank length
with gun forward	mm	9651
corps	mm	6982
Tank width
along the caterpillar	mm	3384
removable protective screens	mm	3582
Tower roof height	mm	2219
Support surface length	mm	4284
Ground clearance	mm
Track width	mm
Travel speed
Average on a dry dirt road	km/h	40…45
Maximum on paved road	km/h
In reverse gear, maximum	km/h
Fuel consumption per 100 km
On a dry dirt road	l, up to	450…790
On paved road	l, up to	430…500
Power reserve:
on main fuel tanks	km
with extra barrels	km
Ammunition
Shots to the cannon	PCS
(of which in the conveyor of the loading mechanism)	PCS
Cartridges:
to machine gun (7.62 mm)	PCS	1250
to machine gun (12.7 mm)	PCS
Aerosol grenades	PCS

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

When the Minister of Defense of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mustafa Tlas, who commanded the Syrian army in Lebanon in 1981-82, was asked by a correspondent of the Spiegel magazine: “Would the former driver of the Tlas tank want to have the German Leopard that the Saudis so desire to get?”, he replied: “... There is a desire, but there is also a T-80 - Moscow's answer 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 the 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 a good speed - 57.3 km / h. Two tanks of this type were built and tested, however, unlike a 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 forces simultaneously with 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 Leopard-2 tower. 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 the general design principles of Soviet tanks, moreover, there is not enough space to accommodate it 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 with regard to the possibility of firing breech-loaded anti-tank missiles from it also became erroneous. 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 - 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 chassis: 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 1140l. 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 stern 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 for gear shifting (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, additional protection for the crew from neutron weapons is provided by fuel tanks. 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 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 an 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. The 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 the 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 armor is penetrated, the tank's survivability is ensured by the use of the fast-acting automatic fire-fighting system "Hoarfrost", which prevents 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 rear of the machine in the bunker on the left fender, is “built into” the general system 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 “reactive” 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 car received remote control of the Utes anti-aircraft machine gun.

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 of further development of the design 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 company Thomson. 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 new form, the built-in dynamic protection system "Doublet", the complex of optoelectronic suppression "Warta" and side screens that protect the hull and chassis from RPG shots.

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.

T-80UM1 "Bars" with KAZ "Arena"

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 high-resolution synthetic aperture side-looking radars. 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 IR 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 modulated infrared radiation in the sector +/-20 degrees, from the axis of the bore along the horizon and 4.5 degrees. - 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 dazzle any (including small-sized) 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. The received signal is processed at high speed 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.

Ground 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 proximity 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 whip HF antenna 4 m long, which ensures operation when the tank is moving, the communication range was initially 20-50 km, but by introducing 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 while stationary 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.

Armament, power plant, transmission, undercarriage, surveillance devices and other equipment of the T-80UK corresponds 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 award. By decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, a group of specialists and the general designer of the T-80U tank, N.S. Popov, were awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and technology for the development of new technical solutions and the introduction of the machine into mass production.

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 targeted 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 the sectors of closely spaced 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-killing 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. A new welded tower with a horizontal placement of the automatic loader is installed on the hull. 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. The guard units of the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany had priority in obtaining these vehicles. 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 of Western Europe with 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 military operations.

T-64 tanks were the first to receive in 1967 the 100th Guards Training Tank Regiment and the 41st Guards tank division, 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 connection located near the manufacturer's plant was dictated by the need to assist tankers in the operation and maintenance new equipment by teams of factory specialists. In the GSVG, T-64 tanks were armed with the 2nd and 20th Guards, 3rd tank army, "eighties" - the 1st Guards Tank and 8th Guards Armies.

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, their high speed and excellent starting qualities of the gas turbine engine bribed them. According to analysts general staff, when big 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, which consisted of 500 people, supported by 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 country's defense. Apparently, the issue of abandoning the T-80 should have been raised no earlier than the start of the mass supply of more modern types of vehicles to the troops, for example, the "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. The delivery of 41 tanks (the contract amount is $174 million) increased the number of tank units of the Greek community of the island by almost a third (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 learned about his country's purchase of 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."

