Oplot and Yatagan Tanks - Hope of the Ukrainian Tankoprom
In the USSR, development and production tanks were concentrated in Leningrad, Omsk, Nizhny Tagil and Kharkov. It was here that three “whales” were produced - three main Soviet tanks: T-64, T-72, T-80. The T-2UD “Birch” (“Object 1985B”) became the last one developed by the KKBM and put into serial production in accordance with the Decree of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR of September 80, 478 as a Soviet tank. Instead of an expensive gas turbine, this machine was supplied with a 6TD compact two-stroke diesel engine of the same 1000-horsepower and a new tower was installed, which was already tested on the Object 476 tank, created on the basis of the T-64A. By and large, only its chassis remained unchanged.
T-80UD equipped with the most modern at the time the equipment - Automation of fire 1A45 "Irtysh", a complex of guided weapons 9K119 "Reflex", infrared night sight TPN-4 "Buran PA", a laser sight-rangefinder 1G46 "Irtysh".
The tank began to enter the Taman motorized rifle and Kantemirovsky tank divisions, even participated in military parades on Red Square, but it was not officially accepted by the Soviet Army at that time. The final decision on this issue took place only at the beginning of 1992, but was already signed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
However, the KMDB, and Kharkov plant them. A. Malysheva found themselves in a very difficult situation: they had at their disposal a ready-made tank with already streamlined mass production, but there was no customer who could pay for the production of new cars. Finally, a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the resumption of tank production appeared, and the following government decree No. 181-3 of 12 in March 1993 was charged to these companies to work out an improved T-84 tank (“Kern” theme) with the production of its components, systems and components according to the most closed loop in Ukraine. It should be noted that in 1980-x. deliveries to Kharkiv of components from other Union republics reached 60% of the entire equipment of the tank. The cooperation involved hundreds of enterprises throughout the USSR. For example, the towers were made in Mariupol, the guns in the Urals, the caterpillars in Tikhvin near Leningrad, etc.
At the same time, they began to bear fruit and the search for a potential overseas buyer of the "eighties". A certain interest in the purchase of a modern tank was shown, for example, by Pakistan. Although its own industrial base for the production of armored vehicles was created in this country, the development and production of such vehicles was too tough for it.
According to the memoirs of G. Levchenko, director of the plant. A. Malysheva, in 1990 - 1994 the search for the output of manufactured products to the foreign market began even earlier, as during the period of Gorbachev's restructuring, the production volumes of tanks in Kharkov were decreasing more and more. We had to act in the legal field of the Ukrainian state.
In August, the 1993, the Pakistani military, became better acquainted with the "eighty" in the primary tests. A group of KMDB workers headed by General Designer M. Borysyuk and a representative from the Ministry of Defense, General A. Medvedm, arrived in Lahore, Pakistan, and then went to the Tar desert. Pakistanis were particularly interested in the possibility of operating T-XNUMHUD in desert conditions, with their frequent dust storms and air temperature reaching + 80 ° C.
had a chassis with metal rollers and internal depreciation of the type T-64, the other - "478DU1 object" - with the traditional T-80UD undercarriage with rollers carrying powerful rubber bands. It was assumed that in conditions of high dustiness of the desert and mountainous terrain, intense abrasive wear of the rubber bands of the road wheels would occur, and then the T-64 type rollers, in which rubber damping is placed inside, and a steel rim in contact with the track, would be preferable. In addition, such a chassis gave a gain of almost 2 t. The Pakistanis chose the usual chassis of “eighty”, as less noisy and better absorbing vibration. In the Tar desert, both tanks "ran" on the dunes around 2 thousand km. Tank T-XNUMHUD entered the foreign market.
Engine BTA-2 for tank T-84
Continuing to engage in fine-tuning and improving the design of the T-80UD to ensure its export potential, the KMDB simultaneously conducted work on the design of the new machine - T-84. Realizing that any improvements almost inevitably entail an increase in mass, the design bureau, in the first place, took measures aimed at preserving the mobility of the tank. However, this required equipping the T-84 with a new engine, more powerful than the 6TD. At the disposal of Kharkov citizens already had a turbine 6TD-2 with power 1200 hp, developed under the guidance of the chief designer N. Ryazantsev in the Kharkov Engine Design Bureau (HKBD). But the installation of such an engine in the body of the "existing" tank required significant improvements.
The 6TD-2 engine was a development of an earlier model, the 6TD. By increasing the degree of boost to 4,4 (6TD - 3,35), its power increased by 200 hp In order to provide the required amount of boost, a two-stage axial centrifugal compressor with high efficiency was specially designed.
However, as a result of forcing the engine, the exhaust gas temperature and the rotational speed of the turbine increased, and this node had to be redesigned. Together with the Kiev Institute of Welding. E. Paton developed a serial technology for automatic welding of blades from a new heat-resistant material.
