Russia has the largest armored forces, armed with several types of main battle tanks (MBT). It is believed that by 2021, Russian troops had tanks in the amount of about 3,500 units. At the same time, the industry continues to produce new machines and modernize existing equipment. In March, it became known that Russia plans to produce and modernize more than 1,600 tanks. "The ribbon.<url>" talks about the capabilities of the most common combat vehicles.
Characteristics and models of the T-72 tank
In 1973, the T-72 tank was adopted by the Soviet Army, which later became the most massive MBT of the second generation. Business Insider wrote that the modernization allows these machines to remain the "workhorse" of the Russian Armed Forces. In 1984, the improved T-72B was put into service, which received an 840 horsepower V-84 diesel engine, enhanced armor, Kontakt-1 dynamic protection, and new equipment. The vehicle was also equipped with a guided weapons system and an upgraded 125 mm 2A46M cannon, which allows launching missiles. Like the base model, the T-72B is equipped with an automatic loader (AZ), which reduced the crew to three people — a driver, a gunner and a commander, who can load the gun after expending ammunition in AZ.
The T-72B became the basis for subsequent upgrades of the family. The next stage was the 1989 T-72B, which features improved armor and a second-generation Kontakt-5 dynamic protection system. The new DZ has increased protection against armor-piercing and shaped projectiles. In 2011, the Russian T-72B began to be upgraded to the T-72B3, which is considered a simplified and massive alternative to the T-90A tank. The machine received an upgraded AZ, which allows the use of new ammunition, and a 2A46M-5 cannon with improved ballistics and resource. The 2011 T-72B3 also compares favorably with previous versions with the R-168-25U-2 Aqueduct radio station and the Sosna-U multi-channel gunner's sight with a thermal imaging channel and automatic target tracking. Otherwise, the car was comparable to the T-72B of previous modifications, so the improvement of the tank continued. The 2016 T-72B3 (T-72B3M) received a 1,130 horsepower V-92S2F engine, a driver's display system with a rear-view camera, and on-board screens with third-generation "Relict" DZ modules. Additional protection of the machine is provided by lattice screens and DZ elements in a "soft" case.
Modifications of the T-80 tank
The Russian army is armed with T-80 tanks, which are also equipped with a 125 mm smoothbore cannon with a loading mechanism. The key difference between the T-80 and the T-72 was the original chassis and the gas turbine engine (GTE), which determined the features of the machine. The power of the basic version of the GTD-1000T engine was 1,000 horsepower, which allowed the T-80 to reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour on the highway, but the dynamics had to be paid for with increased fuel consumption. This partially compensates for the multi-fuel capacity, which allows the car to be refueled with diesel fuel, gasoline or kerosene. It is also believed that tanks with gas turbine engines start faster at low temperatures and are quieter than cars with diesel engines. The commander of a Russian tank unit with the call sign "Artsakh" noted that when moving towards enemy positions, a vehicle with a gas turbine engine acts almost silently. In 1978, the T-80B tank with reinforced armor, the 1A33 Ob fire control system and the 9K112-1 Cobra guided weapon system with missiles that can hit targets at a range of up to four kilometers were adopted. Later, these tanks received the dynamic protection "Kontakt-1" and the designation T-80BV. The T-80BVM is capable of speeds up to 80 kilometers per hour. Based on the T-80BV, Omsktransmash has developed a modern modification of the tank — in 2017, a contract was signed for the overhaul and modernization of vehicles to the level of the T-80BVM. The tank received a GTD-1250 engine with a capacity of 1,250 horsepower, which differs from previous modifications in reduced fuel consumption. This power plant allows the T-80BVM to reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. Like the modern T-72B3, the upgraded T-80BV was equipped with a Sosna-U sight, an Aqueduct radio station, lattice screens and a Relict radar system. Based on the experience of using the T-80BVM during the SVO, the tanks were also upgraded by installing additional DZ units.
Characteristics and features of the T-90 tank
In 1992, the Russian army adopted the T-90 tank, which was the result of a deep modernization of the T-72B. The purpose of the work was to bring the characteristics of the T-72 to the level of the T-80U. The vehicle received the 1A45T Irtysh fire control system with the Buran-PA night sight and the 9K119 Reflex guided weapon system. The T-90 became the world's first tank with an optoelectronic suppression system. The TSU-1-7 Shtora-1 system with characteristic searchlights on the turret reduces the likelihood of hitting anti-tank guided missiles with a semi-automatic guidance system. In 2004, Russia began production of the upgraded T-90A, which features reinforced armor and a welded turret with increased durability instead of a cast one. The vehicle also received a 1,000 horsepower V-92X2 engine, a 2A46M-5 cannon with a modified automatic loader for new ammunition, and a new sight. In parallel, the designers continued to work on improving the characteristics of the tank. A unified combat module was developed for the T-90, which in 2011 was combined with the chassis of the export T-90S in the T-90MS version.