From the beginning of the last century until the end of the 50s, armored vehicle designers proceeded from the division of tanks into heavy, medium and light. But over time, light tanks were replaced by armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. A production heavy tanks, which suffered from insufficient maneuverability, was gradually discontinued.

general information

• classification - main battle tank;
• weight of the T-80 tank in tons - 42;
• layout scheme - classic;
• crew - 3 people;
• years of operation - since 1976;
• modifications - yes (for separate study);
• the number of issued - more than 10 thousand pieces.

this year in the USSR, the T-80 became the main combat vehicle

Medium tanks by adopting them best features, became the main armored forces. Or main battle tanks (MBT according to foreign classification). In 1976, the T-80 became such a combat vehicle.

Historical digression

The 60s and 70s of the last century for the Soviet tank building were marked by two main areas of work. The struggle for the survivability of a combat vehicle and the creation of a more powerful engine that would provide both speed and maneuverability. Before achieving the result, several stages were passed:

• 1964- the decision of the Central Committee of the CPSU to create a new tank, the main characteristics of which should be - a cruising range of at least 450 km and engine power - 1000 hp. A diesel engine to achieve such power needed an increase in the cooling system and, accordingly, an increase in the dimensions of the tank;
• Early 60s- creation at the Kharkov plant of the T-64 tank (700 hp). Tank - generally unsuccessful, the engine was adopted by the Kirov plant in Leningrad;
• 1968-1974. - object 219 is being tested (later T-80);
• 1973- the beginning of serial production of the T-72 "Ural" tank (840 hp) at the Nizhny Tagil Uralvagonzavod;

• 1976 the world's first tank with a gas turbine engine T-80 (1000 hp) was adopted by the Soviet Army;
• 1978 there are modifications of the tank -T-80B and T-80BK;
• 1985 the system of remote protection against projectiles began to be serially used. In the same year, two more modifications were created - T-80 BV and T -80 UM-1.

The three medium tank models, developed almost simultaneously, met different fates. The production of the T-64, as not very successful, ceased. The T-72 tank (unofficial name - “commercial”), remaining in service in some units and formations of the SA, since 1976 began to be massively exported both to the Warsaw Pact countries and a number of others (to Finland, India, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yugoslavia). Licenses for the production of the Ural tank were sold to some countries.

Dozens, or even hundreds of parameters, characteristics that assess the technical and combat level tanks can be divided into three groups. Namely: armor protection, firepower, maneuverability both on the march and on the battlefield. These are the main parameters TTX of the tank T-80, and the main concern of the creators of the machine.

Technical characteristics of the T-80 tank (TTX)

Armor protection

Firepower

Maneuverability

Design features

Engineers, technicians, designers of the T-80 tank were finally able to create the world's first successful gas turbine engine (GTE). After all, development began almost after the Great Patriotic War.

The engine put into mass production has become more economical and omnivorous (it runs on any fuel from diesel to aviation kerosene). The air purification system from dust keeps up to 97% of dust particles. The absence of such a system was the main drawback of previous GTE models.

Along with the serial use of a gas turbine engine, the creators of the T-80 tank and its modifications made a huge contribution to the development and implementation of an unprecedented system of protection against various types of anti-tank weapons, which greatly improved the performance characteristics of the T-80 tank. First of all, this is a multi-layer ceramic-metal armor and dynamic protection.

Dynamic protection (DZ) is a type of additional protection for tanks and other armored vehicles. It is a metal container filled with a small amount of explosive and attached to the main armor. The principle of operation of such protection is in a directed explosion, which destroys the cumulative jet of an anti-tank missile or artillery shell.

Contact-1

dynamic protection which began to be installed in 1985 on the T-80 tank

The development of DZ began in the years of the Great Patriotic War. But the system was at the stage of final testing in the early 80s. In 1985, dynamic protection, called "Contact-1", began to be serially installed on various types of military equipment, including the T-80 tank (modification T-80B).