In a light and compact 6TD-2, an extremely high liter capacity was achieved - 73,8 hp / l with a specific mass of all 0,98 kg / hp. According to these parameters, only to the limit “heaped” turbodiesel V-8X 1500 of the company “Uni Diesel”, standing on the French tank “Leclerc”, surpasses the 6TD-2 engine. But, strictly speaking, the V-8X 1500 is already a symbiosis of an internal combustion engine and a gas turbine. Its unique high-pressure “Hyperbar” pressurization system provides 7,85 pressurization. With one liter of the working volume of such a “hybrid”, it was possible to achieve 91 hp / l, with a specific mass of the engine - 0,91 kg / hp. However, for this it was necessary to pay a fairly high average specific fuel consumption (especially at idle), reaching 170 g / hp. For comparison, the more traditional diesel MT 883-1500 (MT 883 Ka-500) of the German company MTU, mounted on the tank "Leopard-2", has much more modest performance - liter power 54,7 hp / l, with a specific mass 1,2 kg / hp, and the liter capacity of the 1000-strong Russian B-92C2A engine of the T-90C is 25,7 hp / l, that is, three times less than the 6ТD-2.
The first experienced 6TD-2 engines were manufactured in 1979 and have undergone lengthy tests both on the stands and on the tanks themselves. It must be said that to improve the power plants in the KDBB, a special test complex 181H was created, which allows to carry out research in conditions that correspond exactly to the natural ones. Here engines were possible not only with heated charge air to + 500С, but also in dusty conditions, in high-altitude conditions with a degree of air exhaustion corresponding to the height 3000 m, in cold rooms with temperatures up to -50 ° С.
Thus, the 6TD-2 engine was able to be unified with the 6TD by almost 90%. Therefore, the installation of a more powerful diesel engine in the engine compartment T-84, due to the preservation of its dimensions and seats, did not cause any problems. True, the increased engine power required an increase in the efficiency of the cooling system. Then, in order to increase the flow of cooling air through the radiators, it was necessary to modify the ejection system, increasing the output diameter of the nozzle apparatus.
The measures taken allowed to successfully cope with the increased heat generation, as well as with many other problems that had arisen, and in 1992, the interdepartmental commission reviewed and approved the design documentation for testing the T-84 with the 6TD-2 engine.
In the same period, a prototype of a welded-rolled tank turret was manufactured and successfully tested. The wire rod project was developed by the KMDB back in 1984 - 1986. under the theme “Unified Combat Division”. However, then it didn’t come to the point of launching the tower into production, although it had a number of undoubted advantages - improved armor protection, increased survivability, it was more technological and cheaper to manufacture. True, the management was in no hurry to replace the cast structures with welded ones, given their well-adjusted production.
However, after 1992, the situation for the plant. A. Malysheva radically changed. If earlier there were cast turrets and some armor hull parts from Mariupol Azovmash, now their production there has been eliminated. An attempt to buy casting towers in Russia also failed: the supplier requested such an amount that the negotiations were immediately terminated. As a result, it was necessary to establish mass production of welded towers in Kharkov, for which the “tower” workshop was specially reconstructed at the plant. Now with the "Azovmash" did only armor, and the final assembly and processing of the towers were made on its own.
At the same time, work began on the creation of a Ukrainian version of a tank gun. Previously, almost all the production of such tools was concentrated in Perm on the association “Motovilikhinskie Zavody”, from where they entered Kharkov. In 1993, at the State Scientific and Technical Center of Artillery-Small Arms (General Designer L. Bondarenko) at the Kiev-based Bolshevik Plant, the 125 smooth-bore gun KBAR - the equivalent of the Russian 2А46М-1 - began design development.
By 1996, a prototype was manufactured and conducted its preliminary tests. However, it was impossible to serially produce a tank gun in Kiev. The Bolshevik plant had no special equipment. Then they adopted the following scheme of serial production: gun steel was supplied by the Zaporizhia-based enterprise Dneprospetsstal, barrels - from JSC “SMNPO them. M. Frunze "(Sumy), guns were collected at the plant to them. A. Malysheva, design support was provided by KMDB.
Plant them. Frunze had already produced weighted pipes for oil and gas production and was almost completely equipped with the necessary equipment for the production of barrels. The versions of the guns were also developed for their installation on the upgraded T-55 (KBASK) and T-72 tanks (KBM1М).
In the spring of 1995, the experimental tank T-84 was first demonstrated by the KMDB with the assistance of Ukrspetsexport (State company for the export and import of military products and special-purpose services) at the IDEX-95 International Armaments Exhibition in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. This machine, which received the index “478DU2 object” (54118 serial number) from its “progenitor”, the T-80UD tank, differed in a welded-rolled turret, installation of the TShU-1 “Shtora-1” complex, more powerful 6TD-2 engine, etc.
