The Russian Armed Forces have a large number of tanks of different models and modifications. Nevertheless, not all available armored vehicles meet modern requirements for one or another characteristic. In this regard, the army is forced to implement programs for the modernization of equipment, implying equipping tanks with new equipment. This year it became known about the imminent start of a new similar program. This time we will talk about updating a certain number of T-80BV tanks.
According to the latest reports of the domestic press, by now the defense industry has completed the development of a project for the modernization of existing tanks. Already in the near future, it is planned to start implementing a program for the renewal of equipment. It is reported that the first repaired and updated T-80BV will be handed over to the military in the next 2017. The modernization project involves the replacement of part of the components and assemblies directly related to the combat qualities of the vehicles. It is also planned to improve performance.
Main tank T-80BV. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The latest reports on a future program to modernize existing tanks were published on November 14 by Izvestia. The publication of this mass media indicated the main technical features of the modernization, the timing of the start of work, etc. In addition, information was provided on the current state of affairs. It is reported that Omsktransmash JSC (Omsk) and Special Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (St. Petersburg), which are part of the Uralvagonzavod corporation, were involved in the development of the tank upgrade project.
The chief designer of the T-80 family tanks, Alexander Umansky, told the press that now the enterprises-developers of the modernization project are completing preparations for the start of updating the armored vehicles. Already next year, the Omsktransmash enterprise will begin work on the repair and modernization of tanks coming from the troops. The documentation for the new project, in accordance with which the work will be carried out, is the result of cooperation between the two enterprises.
The terms of work and the number of tanks sent for modernization have not yet been specified. These features of the current program must be determined by the customer, represented by the Ministry of Defense. Apparently, all such details of the project will be published later.
The modernization of the new project is proposed to subject the main battle tanks T-80BV, which remain in a number of armored units. These vehicles can still be used by troops, but a number of characteristic features of the equipment itself and some "external" factors seriously complicate operation. In particular, for a number of reasons, there is no possibility of a full-fledged repair of tanks with the replacement of existing components and assemblies with products of the original models. This is also the reason why the current modernization project proposes the use of a significant number of new components.
Recall that the T-80BV tank was adopted by the Soviet army in 1985. This machine was a direct development of the T-80B and had some differences from the basic model. In order to improve the fighting qualities, some new components and assemblies were used, first of all, the dynamic protection complex. Unlike its predecessors, the T-80BV on the hull and turret carries the "Contact" system blocks, capable of protecting it from some enemy shells. The installation of dynamic protection led to an increase in the combat weight by about 1200 kg, after which this parameter reached 43.7 tons. Otherwise, the T-80BV hardly differs from the base T-80B. The preservation of the existing characteristics was facilitated by the maximum possible use of the existing structure.
The T-80BV differed from its predecessors in the "Contact" reactive armor. Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
In terms of the main design features, the T-80BV was a typical Soviet main tank. At the same time, the T-80 family was based on some original and bold ideas. All projects of the family use the classic layout of the vehicle with a front control compartment, a fighting compartment in the center of the hull and an engine-transmission compartment in the stern. The armament is housed in a rotating turret. The hull has a differentiated booking with a combined protection of the frontal projection and a weaker single-layer design of other units. To increase the level of protection against modern means of destruction, the tank should have been equipped with the "Contact" system.
The most important feature of the T-80 family tanks, including the BV modification, was the use of gas turbine engines. In the stern of the T-80BV there is a GTD-1000TF engine capable of developing power up to 1100 hp. Such a power plant gives the car a specific power of more than 25 hp. per tonne, thanks to which the maximum speed on the highway reaches 70 km / h. The power reserve is 500 km. The characteristic features of a tank with a gas turbine engine are fast acceleration and other differences in terms of mobility. At the same time, in certain modes, fuel consumption can be twice as high as that of armored vehicles with diesel power plants.