The probability of hitting a tank equipped with new protection has decreased by almost 2 times. But only from a cumulative projectile. The appearance in 1986 of the second generation of dynamic protection "Contact-5" provided partial protection (1.2 times) of the tank from armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles. Elements of remote sensing of the first and second generation are interchangeable.

Modifications of the T-80 tank

During those years when the T-80 remained the main battle tank of the Soviet and Russian Armed Forces, its individual components and assemblies received more than a dozen amendments and innovations. Specifications tank T-80 improved significantly. Serious changes were also applied, which made it possible to talk about the creation of new modifications of the combat vehicle. Without going into the specifics of all models of the T-80 family, the dynamics of the development of the tank can be traced to three of them.

Modification
Fighting machine	T-80	T-80B	T-80UM-1 "Bars"
Plant manufacturer	Kirov Plant	Leningrad
Adopted	1976	1978	1997
Weight of the T-80 tank	42 t	42.5 t	47 t
Availability andprotection type
dynamic	Not	"Contact-1"	"Contact -5"
Active	Not	Not	"Arena"
COEP	Not	Not	"Curtain -1"
Armor	Cast and	knurled	combined
Armament
Gun/caliber	2А46-1/125 mm	2А46-1/125 mm	2А46М/125 mm
Firing range (m)		0…5000
Ammunition	38	40	45
Machine gun	1x12.7 mm	1x7.62 mm
Powerinstallation
engine's type		gas turbine
Engine power hp	1000	1100	1250
Max. highway speed	65	70	70
Fuel consumption (l/km)		3,7
Power reserve max. (km)	350

Unfortunately, it is impossible to reflect in the table all the performance characteristics of the T-80 tank and its design features that were introduced into the next modifications of the combat vehicle. But it is necessary to dwell on the most important of them:

• model T-80 UK - commander's, with an additional radio station and navigation system;
• the T-80 UD model was equipped with a diesel engine and was intended for export;
• Since the end of the 70s, most modifications have been equipped with Cobra and Reflex guided weapon systems. Simply put, these are missiles that are launched from a standard gun. The targets are helicopters, tanks, pillboxes.

• a few years after the start of serial production of the T-80, gradually all models began to be equipped with automatic engine control systems. She chooses the most economical way of movement, helps to reduce fuel consumption;
• the last of the eighty modifications, the T-80UM-1 Bars, is equipped with a more advanced fire control system. It determines the range to the target, its speed, enters data on wind and temperature, and, taking into account the speed of the tank itself, gives aiming data. Specialists highly appreciate the performance characteristics of the T-80U;
• do not forget the developers of new models and the comfort of the crew. A successful air conditioning system has been created at Bars.

Separately, it is necessary to dwell on the results of work to further improve the protection system and ensure the survivability of the tank. It's about on equipping the T-80UM-1 with the Arena active protection complex and Shtora-1 KOEP .

Complex active protection"Arena" - a system of directed mini-explosions that destroy artillery shells and ATGMs on approach to the tank. It consists of an airborne radar that controls the space around the combat vehicle and 26 high-speed narrowly directed projectiles.

Armor is strong...

The main stages of improving the characteristics of the T-80 tank and creating its new modifications took place in a difficult period for the country, the army, and the military-industrial complex. The collapse of the USSR led to violations of economic and industrial ties.

Take, for example, the closely interconnected work of Kharkov and Leningrad tank builders. And the collapse of the Armed Forces and not the best use of armored vehicles in conflicts in the post-Soviet space. And the lack of funding for various design bureaus and research institutes. You can continue for a long time ... But, honor and praise to those who were able to save the main battle tank and even improve it.

On May 9, 2015, the new T-14 Armata tank was presented at the Victory Parade. But that's another story.