The welded-rolled tower with an all-stamped roof, which the T-84 received, was made of high-quality armored steel of electroslag remelting, due to which it had increased strength and durability. Its simpler form made it easier to arrange multi-layer booking in it.
COEP TSHU-1 "Blind-1" significantly increased the security of the tank. The complex provided a warning to the crew about laser irradiation - about the threat of the use of means of destruction induced by a laser beam. With it, infrared interference was created, knocking the ATGM control system, and aerosol curtains, scattering the laser beam of the sights and target indicators of the enemy. The probability of hitting the tank at the same time decreased by half. The main booking machine complemented the built-in dynamic protection "Contact 5".
The system for cleaning the air entering the engine, which increased the reliability of the power plant, has undergone refinement. It provided cassette air cleaners in addition to cyclone-type air cleaners already available on T-80, in particular, preventing dust wear of parts of the cylinder-piston group. This was an important circumstance for the actions of tanks in countries with hot and desert climates.
Although as a result of various innovations, the mass of T-84 increased compared to T-80UD on 2 t and was already 48 t, the tank, thanks to a more powerful engine, perfectly manifested itself in exponential mileage in Abu Dhabi, without difficulty climbing hillsides, overcoming ditches and making dizzying jumps from a springboard, in no way inferior to this recognized “flying tank” - the Russian T-80U with a gas turbine engine, which also participated in the armored vehicle demonstration program on the move. The upgraded T-84 made a serious impression on its participants at the exhibition in Abu Dhabi and in many respects determined the final choice of the Pakistani side.
In July - September, 1995 on the territory of Pakistan were organized tender tests of tanks under a special program: 3000 km of run in desert conditions, shooting day and night at mobile and stationary targets on the move and from the spot. Two Kharkov "eighties" demonstrated an indisputable superiority over the Chinese T-85, which the Norinko corporation offered to re-equip the Pakistani army. The Chinese had to change the engine after the 1000 km, which automatically brought them out of control.
As a result, after the final 100-day 30 negotiations in July 1996, a contract was signed worth 650 million. Dollars for the supply of X-NUMX tanks to T-320UD tanks to Pakistan. The terms of the contract also included training for tankers, the supply of spare parts and maintenance in operation. Moreover, the Pakistanis also saved money when buying a modern tank - the Ukrainian T-80UD cost them $ 80 million each, while the American Abrams would have to pay 2 million, and the French Leclerc - 4,8 million.
Supplies of tanks to Pakistan were designed for three years, but the customer wanted to receive the first batch of 15 vehicles by March 23 by all means. The reason was simple - on this day a national holiday was celebrated in the country, which was to be accompanied by a grand military parade.
At the plant them. A. Malysheva unfolded avralnye work. To meet the deadline, the tank lot had to be ready for January 31. I had to work without days off, and on New Year's Eve and on holidays. 20 February 1997 cars safely left Ukraine on a freighter sailing from the Nikolaev port, and then marched in a parade in Islamabad, enabling the Pakistani military to "play" with their new steel muscles. But for the Ukrainian producers the benefits were obvious. General Designer M. Borisyuk noted that the contract concluded with Pakistan "served as a powerful impetus for improving the T-80UD, and also intensified the testing of all systems and components for the first Ukrainian tank T-84 Kern as a whole."
ON THE WAY TO "PAYMENT"
Further development of the T-84 nodes was carried out using a variety of machines that received the object numbers 478DU4, 478DU5, 478DU7, 478DU8. The projects "object 478DUZ" and "object 478DU6", despite the fact that they were documented, but for various reasons did not receive development and were not implemented in the metal.
The experienced “478DU4 object” received an improved gearbox adapted to a new, more powerful engine, in which, apart from the usual seven forward gears, there were three gears back (on the T-80UD — one back). This box has significantly expanded the range of speeds of the tank. Now, on a good road, the T-84 easily developed a speed not of 60, but of 73 km / h, but movement back became possible at speeds up to 32 km / h.
The test car, which later received the “478DU5 object” index, was equipped with an 4 kW power conditioner with an 250 m3 / h air flow rate to provide comfortable crew living conditions and normal instrument operation - a very useful device for tanks operating in countries with a hot climate. So, for example, according to the Indian magazine Political Events, the Russian T-90С, delivered to India, due to the lack of air conditioning for four years, failed and were unsuitable for use around 80 thermal imagers. On the 478DU5, the air conditioner was placed in a special box on the stern of the turret, and some of the ammunition was also moved to the compartment, which was isolated from the crew compartment.
At the “478DU5” facility, the automatic transmission control system (SUAT) was tested, which provided control over engine operating conditions and automatic gear shifting in order to save fuel and reduce the load on the driver. He controlled the tank is no longer traditional for Soviet cars levers, but with the help of a special steering wheel installed in front of him.