The main armament of the T-80BV tank is a 125-mm smooth-bore gun-launcher 2A46M-1. The gun with a barrel length of 48 calibers is mated with a loading mechanism designed for automated supply of ammunition to the chamber. The loading mechanism conveyor and additional stowage in the fighting compartment can accommodate up to 38 rounds of various types. To increase the range of destruction of targets, the tank can use guided missiles of the 9K112-1 "Cobra" and 9K119 "Reflex" complexes, launched through the gun barrel. The maximum firing range of the rocket reaches 5 km. The tank also carries a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun paired with a cannon and a large-caliber anti-aircraft NSVT.
Due to the construction of new armored vehicles and the gradual modernization of existing samples, the Soviet and Russian industry produced a large number of T-80BV tanks. Thus, according to The Military Balance 2016, the Russian army currently has about three and a half thousand T-80B, T-80BV and T-80U tanks, of which up to 450 units remain in service and have not yet been sent for storage. … The technology used by the troops is still a very formidable force, but in its current form it has limited prospects.
According to available data, the age of the T-80BV tanks remaining in the units currently ranges from 25 to 31 years. A characteristic problem of the fleet of such equipment is the decrease in combat readiness associated with moral and physical obsolescence. In addition, the ability to repair and restore tanks is limited, which is a consequence of the problems of past years. So, to date, the production of fire control systems of the 1A33 type has been discontinued. Also, the Cobra missile system, loading mechanism assemblies, radio station, weather sensors, etc. are no longer produced. Because of this, the repair of some armored vehicles is impossible due to the banal lack of spare parts, the source of which can only be other tanks.
Additional fuel tanks are a consequence of high fuel consumption. Photo Vitalykuzmin.net
This situation leads to the fact that the continuation of the operation of existing tanks is still possible, however, the result of various breakdowns may be the destruction of equipment with the impossibility of recovery. In other words, all the T-80BV tanks and "related" modifications available in the troops run the risk of being completely out of service in the foreseeable future due to the impossibility of full maintenance, repair and modernization. Given the number of such equipment, we can talk about the unwanted loss of armored vehicles that could still be used by the army for some time.
In the summer of this year, it became known that the Omsktransmash enterprise was engaged in the development of a project for the modernization of the main tanks in the army. The project provides for overhaul of equipment with the subsequent replacement of a number of obsolete components and assemblies. The result of the application of innovations stipulated by the new project should be an extension of the service life of tanks and an increase in their basic parameters. In addition, it was supposed to somewhat facilitate the operation of the updated T-80BV due to some unification with tanks of the T-72B family.
One of the problems of the T-80BV tanks is the lack of mass production of some elements of the fire control system. The new modernization project involves the dismantling of the existing equipment and the installation of new products. Thus, it was proposed to use the Sosna-U multichannel gunner's sight with an optical, thermal imaging and rangefinder channel with the ability to control a missile. The use of the "Sosna-U" product allows increasing the potential of the tank in monitoring the terrain and searching for targets. It provides detection of objects at any time of the day, calculation of the necessary corrections and stabilization of weapons. The sight can find a target and determine the range to it at distances up to 7.5 km. At night, the visibility range is reduced to 3.3 km.
The multi-channel sight of the proposed type also has a "double" mode of operation, when using which the equipment is used not only by the gunner, but also by the tank commander. This function allows two crew members to more effectively conduct combat work, search for targets and aim weapons. As an auxiliary means of searching for targets and targeting weapons, it is proposed to use the improved 1P67 periscope sight. Having significant differences and losing out to Sosne-U in some characteristics, the 1P67 product allows you to solve a similar range of tasks, but with some limitations. In particular, a periscopic sight is unsuitable for aiming a gun in the dark.
The tank's control department should also receive new equipment. To improve the capabilities of the driver at night, it is proposed to use the TVN-5 binocular observation device.
In order to ensure the compatibility of new electronic devices with the existing units of the tank, it was proposed to refine the automatic control of the loading mechanism. After some required changes, this device is able to work on the commands of new fire control systems.