The history of the creation of the T-80 tank began in July 1967 with a meeting with the Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU D.F. Ustinov, at which it was decided to develop a gas turbine power plant for the T-64 tank. 1000 hp engine was supposed to provide a power reserve on the highway of at least 450 km with a warranty period of 500 hours. The reason for making such a decision, as well as creating a backup power plant with a V-46 diesel engine, was that the 5TDF two-stroke engine of the T-64 tank worked very unreliable. In addition, there was an opinion among the military leadership that the use of gas turbine engines in tanks would significantly improve combat and operational characteristics, including average speeds and combat readiness (especially in winter time), as well as increase the power-to-weight ratio of the tank.

As a result of the meeting on April 16, 1968, a joint resolution of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR was adopted, obliging the Ministry of Defense Industry and the Ministry of Aviation Industry to conduct development work on the gas turbine engine during 1968-1971. By this time, the LNPO named after V. Klimov had developed a successful engine GTD-1000T with a capacity of 1000 hp, and in KB-3 of the Kirov Plant, taking the gas turbine version of the T-64A tank as a basis, in 1970 they completed an experimental object 219 in metal.

For testing in various climatic conditions, more than 60 tanks were manufactured, including for factory tests, in military operation and on special stands (trackless stand, cold chamber, wind tunnel, etc.). These tests showed that gas turbine engines still do not have sufficient reliability, have high fuel consumption and do not provide the required power reserve. Serious problems arose in terms of engine performance in conditions of high air dustiness, as well as transmission and chassis, due to an increase in engine power and speed.

To increase the power reserve, the amount of transported fuel was increased to 1700 liters (of which 1150 liters were booked) instead of 1093 liters (738 liters) on the T-64A tank. In addition, two additional 400-liter barrels were installed, which were absent on the T-64A.

Conducted in 1972, comparative tests of the object 219 and T-64A showed some advantages of the first. In the winter of 1973, in the Siberian Military District, at the training ground in Yurga, an experimental military operation of seven tanks was carried out, according to the results of which the commission concluded that this tank has higher maneuverability and maneuverability, is capable of making marches as part of a company up to 100 - 150 km per day on unprepared trails (without the use of snow plows), overcome snowdrifts up to 2 - 3 m and confidently move on virgin soil with a snow depth of up to 1 m.

The use of a gas turbine engine that did not require "warm-up before launch" increased the combat readiness of the tank in winter conditions and reduced the time for its preparation for exit to 2 - 3 minutes at -18 ° C and to 25 - 32 minutes - at lower temperatures (up to -45 ° C At the same time, fuel consumption per 100 km of the way when the column was moving on virgin snow did not ensure the daily passage of tanks 300-400 km without refueling.

In 1974 - 1975, in the Volga Military District, an experimental military operation of a battalion of tanks in the amount of 10 - 11 thousand km was carried out. At its beginning, there was a massive failure of the gas turbine engine, mainly due to the destruction of the third support of the turbocharger. Urgent measures were taken to eliminate this shortcoming, and by December 15, 1974, the battalion received 10 modified engines of the so-called 8th series. In this regard, the experimental military operation program was clarified and for 10 tanks with improved engines, a testing stage was added in conditions of loess dust in the air in the Turkestan military district.

Cars there were refueled with both aviation kerosene and diesel fuel. In the conclusions of the final report on experimental military operation, it was stated that the combat readiness of object 219 at low temperatures was 1.5 - 2 times higher than that of tanks with diesel engines. He had high maneuverability, was able, in cooperation with the BMP, to rapidly advance to the front line at a speed of 20 - 30 km / h or more, attack the enemy, being less time under the influence of his firepower, and provide firing at speeds of 20 - 25 km /h

Depending on the road and climatic conditions, the average speed was within 18 - 32 km/h (tactical) and 20 - 40 km/h (technical). Fuel consumption per 100 km: 453 - 838 l; for 1 hour of engine operation: 123 - 209 l; cruising range without barrels: 220 - 368 km, and with additional barrels: 270 - 456 km. Oil consumption was practically non-existent.