The system also provided an automated engine start mode, and digital indicators on the driver’s panel visually displayed information about the operating modes of the power plant.
In the 1998 84, the T with the American M1A2 "Abrams", the German "Leopard 2A5" Russian T-80U, the British "Challenger 2E" French "Leclerc" took part in the pre-bid tests in Greece, is going to update its tank fleet.
According to the results of tests during the development work carried out during this period, numerous changes were made to the T-84 design, which led to the creation of its improved modification, which became the first product with the 478D-9 index. This car was demonstrated in 1999 in Abu Dhabi at the next IDEX-99 exhibition. By the way, the T-84 turned out to be the only tank on the show, which was demonstrated on the move and once again showed its excellent driving performance.
In the construction of the “object 478DU9”, even more attention was paid to increasing security. So, to improve the protection of the front parts of the hull and turret from cumulative and shock-cumulative (such as “impact core”) projectiles, instead of the dynamic protection “Contact 5”, a new KDZ Knife of Ukrainian design with enhanced characteristics was installed; while the effectiveness of protection has increased in 2,5 times. (The commencement of work on this complex dates back to 1997, when problems arose with the supply of T-80UD tanks equipped with “5 Contact” to Pakistan). The fact is that the patent holder is a Russian scientific research institute of Steel, having received an international patent for this system of dynamic protection shortly before, requested from the plant to them. Malysheva for her use of payment in 55 million dollars (almost 10% of the total value of the contract).
In the side view, some improvements in security were achieved by increasing the area of the side screens and continuing them almost to the hubs of the road wheels. This made it possible to reduce the “thermal conspicuity” of the tank due to the shielding of thermal radiation from hubs and rubber rollers that heat up during movement — sometimes to + 200 ° C. In addition, the screens significantly reduced dust generation during tank movement due to the optimal organization of air flow, which turned out to be particularly significant when operating tanks in desert and steppe terrain.
In modern conditions, when the tank is equipped with the most diverse energy-intensive electrical equipment, the absence of an auxiliary source of electricity is regarded by the customer as a significant drawback. Therefore, an “AE-478A” auxiliary diesel power unit with an 9 kW generator power was placed on the “8DU8 object”, which provided energy to all the systems of the tank when the engine was not running, and could also be used to start it. The mass of the entire unit was 300 kg, time
continuous operation - 24 hours. It was placed in the back of the right fender, in a special armored box (previously there was a fuel tank).
The tank received a set of radio navigation equipment 1KRNA, using data from the satellite GPS system NAVSTAR or Russian GLONASS. With its help, the location of the tank is determined with an accuracy of 20 m. Provided the ability to transfer data from radio navigation equipment to a new ballistic computer 1В528-2, which significantly improved the accuracy of shooting. Conventional radio communication was provided by the P-163-50K station with a range of up to 50 km.
“The 478DU9 object” flaunted at an exhibition in Abu Dhabi and a new “shoe” - on it were installed tracks with asphalt shoes made of polymer material. Such tracks allow you to keep the road surface and significantly increase the smoothness of the machine.
In February, the main battle tank T-2000 (“84DU478 object”) was adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers under the number 9-237 from 5 in February, adopted by the army of Ukraine. He received the name "Stronghold."
Its mass production was planned to begin in 2000, but this did not happen due to lack of funding. However, in August of the same year "Oplot" took part in a military parade, passing along Khreshchatyk at the head of the column "sixty-four".
In the next anniversary year for Ukraine, 2001, the funds for the production of T-84 were still found. Probably one of the reasons for this was the desire to demonstrate a new tank during a military parade in Kiev on the occasion of the 10 anniversary of independence. At the plant them. Malyshev built ten "strongholds" (according to the specification 478DU9). The total cost of the order was 78,8 million hryvnia, which at the then exchange rate corresponded to approximately 14,6 million dollars (in 1 million 460 thousand for one car). After the parade, the “strongholds” were returned to the plant, both for completions and in anticipation of the complete transfer of funds from the Ministry of Defense. By the end of the year, all the vehicles were handed over to the 72 th mechanized division of the Southern Operational Command.
TANK "POT"
Tank T-84 "Oplot" was created on the basis of the T-80UD tank. However, it differs from it in a number of improvements: a new welded-rolled tower; 6TD-2 engine with a capacity of 1200 l. with. instead of 6TD power 1000 hp; built-in dynamic protection of the new generation, providing increased security in the front sector from both cumulative and armor-piercing projectiles; the presence of the optical-electronic suppression system "Varta"; weapons of Ukrainian origin (125-mm tank gun 2А46М1 - launcher ATGM 125 KBAZ, machine guns KT-12,7 and KT-7,62). Thanks to a more powerful engine and improved transmission, the tank’s speed increased (73 km / h forward and 32 km / h ago), despite the increase in mass to 48 t (instead of 46 t). To ensure the operation of the equipment when the main engine is not operating, the tank was equipped with an auxiliary power unit.
