The T-64BM BULAT tank is the result of the modernization of the T-64A and T-64B tanks. The purpose of the modernization was to bring the combat and technical characteristics of the tank to the modern level, such as T-80UD, T-84U. It was first shown in 1999.
Modernization is carried out in three main areas:
Mobility (modernization of the power department)
Protection (reducing vulnerability from modern anti-tank weapons)
Firepower (modernization of weapons and fire control complex in order to increase the effectiveness of fire)
To increase mobility, a power plant of greater power is installed in the engine compartment. As a new power plant, the 5TDFM engine with a capacity of 850 hp was used, which is a forced modification of the 5TDF engine with measures taken to increase power. Installing the 5TDFM engine requires replacing the standard air cleaner with a new one and revising the exhaust system. KMDB KMD developed a design, manufactured parts and tested asphalt shoes (AHB) on the tracks of the BM BULAT tank and its modifications. No rework of track parts is required. Asphalt shoes with fasteners are supplied separately.
An increase in the level of protection of the T-64B tank is provided by installing an additional protection complex on the hull and turret of the tank. Purpose The set of additional protection is designed to significantly increase the level of protection of the tank against cumulative (CUM) and kinetic (armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles - BPS) damaging weapons with the minimum possible increase in the mass of the tank. Composition of the set The set of additional protection consists of passive (overhead) armor protection and built-in reactive armor (ERA). VDZ consists of a bow module and side screens installed on the tank hull, as well as modular sections located along the outer perimeter of the frontal and side sections of the tower and containers installed on the roof of the tower. Elements of reactive armor (EDS) are installed inside each section of the VDZ, as well as in containers on the roof of the tower.
The weight of the additional protection kit with mounting and fastening parts, as well as with elements of reactive armor is 3500 kilograms. The time for installing a set of elements of dynamic protection on one tank by the crew is 5, 5-6 hours. The reactive armor elements installed on the tank do not need special maintenance during its operation. To carry out work on equipping a tank with an additional protection kit, non-standardized technological equipment and accessories, special tools and highly qualified specialists are not required.
Overhead armor is installed on the frontal and side sections of the turret. Built-in explosive reactive armor (ERA) is installed on the frontal, side sections and the roof of the tower.
To increase the protection of BM BULAT tanks and the crew in case of fire inside the fighting compartment of the tank and MTO, a fast-acting fire extinguishing system is installed, which reduces the response time of the system in the manned compartment to 150 ms.
The upgraded T-64B tank (BM "Bulat") is comparable in its main technical characteristics to the Russian T-90 and is approaching the Ukrainian "Oplot" and has prospects for further modernization by installing a more powerful power plant with a 6TD-1 or 6TD engine. 2., improved sighting devices, active protection systems, more modern communication and navigation systems. The service life of the upgraded T-64B tank was extended by 15 years, and the service life of the tank was increased to 11 thousand km. (as for a new tank)
In light of the entry into service of the Ukrainian army of the modernized BM Bulat tank, it is worth briefly considering some of the materials that appeared about him in the press. For example, one cannot but comment on the article “Patches for Bulat, or Shabby Armor for the Ukrainian Army,” which appeared in the OBKOM online edition, where Pavel Volnov, who is clearly not burdened with technical knowledge, tries to talk about this tank.
For example, the author claims that the "sixty-fours" were considered hopelessly outdated and did not in any way strengthen the country's combat power. And further informs that in fact he is just "one of". At the same Kharkov plant, a much more efficient T-84 "Oplot" was created.
First of all, the author of the above lines should understand that they do not produce "strongholds" not because they do not want to, but because. That the cost of upgrading the T-64 to the "Bulat" standard is 4 times cheaper than the production of a new BM "Oplot" tank ("Oplot" costs 1.684 million e). At the same time, in terms of the main characteristics of firepower, protection and mobility, the tank is only slightly inferior to the new Oplot tank. Modernization is the main direction in the development of tanks, both abroad and in Russia and Ukraine, for example, in Germany, the Leopard-2 tanks have undergone several upgrades. The last of them - "Leopard-2A6", Russia is modernizing the T-72B and T-80 tanks, Poland is upgrading its T-72 to the PT-91A standard, the Czech Republic and Slovakia do the same, modernizing their T-72 as well as the vast majority of other countries. It is surprising that the author did not notice this.
It is too early to write off the T-64, this is the main tank of the Ukrainian armed forces, which, even in its not modernized form, is capable of performing the tasks facing them. It is not possible to completely replace it with a new one, in the amount of at least 350-400 units, for financial reasons. Moreover, the modernized "Bulat" is in no way inferior, and in some respects even surpasses the most advanced tanks in service with Ukraine's neighbors, such as the PT-91 "Twardy" (modernized T-72M, Poland), TR-85M1 "Bizon" (modernized T-55, Romania), T-72M2 and T-72CZ (Modernized T-72. Slovakia and Czech Republic). Tank BM "Bulat" is on the level of the best Russian samples of T-80U and T-90, as well as in all characteristics, with the exception of the ability to conduct battle in the dark, such foreign tanks as "Leopard-2A5" and M1A2 "Abrams" …
TTX T-64:
Classification - main battle tank
Combat weight, t 45
Layout - classic
Crew, people - 3
Dimensions (edit)
Body length, mm 9225
Case width, mm 3600
Height, mm 2172
Reservation
Type of armor combined multilayer
Active protection of KOEP "Varta"
Built-in dynamic protection, DZ "Knife"
Armament
Caliber and brand of gun 125-mm KBAZ
Type of gun smoothbore KBA3
Cannon ammunition 40 rounds (28 of them in the automatic loader MZ)
Firing range, km 2300-2500 m BOPS and cumulative projectiles, 10 km high-explosive projectiles and 5 km with a probability of hitting 0.8 by a guided missile
Gunner's day sight 1G46M, sighting and observation complex PNK-4CR (installation of PNK-5 or PNK-6 is possible), thermal imager Buran-Ketrin-E, anti-aircraft sight PZU-7
Machine guns 12, 7-mm anti-aircraft machine gun KT-12, 7; 7, 62-mm coaxial machine gun KT-7, 62
Other weapons guided missiles
Mobility
Engine type Diesel multi-fuel
Engine power, hp with. 850-1000
Speed on the highway, km / h 70
Cruising on the highway, km 385
The overcome wall, m 1, 0
Overcome moat, m 2, 85
Overcome ford, m 1, 8 with preliminary preparation, 5 with OPVT