On August 6, 1976, shortly after the appointment of D.F. Ustinov as Minister of Defense, object 219 was put into service under the symbol T-80. "Eighty" became the world's first mass-produced tank with a gas turbine engine (serial production of the M1 "Abrame" tank began in 1980).

The main tank T-80 (object 219sp2) was the basic production version. The vehicle had a welded hull, basically similar in design to the hulls of the T-64A and T-72 tanks. Tower - cast, complex configuration. The 125-mm 2A46-1 gun was equipped with a heat-shielding barrel cover, a hydroelectromechanical loading mechanism of the same type as on the T-64A tank, a coaxial PKT machine gun, an NSVT-12.7 Utyos anti-aircraft machine gun, and a TPD-2-rangefinder optical sight. 49, two-plane stabilizer 2E28M. In general, the early T-80 turret was largely unified with the T-64A turret (including aiming and observation devices, as well as the fire control system). The undercarriage had tracks with rubberized treadmills and RMSH, rubberized track and support rollers. The crew consisted of three people. Serial production of the tank was carried out at the Leningrad Kirov Plant from 1976 to 1978.

In 1978, a modification of the T-80B (object 219R) appeared, distinguished primarily by the presence of the 9K112-1 Kobra guided weapon system and the 1AZZ SLA (1G42 laser rangefinder sight, 1V517 tank ballistic computer, 2E26M stabilizer, 1G43 shot resolution unit and a set sensors). The 2A46-2 cannon and the 902A Tucha smoke grenade launcher were mounted, and the turret armor was reinforced. Since 1980, the GTD-1000TF engine with a power of 1100 hp began to be installed. and a turret unified with the T-64B, since 1982 - the 2A46M-1 "Rapier-3" cannon. In 1984, the armor of the bow of the hull was reinforced by welding a 30 mm armor plate. The T-80B tank was also produced by the Kirov Plant in Leningrad. On its basis, the T-80BK commander tank (object 630), produced by the Omsk Transport Engineering Plant, was created.

Simultaneously with the development of the T-80B, its diesel version was also designed - object 219RD with a 1000-horsepower A-53-2 diesel engine. This machine did not leave the prototype stage. In 1983, another prototype was created - object 219V, on which elements of the new Irtysh control system and the Reflex guided weapon system were tested.

In January 1985, a modification of the T-80BV (object 219RV) was adopted, which differed from the T-80B by installing a mounted dynamic protection kit on the turret and hull.

According to the arrangement of mechanisms and equipment inside, the T-80B tank is divided into three sections: control, combat and power.

The control compartment is located in the bow of the hull. It is limited on the right by a fuel tank and a tank rack, on the left - also by a fuel tank, a driver's control instrument panel and batteries with electrical equipment installed above them, at the back - by a loading mechanism conveyor (MZ). The driver's seat is located in the control compartment, in front of which on the bottom of the case were the steering control levers, the fuel supply pedal and the pedal of the adjustable nozzle apparatus. Observation devices TNPO-160 are mounted in the shaft of the upper inclined sheet of the hull. To drive a tank at night, instead of the central viewing device TNPO-160, a TVNE-4B night device is installed, which in the non-working position is in the stowage to the right of the driver's seat. Behind the seat in the bottom of the hull is an emergency exit hatch. In 1984, the attachment of the driver's seat to the beam was introduced instead of the attachment to the bottom.

The fighting compartment is located in the middle part of the tank and is formed by a combination of the hull and the turret. The turret has a 125 mm smoothbore gun. The hull contains a cabin docked with the tower. The cockpit is located MZ, which provides placement, transportation, filing and sending shots, as well as catching and placing extracted pallets. To the right of the gun is the seat of the tank commander, to the left - the gunner. There are seats and footrests for the commander and gunner, as well as removable guards that ensure their safety during the operation of the stabilizer, the MOH and when firing from a cannon. To the right of the cannon, a PKT machine gun coaxial with it, a TPU A-1 apparatus, a R-123M radio station (on later production tanks - R-173) and an MZ control panel are installed.