The “Oplot” has a modern automated fire control system with a digital ballistic computer and a thermal day / night sight and automatic loader (AZ), which provide high combat effectiveness of weapons. The tank has implemented constructive solutions that reduce the effectiveness of means of detection and guidance based on thermal radiation and provide protection against exposure to napalm-type fire mixtures. A remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun (ZPU) allows you to fire at air and ground targets from the combat compartment of the tank.
On T-84 applied: system of collective protection (RMS) against exposure weapons mass destruction, high-speed fire-fighting equipment system (PPO), equipment for self-digging, equipment for overcoming water obstacles along the bottom (OPWT). It is possible to use the KMT-6 wheel track mine trawls or the KMT-7 roller-knife trawl.
Features of the design of the tank T-84, weapons and means of protection
The overall layout of the tank is traditional. Functionally, its body is divided into three compartments: in the nose part there is a control compartment with a driver’s workplace, in the middle part there is a combat compartment with a rotating turret, and in the aft compartment is a power transmission compartment (MTO). Armament is located in the fighting compartment, the main part of the ammunition package is located, the commander’s (right) and gunner’s workplaces (left) are located.
Due to the high density of the layout, the reserved volume of the machine is 11,2 m3, which is achieved due to the compact MTO scheme with the 6TD-2 engine, which occupies the entire volume of the 3,7 m3. As a result, the designers managed to get a tank with small dimensions and combat mass, but at the same time with powerful and effective weaponry and reliable protection.
The welded T-84 case is structurally identical to the T-80UD case. Bottom - stamped, upper frontal part - multi-layered, with built-in dynamic protection of the new generation. Extended-width side screens provide additional protection for the hull sides and undercarriage units against short-range anti-tank weapons used by enemy infantry.
In the front of the case in the center is the hatch of the driver, the cover of which, when opened, rises and turns to the right. Special pillers are installed at the bottom of the hull, designed to reduce the possibility of a driver being damaged when anti-tank mines are blown up under the bottom of the vehicle. Behind his seat there is a landing hatch.
Tower tank - welded-rolled, made using steel, obtained by electroslag remelting. In front it is protected by multi-layered armor. The roof is made of full-stamped, which increased its rigidity, as well as ensured manufacturability and stable quality under mass production conditions.
The frontal part and the roof of the tower are covered with elements of dynamic protection, providing cover for the tower from the upper hemisphere from the effects of striking elements of the “shock core” type.
To increase the radiation protection of the crew, the hull and the tower are made of hydrogen-containing polymer with the addition of lithium, boron and lead.
The armament of the tank is located in the tower. Here are the 125-mm cannon, 7,62-mm twin machine gun and 12,7-mm anti-aircraft gun, ammunition, automatic loader, fire control system, additional surveillance devices and guidance drives, as well as guided weapons complex.
The turret rotation drive is electric, and the vertical pickup of the gun is hydraulic. The turret rotates 180 ° in less than 5 seconds. (the speed of rotation of the tower relative to the body - up to 40 degrees / s). In case of emergency, hand-operated guns and turret guidance drives are provided.
The main armament is an 125-mm smooth-bore cannon KBAZ with a conveyor-type automatic loader.
It is equipped with an ejector of powder gases, a thermocasing, it is stabilized in vertical and horizontal planes. The barrel of the gun is quick-detachable and can be replaced in field conditions without dismantling the gun itself from the tank.
Ammunition - 40 separate loading shots (projectile and charge), of which 28 are placed in the conveyor of the automatic loader. The fire can be carried out by armor-piercing-subcaliber, cumulative, high-explosive fragmentation projectiles, as well as laser-guided missiles.
Tank guided missiles "Combat", developed by experts of the Kiev Luch design bureau, have a tandem warhead that allows them to hit targets equipped with dynamic defense and modern multi-layered armor. Missile weight - 30 kg.
To observe the road conditions, the driver-mechanic has three periscopic observation devices. For driving at night, the active-passive type TVN-5 night vision device or TVN-5М can be installed instead of the central device.
The fire control complex provides for the firing of the gunner and the commander at fixed and moving targets from the spot and on the move with a high probability of hitting from the first shot.
The complex consists of day sight the gunner 1G46M "Promin" thermal sight "Buran-Catherine-E" sighting and observation complex PNA-5 «AGAT-CM» commander ballistic computer LIO-in sensors of input information, an improved stabilizing 2E42M arms, sensor measuring the initial velocity of the projectile, anti-aircraft sight ROM-7, control system anti-aircraft installation 1ETS29M.
The gunner's day sight 1Г46М has a line of sight stabilized in two planes, an integrated laser range finder and a guided missile guidance channel. The field of view of the sight - with an increase in the range from 2,7x to 12x. The range finder provides a distance measurement to the target at a distance of up to 10 000 m with an accuracy of ± 10 m. The measured range is displayed on the segment display in the lower part of the field of view of the gunner's sight along with the signal of readiness for firing and the type of ammunition.
