The fate of the last Soviet T-80 tank put into service from the moment of its creation to the termination of production is interesting. In spite of serious resistance, it was not the military or industry that sought to introduce him into the army, but, surprisingly, the party leadership in the person of Ustinov and Romanov. For some reason, they decided that the army needed a tank with a gas turbine engine. And for thirty years, this machine has been trying to conquer its niche in the tank forces.
If you look at how the T-80 is fundamentally different from its generation counterparts (T-64 and T-72), it turns out that the presence of a gas turbine power plant. The tank was created in a very original way, it was not the GTE that was introduced into the tank, but the tank was adapted for the GTE. For a long time the tank could not "get on its feet" and it was hard to take root in the army.
Work on a tank with a gas turbine engine began in the 60s. The main reason for the creation of such a tank was the high power density achieved with this engine, which at that time could not be obtained using diesel engines. After a lengthy development and refinement of the tank, it was put into service in 1976, but produced in small batches.
Due to its weak firepower, its sighting system was hopelessly outdated by this time. The T-80 was crossed with the T-64B by installing a turret from this tank on it. In 1978 he was put into service under the symbol T-80B, and he received the most advanced sighting complex "Ob" and guided weapons "Cobra" at that time.
After serious military tests of all three types of tanks in 1976, Ustinov decided to develop an improved T-80U tank. The fighting compartment is being developed in Kharkov, and the corps in Leningrad. At the same time, two options for the power plant were provided: with a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1250 hp. and a 1000 hp diesel engine.
To create a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1250 hp. failed. After a cycle of tests, a tank with an existing gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1000 hp. in 1984 it was put into service under the T-80U index. For this tank, a new sighting complex "Irtysh" with laser-guided weapons "Reflex" was specially developed.
After Ustinov's death in 1984, support for a tank with a problem gas turbine engine dropped sharply, since there was a version of this tank with a 6TD diesel engine with a capacity of 1000 hp. With the creation of such a diesel engine, the characteristics of the power plant were practically equal, but the shortcomings of the GTE remained. After testing this tank in 1985, it was put into service under the designation T-80UD.
This is how two modifications of the last most advanced Soviet tank appeared. Production of the T-80UD was discontinued in 1991, and the T-80U, having undergone several modifications under the T-80UM index with a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1250 hp, was also discontinued in 1998. In Russian tank building, the T-72 family of tanks was taken as a basis.
Despite the generally good characteristics of the tank in industry, it did not take root in the army. His main problem was in the power plant. The use of a gas turbine engine in a tank proved to be ineffective due to a 1.6 times high fuel consumption, a decrease in power when working at high temperatures, increased dust wear of the turbine blades, the complexity and high cost of the gas turbine engine.
When asked whether the T-80 can be considered as a base for a promising tank, the answer is likely to be negative, since it is one of the versions of the existing generation of T-64, T-72, T-80 tanks, as well as in connection with the powerplant problems described above.
The Armata has been identified as a promising tank, although there are many questions about it. This tank is produced in small series. After complex military tests, most likely, the further direction of work will be determined.
It is advisable to consider the T-80 tank and the entire existing generation of tanks from the point of view of fulfilling the tasks facing the Russian army at the present stage until the troops are saturated with a new generation of tanks, which will not happen soon. It is necessary to provide for the further development and modernization of this generation of tanks and the provision of characteristics at or above foreign samples. And there are many thousands of these tanks …
In terms of their characteristics, the fleet of existing tanks of the T-64, T-72 and T-80 series are approximately equal, they have no fundamental differences that give a serious gap. All of them are equipped with the same 125-mm cannon, sighting systems, approximately the same power diesel or gas turbine power plants and have similar protection characteristics. Almost the same universal devices, units and systems are installed on them. All this makes it possible to modernize tanks and bring their efficiency up to the requirements of today.
The existing fleet of basic machines and their modifications for the possibilities of improvement and modernization can be divided into three groups. The first group: T-80B and T-64B, the second: T-80U and T-80UD, the third: T-72B and T-90.
In each of the groups, the fighting compartments are unified, equipped with practically the same sighting systems, the layout and placement of instruments and assemblies is not much different. On the basis of the T-80UD fighting compartment, it is advisable to develop a single fighting compartment for all groups of tanks equipped with the Irtysh sighting system and Reflex guided weapons or their subsequent modifications. The complex should include a modern thermal imager and a commander's panoramic sight.
On the basis of the hull of the T-80U tank, develop a hull with the T-80UD tank with the installation of a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1250 hp. and 6TDF diesel with the same power or provide for the replacement of the diesel with a gas turbine engine.
On the basis of the hull of the T-80B tank, develop a hull with the T-64B tank with the installation of a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1250 hp. and 6TDF diesel with the same power or provide for the replacement of the diesel with a gas turbine engine. The hulls of the tanks will be with different chassis - rubberized and with rollers with internal shock absorption.
On the basis of the hull of the T-90 tank, develop a hull with the T-72B tank with the installation of a 1000 hp diesel engine. The use of powerful diesel and gas turbine power plants with a tank mass of up to 50 tons will provide a high power density and good cross-country ability.
For all tanks, it is advisable to develop a unified protection system using the latest achievements and developments in armor, dynamic and active protection while ensuring the protection of the existing generation of tanks from modern weapons.
To ensure the interaction of tanks in a tank unit, equip all tanks with elements of a tank information and control system in terms of managing a tactical link, modern radio communication systems that provide covert and protected from suppression means, and carried by UAVs of a mortar or cannon launch. The introduction of these funds will significantly increase the efficiency of control of a tank unit.
After such a modernization of the existing generation tanks, they will not be inferior to the main foreign models in terms of firepower, protection and maneuverability and will provide high efficiency for many years to come.
At the same time, the modernization should be carried out using the same components and systems to the maximum, which will reduce the cost of work and ensure the operation of almost identical tanks in the army. All these tanks were once created on a common base. The design allows them to be brought to practically one tank with modifications for the power plant and chassis.
After analyzing the presence and condition of the fleet of previously released tanks, it is advisable to develop a program for modernizing tanks and bringing them to a modern level instead of releasing new modifications of the T-72 family. No matter what big names you call them, they still remain modifications of the base vehicle, and they do not give a fundamental breakthrough in basic characteristics from the existing generation of tanks.