A commander's cupola with a hatch is mounted above the tank commander's seat in the turret. It has two TNPO-160 prism observation devices, a TKN-3 commander's observation device, and two TNPA-65 prism observation devices.

Behind the walls of the cabin there is an annular conveyor of the loading mechanism.

The power compartment is located in the aft part of the tank hull. It has a longitudinally mounted gas turbine engine. Output of power to the shafts of onboard gearboxes is carried out from both ends of the output gearbox of the engine. Each onboard gearbox is mounted in a block with a coaxial planetary final drive carrying the drive wheel.

The engine is assembled with other assembly units in the form of a monoblock, which includes: the engine and its oil tank, air cleaner, engine and transmission oil coolers, fuel filters, part of the thermal smoke equipment, BNK-12TD fuel priming pump, high pressure compressor AK-150SV with automatic pressure control, cooling and dust extraction fans, transmission oil pump, GS-18MO generator and GS-12TO starter.

Gas turbine engine GGD-1000TF with a power of 1100 hp made according to a three-shaft scheme with two mechanical independent turbochargers and a free turbine. The main components of the engine are low and high pressure centrifugal compressors, a combustion chamber, axial compressor turbines, an axial power turbine, an exhaust pipe, gearboxes and a gearbox.

The roof of the power compartment is removable and consists of a front fixed part and a rear lifting part, which is connected to the front with hinges and a torsion bar. The roof opens with the effort of one person and is locked with a tie in the raised position. In the front part of the roof there are entrance blinds, closed from above with removable metal meshes.

Outside the tank, external fuel tanks are attached, included in the common fuel system, boxes with spare parts, towing cables, spare tracks, a bag with external start wires, fuel transfer hoses, a log for self-extraction, brackets for installing additional fuel barrels, removable OPVT equipment, a covering tarpaulin, a driver's protective cap in a case and part of the ammunition load of an anti-aircraft machine gun.

The armament of the T-80B tank includes: 125 mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun; 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun PKT; 12.7 mm Utyos tank machine gun (NSVT-12.7); ammunition for cannon and machine guns; loading mechanism; fire control system 1AZZ; guided weapon system 9K112-1; night sight TPNZ-49.

The gun is installed in the tank turret on trunnions. The turret's embrasure is covered in front with armor, bolted to the cradle and covered with a cover from the outside. There is an embrasure seal inside the turret. The barrel of the gun consists of a pipe fastened in the chamber part with a casing; breech; couplings and a mechanism for blowing the bore. The part of the barrel outside the cradle and armor is covered with a thermal protective cover, which is designed to reduce the effect of adverse meteorological conditions on the bending of the pipe during firing. It consists of four sections, couplers, brackets, frames and fasteners.

The mass of the swinging part of the gun without armored mask and stabilizer is 2443 kg. Combat rate of fire - 6 - 8 rds / min. The range of a direct shot (at a target height of 2 m) with an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile is 2120 m.

Ammunition for the gun consists of 38 shots with armor-piercing sub-caliber, high-explosive fragmentation, cumulative and guided projectiles. Of these: 28 shots are placed in the MOH conveyor in any ratio; 7 - in the control compartment and 5 - in the fighting compartment.

The anti-aircraft machine gun mount is designed for firing at air and ground targets at ranges up to 2000 m and provides circular fire at machine gun pointing angles in the vertical plane from -5° to +75°. The installation is located on the commander's cupola. For firing from a machine gun, 12.7 mm caliber cartridges are used: armor-piercing incendiary B-32 and armor-piercing incendiary tracer BZT-44.

A design feature of the T-80B tank is the presence of a hydroelectromechanical complex for the automatic loading of the gun with any of the types of shots used.