The Buran-Katrin-E thermal sight includes a gunner optoelectronic device and a thermal imaging monitor; it also includes the commander’s control panel with which he can take control and fire himself from a cannon or a machine gun paired with it. Such a sight allows both the gunner and the commander to detect targets and fire in any weather conditions, including poor visibility, as well as at night, at long distances and with high accuracy.
The sighting and observation complex of the PNK-5 commander consists of a combined day-night sight of the commander TKN-5 and a gun position sensor. The TKN-5 has a vertical line of sight and three channels: a daily single channel, a daily multiple channel with a magnification of 7,6 and a night channel with a magnification of 5,8. In addition, the sight is equipped with a built-in laser range finder, which provides the commander with the ability to measure the distance to the target independently of the gunner, as well as a lateral lead entry device. Thanks to him, the commander of the "Oplot" has the best ability to search and self-defeat targets in comparison with the commanders of the T-80U, T-80UD, T-90 tanks.
The ballistic computer LIO-B calculates ballistic corrections, automatically taking into account data on the tank speed, angular velocity of the target, roll angle of the axle of the gun trunnions, transverse component of the wind speed, distance to the target, heading angle. Additionally manually entered: ambient air temperature, charge temperature, barrel bore wear, ambient air pressure, etc. LIO-B also calculates the moment of the explosion of the high-explosive fragmentation projectile over the target.
To automatically account for the thermal bending of the gun barrel, when calculating the ballistic corrections, a system for determining the SUIT-1 was established, which transfers the relevant information to the tank ballistic computer. Here, after each shot, the initial velocity of the projectile, determined by another measurement sensor, is introduced.
Remedies used on the T-84 are compositional armor, built-in dynamic protection, a complex of optical-electronic countermeasures and a number of other devices.
The modern multi-layer armor of the tank is a “layered cake” consisting of armor plates and ceramic materials; it protects against most of the existing means of destruction.
Built-in dynamic protection of the second generation of the type "Knife" is installed on the front of the hull and tower. It was developed jointly by several enterprises, among them the Research and Development Center “Materials Processing by Explosion” named after Paton and KMDB them. Morozov, and provides protection for the tank against armor-piercing-caliber projectiles, cumulative weapons, and impact-cumulative ammunition of the “shock core” type. The main difference between the “Knife” and the existing types of dynamic protection is the impact on the attacking weapons of a flat cumulative jet, while the first generation dynamic protection systems (“Contact-1 / 5”, Blazer) operated by throwing the plates in the direction of the attacking ammunition.
The “Knife” modules are distinguished by high reliability (guaranteed operation, exclusion of detonation transmission to adjacent containers), safety when firing from small arms, no detonation from fragments and incendiary mixtures, ease of installation, low cost. The level of tank protection provided by the “Knife” is more than two times higher than the previously used 4C20 or 4C22 units.
On the sides of the tank hull, widened rubber screens with armor and built-in dynamic protection in the front are installed, providing additional protection against hand-held anti-tank weapons.
The Varta optical-electronic countermeasure complex installed on it contributes to the increase in the security level of the “Oplot”. It includes a warning system for laser irradiation, which allows the crew of the tank to respond in a timely manner to emerging threats. Its main element is four laser beam detection heads: two “precise”, mounted in front of the roof of the tower, and two “coarse”, placed in its rear part. They react to the beams of laser range finders, laser designators and high-precision ammunition with a laser guidance system.
“Varta” is similar to the TShU-1-7 “Curtain-1” complex developed at the end of the 1980-s. However, taking into account that modern laser range finders work in the range of shorter wavelengths, the advanced complex obtained optical elements based on zinc selenide.
The complex also contains illuminators for setting infrared active interferences to anti-tank warfare agents. They give out a false signal for the guidance system of an approaching guided missile, continuously generating coded impulse-signal interference, which makes it possible to disrupt its accurate guidance.
In addition, it also includes a smoke / aerosol curtain system designed to disperse the laser beam. It consists of 12 smoke / aerosol grenade launchers mounted on the right and left sides of the turret and covered with radome covers. The system works both as part of the complex and autonomously.
The tank can also install a smoke screen by injecting diesel into the engine exhaust system using thermal smoke equipment.
The 6TD-2 "Oplot" diesel engine has horsepower 1200. The power density is 26 hp / t, which provides the tank with high acceleration and good maneuverability. The engine is equipped with a preheating device used in cold weather. To reduce thermal visibility, the roof of the engine compartment is equipped with special heat insulating screens.
Although 6TD-2 is a diesel engine, it can also work on other types of fuel, including gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuel or a mixture of them in any proportion.
