Military and Commercial Technology: Russian MoD unveils T-90M, T-80BVM MBTs

Saturday 16 September 2017

Russian MoD unveils T-90M, T-80BVM MBTs

RussianDefence.com

Nikolai Novichkov - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

14 September 2017

Russia's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is preparing the upgraded T-80BVM and T-90M main battle tanks (MBTs) for trials, taking into account the results of the campaign in Syria, according to the head of the MoD's main automotive armoured directorate, GABTU, Lieutenant General Alexander Shevchenko. "State trials of the modernised T-90M MBT are under way, while tests of the upgraded T-80BVM tank are being prepared," he said.

At the Army-2017 exhibition held outside Moscow on 22-27 August, the MoD and the Uralvagonzavod research and manufacturing corporation, a subsidiary of Rostec, signed contracts worth over RUB24 billion (USD417 million) for the delivery of T-90M MBTs and Terminator tank support vehicles and contracts for the overhaul of the T-72, T-80BV (including a major upgrade), and T-90 tanks.

The modernisation of the T-80BV to T-80BVM level will considerably enhance its combat performance. Russian defence analysts believe the vehicle will receive the Sosna-U multichannel sighting system with a laser range finder, a thermal imager, and an automatic target tracker. The tank's fuel consumption is expected to be reduced, and the lower end of its operating temperature range will be extended to -50°C.

The combat weight of the upgraded T-80BVM has been increased to 46 tonnes. The tank has three crew members. It is 7 m long (9.55 m rear to muzzle), 3.38 m wide, and 2.21 m high. The tank's armament suite comprises a 125 mm 2A46M1 gun-launcher (with an ammunition load of 45 rounds), a 7.62 mm PKT co-axial machine gun (MG) (with an ammunition load of 1,250 rounds), and a 12.7 mm NSVT heavy anti-aircraft MG (with an ammunition load of 300 rounds).

Original post: janes.com