Tank T-80BV-RM, one of the options for modernizing existing equipment. Photo Gurkhan.blogspot.ru
The existing complex of dynamic protection "Contact" by the modernization project is proposed to be replaced by the "Relikt" system, which has improved characteristics. The basis of "Relikt" is a new element of high-sensitivity dynamic protection type 4C23. In the composition of this product there are two plates of armor steel, when struck, scattered by an explosive charge in different directions. Such a movement of the plates, it is argued, can significantly increase the destructive effect on the striking element of anti-tank ammunition. Due to the main design innovations, the Relikt complex differs from the Contact family systems in greater efficiency in countering sub-caliber and cumulative ammunition.
A characteristic disadvantage of tanks with gas turbine engines is high fuel consumption in some operating modes. The proposed T-80BV modernization project takes this into account and offers an interesting solution to this problem. The modernized power plant receives the so-called. parking idle. At the same time, the fuel consumption is reduced to 35 kg / h, and the engine power is transmitted to the starter-generator, with the help of which the power supply to consumers with a total power of up to 6, 8 kW can be carried out.
The introduction of a new operating mode made it possible to do without the use of a full-fledged auxiliary power unit, but at the same time to increase the efficiency of the main engine. Taking into account the fact that about 50% of the engine operation time, on average, falls on stops of one duration or another, such an innovation can have a noticeable economic effect.
The modernization project involves replacing the existing communication equipment with newer products. It is proposed to use the radio station R-168-25U-2, operating in the ultra-short-wave range. Such a station is capable of providing open or encrypted radio communications at any time of the day without restrictions on weather conditions. Transmission of analog and digital data via simplex or duplex channel is possible. If necessary, the station can be removed from the tank and used in a portable version. The project also proposes the use of new means of internal communication, switching and control.
As is clear from the published data on a promising project for the modernization of aging tanks, the essence of the proposed update is to replace a number of units with new systems of a similar purpose. It is noteworthy that in most cases such a replacement should lead to a noticeable increase in performance, as is the case with fire control systems or dynamic protection. Other aspects of the project should reduce the impact of negative technical features such as increased fuel consumption.
Experienced tower T-80BV-RM. Photo Gurkhan.blogspot.ru
It is easy to see that the proposed upgrade project for the T-80BV presupposes the preservation of a large number of existing units and assemblies of the tank. This feature of the project should lead to the fact that some of the technical, combat and operational characteristics will remain at the same level. Thus, in the end, the upgraded tank in terms of the totality of parameters and capabilities will be at least no worse than the original equipment, while outstripping it in some characteristics.
The approach used to modernize technology is unlikely to lead to a high increase in overall capabilities, but this is not its goal. Such a renewal of equipment is intended for repair with an extension of the resource, as well as for replacing obsolete and discontinued devices with new equipment currently being produced. Ultimately, this allows you to continue to operate the equipment for some time, further increasing its characteristics. Without such an upgrade, the existing main tanks have dubious prospects. Obviously, due to the failure of certain units, the replacement of which is impossible due to the lack of spare parts, the troops will have to write off the tank or use it as a source of parts for other vehicles.
Details of the proposed modernization of tanks became known this summer. A few months later, the domestic media reported on the current state of affairs. Reportedly, by now the Omsktransmash enterprises and the Special Design Bureau of Transport Engineering have completed the development of the project and are carrying out preparatory work prior to the start of the conversion of military equipment. Already next year, it is planned to receive from the Ministry of Defense the first T-80BV tanks, which will have to undergo the required modernization.
The plans of the military department regarding the number of renewable tanks and the timing of the required work have not yet been specified. Probably, at least several dozen tanks will undergo repair and modernization, although we can talk about large quantities of equipment. In combat units, there are about 450 T-80 tanks of several modifications, including the "BV". About three thousand more armored vehicles are in storage. How much of this technique will be restored and improved will become known later.
Currently, the Russian defense industry continues to develop the existing fleet of armored vehicles. For several years, the enterprises have been engaged in overhaul and modernization of T-72 tanks with upgrades according to the T-72B3 project. According to the latest reports, a program for a similar update of the T-80BV machines should start soon. In the foreseeable future, it is planned to begin supplying the latest T-14 tanks, however, until a sufficient number of such equipment appears, the ground forces will have to operate the existing vehicles. Current and planned modernization programs, in turn, will allow the army to wait for rearmament, having equipment with higher characteristics.