The capacity of the internal fuel tanks - 700 l. More 440 l fuel are in tanks located on the fences. However, at the stern of the hull two more barrels can be mounted with an additional margin, which, if necessary, are discarded. Each of them accommodates a 200 l and is connected to a common fuel system. Cruising on the main fuel - 400 km.
The air cleaning system consists of centrifugal pre-filters and an air cleaner cassette. It allows you to operate the tank in conditions of heat and dust. Filters, even in such an environment, should be replaced only after 1000-km run.
OUTPUT ABROAD TURKISH "YATAGAN
The T-84 tank was also actively promoted to foreign markets, because it was the armored theme that brought Ukraine into the top ten of the world's largest manufacturers of military equipment and weapons. However, in parallel, past tenders for the supply of tanks to Turkey, Greece and Malaysia, in which the T-84 tank participated, did not bring success.
Back in 1997, one of the experienced T-84s was tested in Turkey, which was exploring the possibilities for updating its tank fleet, consisting mainly of obsolete American M60. In February, 2000, the government of this country, officially announced one of the largest tenders in the field of armaments for the creation of a modern tank. The tender was estimated at 4 - 4,5 billion dollars and initially assumed that the winning country would supply the main battle tanks to 250 and receive an order to organize their further production in Turkey - they expected to create their own modern tank-building industry.
Leading tank-building companies were invited to participate in the competition. As a result of careful selection in the finals of the first stage came Germany, the USA, Ukraine and France.
Germany presented to Ankara a project for assembling a limited fleet of cars “Leopard” 2А6. France has also developed a plan for a "limited" factory of existing Lekperk tanks. The United States, under the same conditions, offered to assemble Abrams M1А2 machines. Ukraine has gone further than its competitors, having developed specifically for Turkey a project for assembling an unlimited fleet of a “purely Turkish” model of the T-84 tank, armed with an 120-mm gun. Since Turkey is a member of NATO, one of the indispensable conditions of the competition was the compliance of the tank’s main armament with the standards of this military bloc. Such a requirement excluded from the participants of the competition, for example, Russia.
The Ukrainian machine, the factory index “object 478Н”, later called “Yatagan” (in various publications - KERN 2-120, Т-84-120, Т-84У; however, these names were not used in the KMBR), at the end of 1999 It was completely assembled from components produced in Ukraine, although it was envisaged, at the request of the customer, to install systems and components of foreign manufacturers.
When developing the Yatagan, technical solutions were used that were verified during the modernization of the T-72-120 tank, which was first demonstrated at the IDEX-99 international arms exhibition. Since the 120-mm gun (as opposed to the Russian 125-mm) uses unitary ammunition, a completely new automatic loader of the jammed type was developed for the T-72-120, which was placed in the rear part of the tower in the rear aft niche.
The first model of the tank was armed with 120-mm smooth-bore gun of Ukrainian production KBM2, the design of which meets the requirements of NATO standards. Considering the tight timeframe for preparation for the tender, in the fall of 1999, the KMDB concluded a contract with the Swiss company Swiss Ordnace Athice Corp. through Ukrspetsexport Corporation. for the manufacture of 120-mm barrels for the gun KBM2.
The Yatagan tank cannon was loaded using an automatic loader, which ensured the 8 - 10 firing rate / min firing rate, with also semi-automatic and manual loading modes.
Ammunition was 40 shots, 22 of which were placed directly in the conveyor automatic loader in a special compartment in the rear of the tower, separated from the crew compartment armored bulkhead. 16 shots were in the auxiliary mechanized combat pack, located in the corps, two more - in the fighting compartment. All types of ammunition developed in accordance with NATO standards (STANAG 4385 and STANAG 4110), APFSDS-T, NEAT-MP-T and others, as well as laser-guided missiles made in Ukraine, adapted to the caliber 120 mm, could be used.
On the "Yatagan" set fire control tank T-84 "Oplot", adapted to the new weapons.
According to experts, the technical characteristics of the four machines that participated in the second stage of the competition were approximately equal. But according to unofficial results of complex tests, which took place both on the landfills of Turkey and on the territory of the competing countries, Leopard and Yatagan took the first and second places.
The advantages of the Ukrainian tank could be attributed to the fact that it is about 10 t lighter than its competitor, its body is lower, that is, the tank is less vulnerable, overcomes water obstacles to the depth of 1,8 m without preparation. In addition, the unique Kharkov engine managed to adapt to work in hot climates, so he did not lose power at air temperatures up to + 55 ° С. It was also important that Ukraine set the lowest price for Yatagan, and also turned out to be the only country ready to transfer the technology of tank production to Turkey.
However, in 2005, the protracted tank tender was canceled on the eve of the reduction of military programs by the Turkish military command. Preference was given to the modernization of the 170 obsolete tanks M60. The contract for 668 million was received by the Israeli company Israel Military Industries. The Turks also entered into a contract to supply the 298 2А4 tanks that were in service with the army of the Federal Republic of Germany, which had to undergo a major overhaul at the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Landsysteme factories.