The loading cycle begins with setting the ballistics switching lever to the position corresponding to the given type of shot, and pressing the MOH button on the rangefinder sight. At the same time, the executive engine of the hydraulic pump MZ is turned on. The lever of the feed mechanism is pressed into the lower position, the conveyor starts to rotate. When the tray with the selected type of shot approaches the loading line, the conveyor brakes and stops. Simultaneously with the rotation of the conveyor, the gun is stopped at the loading angle by a hydromechanical stopper - and the tray with the shot is fed to the chambering line. On the dispensing line, the tray is opened and the shot is sent to the gun chamber. The wedge of the gun breech is closed. A green index is displayed in the field of view of the sight, indicating that the gun is loaded. When the rammer chain returns, the pallet is transferred from the catcher to the empty tray. The lever of the feed mechanism returns the empty tray to the lower position, and the gun, unraveling, goes to a consistent position with the aiming line. The loading cycle is over, the gun is ready to fire a shot.

Due to the peculiarities of its design, the cassetteless loading mechanism of the T-80 and T-64 tanks was called the "Basket".

The fire control system (FCS) 1AZZ installed on the T-80B tank is designed to ensure effective fire from a cannon and a machine gun coaxial with it at enemy tanks and other armored targets moving at speeds up to 75 km / h, at small targets (bunkers, bunkers etc.) and in terms of manpower when firing from a place and on the move, at speeds up to 30 km / h, at ranges of actual fire of cannon and machine-gun weapons, both with direct visibility of targets through a rangefinder sight, and from closed firing positions. The 9K112-1 "Cobra" guided weapon system, installed in the T-80B tank, is designed to provide effective cannon fire with guided projectiles at enemy tanks and other armored targets moving at speeds up to 75 km/h, as well as for firing at small targets (bunkers, bunkers), etc., from a standstill and on the move, at speeds up to 30 km / h, at ranges up to 4000 m, subject to line of sight of the target through the 1G42 rangefinder sight.

The 9K112-1 complex is functionally connected with the 1AZZ control system. The complex provides:

The possibility of simultaneous firing of guided projectiles as part of a company of tanks at nearby targets, including firing from two tanks simultaneously at the same target (with an interval between firing tanks along the front of at least 30 m) when operating radio links at different letter frequencies and codes;

Shooting with guided projectiles in the range of vertical guidance angles from -7° to +11° and with a tank roll up to 15°, as well as firing over the water surface;

Possibility of firing at helicopters at ranges up to 4000 m if a helicopter is detected at a distance of at least 5000 m and at a target speed of up to 300 km/h and an altitude of up to 500 m.

The equipment of the complex is located in the fighting compartment of the tank in the form of separate removable blocks.

The 9K112-1 guided weapon system has a semi-automatic projectile control system using a modulated light source on the projectile and a radio command line.

Projectile control in flight is carried out automatically by a closed loop with the help of rudders. The task of the gunner when launching a projectile is to keep the aiming arch on the target during the entire time of the projectile's flight to the target. The 9M112 projectile is equipped with sickle-shaped wings that create lift and give it a rotational movement around the longitudinal axis.

T-80 tanks began to enter the troops in the late 1970s, primarily in the western military districts and foreign groups of troops. The strained thermal resource of the gas turbine complicated the use of these tanks in hot areas, so they did not get into the southern military districts.

The military liked the car. In the course of a strategic headquarters game according to the “big war” scenario, new tanks reached the Atlantic by the morning of the fifth day of the offensive (at the headquarters of the T-80 they received the nickname “Channel tanks” for this). The T-80s showed their dynamic qualities more than once. The case was especially famous during one of the exercises of a group of Soviet troops in Germany, when the “eight-syatki” performing a detour maneuver entered the highway near Berlin and swept along it, overtaking tourist buses. The favorable attitude in the units was also caused by the excellent starting qualities of the gas turbine engine, which was not afraid of any frost. In addition, the gas turbine engine provided the power reserve and mass savings required to increase protection against the ever more advanced anti-tank weapons that appeared on the battlefield.

The "eighties" were not exported and did not take part in the hostilities as part of the Soviet Army. Tanks T-80B and T-80BV were used Russian Army during military operation in Chechnya in 1995-1996.

M. BARYATINSKY
"Model designer" No. 10 "2009