The operational experience of the T-90 was summarized as part of the Breakthrough-3 development work, which resulted in the T-90M. The key difference between the vehicle was the new turret module with multi-layered armor, which made it possible to place part of the ammunition outside the fighting compartment and improve the working conditions of the crew. The comfort of tankers is also facilitated by air conditioning, ventilation and heating systems. The main weapon of the T-90M is the 2A82-1M smoothbore cannon with a digital Kalina fire control system with a Sosna-U device and a panoramic sight, which allows the commander to assess the situation on the battlefield on the same level as the gunner. The tank's arsenal also includes a remote-controlled installation with a heavy machine gun. The mobility of the T-90M is provided by the B-92S2F monoblock powerplant, made in one unit with an automatic transmission. The car also received a DZ "Relict" and lattice screens. In addition, the T-90M uses a complex of means to reduce the visibility of the "Cape", which makes it difficult for the enemy to detect the tank. The American magazine Popular Mechanics called the T-90M the best of the tanks used during a special military operation. Despite the increased security, the T-90M is still significantly lighter than Western-made vehicles. Newsweek journalists emphasized that this leads to better maneuverability of the car. Russian tankers also note the increased capabilities of the T-90M. The T-90M is a beast, not a machine! She's doing well. Compared to the T-72B3M, there is a lot of convenience. He is good in terms of maneuverability, nimble, and shows the data on the electronic panel — this is a big plus.
Modernization of Soviet T-62 tanks
Along with the second-generation tanks, Russia uses upgraded T-62s during the special operation, the production of which began in 1962. The T-62 became the world's first mass—produced tank with a smoothbore cannon - the vehicle received a 2A20 cannon of 115 mm caliber, paired and anti-aircraft machine guns. The protection of the basic version is provided by armored steel, which was supplemented with screens made of combined armor in the T-62M modification. There is also a version of the T-62MV, which received Kontakt-1 dynamic protection units instead of additional armor. The upgraded tank is equipped with a 620 horsepower engine and a Volna fire control system. At the Army-2022 forum, an upgraded version of the T-62M was shown, equipped with a multispectral gyrostabilized optoelectronic system (MGES) with a thermal imager. The system mounted on the lifting mast allows you to detect and track targets. The tanks, which are being upgraded at the 103rd armored plant, are also equipped with lattice screens, additional DZ units and 1PN96MT-02 thermal imaging sights. According to Military Watch journalists, the new sight will significantly increase the situational awareness of the T-62M crews.
Military expert Konstantin Sivkov suggested that the T-62M is being returned to service for use as self-propelled artillery installations. "And this is primarily due to the 115-millimeter caliber used by the T-62. We produced a huge number of such projectiles back in Soviet times, since about 20 thousand of the T-62s themselves were produced," he said. In turn, military historian and director of the Museum of the Air Defense Forces Yuri Knutov admitted that the T-62M will be able to fight Leopard tanks.
The most modern tank in Russia
Russia's most modern tank is the T-14, built on the basis of the Armata universal tracked platform. The machine, presented at the Victory Day Parade in 2015, was designed to operate in a network—centric war (a concept of warfare aimed at increasing combat capabilities by achieving infocommunication superiority - approx. <url>). Within the framework of this concept, the T-14 should be used as a reconnaissance, target designation and fire correction vehicle. For this purpose, the tank was equipped with a radar with an active phased array antenna and ultraviolet surveillance cameras.
The main difference between the T-14 and tanks of previous generations was the carriage layout with an uninhabited turret and an armored capsule for the crew, which increases the protection of tankers in the event of a hit on the car. The probability of hitting the tank is reduced by the Afghanit KAZ, which is capable of intercepting ATGM, and the fourth-generation Malachite DZ is designed to protect the tank from the ammunition that overcame the KAZ. Behind the "Malachite" is an armor consisting of an armored steel with ceramic elements. Armata also paid attention to reducing visibility — a special coating, body design and a system mixing hot exhaust gases with ambient air are responsible for masking. The tank received a 2A82 smoothbore cannon and a modern fire control system. The equipment on the Armata platform is equipped with A-85-3A diesel engines with an automatic transmission. The 1,500 horsepower power unit provides the tank with a maximum speed of up to 90 kilometers per hour. Another feature of the Armata is the active suspension, which increases the accuracy of shooting on the move. According to Evgeny Bulashev, a test driver of combat and special vehicles at the Uralvagonzavod assembly plant, the T-14 is highly maneuverable. The T-14 on the Armata platform is the most maneuverable tank I've ever experienced. Evgeny Bulashev
test driver of combat and special vehicles of the Uralvagonzavod assembly plant , the novelty of the machine led to long-term tests of the Armata. At the end of 2022, footage of the combat coordination of a unit equipped with Armata tanks appeared. However, there are still few details about the operation of vehicles in the military.
https://lenta.ru/articles/2023/04/10/tanks/
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