A similar situation existed earlier in the tank tender in Greece - as a result, this country also decided to buy German Leopard tanks.
In 2000, the tank T-84 took part in an international tender held by Malaysia. The comparative tests involved the Polish tank RT-91М “Tvardy”, which is a modernization of the Soviet T-72М, the Russian T-90С and the Swedish light tank CV90 120. In the spring of the same year, the Ukrainian T-84 was presented at the DSA-2000 arms exhibition in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which was a prerequisite for participation in the tender for the supply of tanks for the army of this country.
Tests in Malaysia took place from June 19 to August 21, and the military was mainly interested in the mobility and operational reliability of tanks in difficult local conditions. Machines had to go about 2800 km in the jungle, on a mountainous landscape, through wetlands and water barriers.
The results of the Malaysian competition were very unexpected. Despite the fact that in the course of testing, the Polish RT-91М was significantly inferior to both the Russian T-90C and the Ukrainian T-84 in most of the main indicators, however, in April 2002 announced the government’s decision to purchase 48 PT-91MZ tanks and six BREM WZT-4 in Poland. The total amount of the contract was 370 million. Russian experts claim that one Polish tank cost Malaysia approximately 4 million dollars, or 1,2 million more than the Russian T-90C and Ukrainian T-84 that participated in this tender.
September 1 2011, the management of Ukrspetsexport Group of Companies has signed a contract with representatives of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Thailand
regarding the delivery of a new batch of armored vehicles. According to the agreements reached, the Ukrainian side will manufacture and deliver to the country 49 units of the main battle tank (MBT) "Oplot". The total contract value significantly exceeds $ 200 million. Carry out the order will be the companies that are included in the Ukroboronprom group of companies.
TANK "OPLOT-M"
The advanced tank "Oplot-M" ("478DU9-1 / 478DU10" object) was developed by the KMDB taking into account the current trends in the development of armored vehicles. First of all, they increased the security of the machine by installing a new built-in dynamic system, Knife-2, which is able to withstand anti-tank guided missiles with a tandem warhead, cumulative and armor-piercing shells. Her containers were placed on the front of the hull and on the turret, along the sides of the hull, providing additional protection for the tank from the sides.
The Knife-2 complex has a modular design, so it can be easily replaced or upgraded as the corresponding dynamic protection technologies are improved.
Has undergone a change and the sighting system of the tank. The commander of the vehicle received a new multi-channel panoramic sighting and observation complex PKN-6 with independent day and thermal imaging channels and a laser range finder. This greatly increased the possibility of observing the terrain, especially at night and in conditions of reduced visibility. The detection range of a tank-type target through the visual channel is now less than 5500 m, and through the thermal channel in a wide field of view - 4000 m.
The use of PKN-6, in addition to detecting and recognizing ground and air targets and issuing target designation to the gunner, allows the tank commander himself to fire from a cannon and a paired machine gun in duplicate weapon control mode on the gunner’s thermal imaging channel. This greatly expands the capabilities of the tank fire control system. True, the advanced capabilities of the fire control system had to be paid for by the increased weight of the tank - the weight of the PKN-6 equipment set is 400 kg.
Installing PCN-6 brought about changes in the appearance of the car. Due to the fact that a rather large circular head of the PKN-6 was placed on the roof of the tower in front of the commander's hatch, the anti-aircraft machine-gun unit had to be transferred to the bracket at the rear of the tower.
In addition to PKN-6, the tank commander also received the information console of the commander 1KPI-M, designed to display on-screen inputted digital and graphical information or received from outside communications.
On the Oplot-M tank, a more advanced 6TD-2Е engine was installed, which works reliably without any reduction in power at temperatures up to + 55 ° С. The letter "E" means "ecological". Previously, the environmental friendliness of combat vehicles did not particularly reflect, but now the situation has changed. Thus, when participating in international tenders, such a parameter as exhaust emissions is taken into account. The power of the auxiliary power unit on the new tank was also increased - 10 kW instead of 8 kW.
The integrated traffic control system "Oplota-M" provides automatic gear shifting and smooth turning while the tank is moving. Instead of levers, a steering wheel was placed, which significantly simplified the process of controlling the machine. Underwater driving equipment allowed the tank to overcome water obstacles to a depth of 5 meters. Water barriers to depths to 1,8 meters the machine overcomes without preparation.
The navigation support of the tank is based on the GLONASS and NAVSTAR systems with defining own coordinates, forming teams with destination coordinates, collecting information about the location of subordinate tanks, forming routes (up to 10 routes) and passing along a given path (the number of control points for each route - to 50-ti), the formation of telecode (text) messages over the radio channel, indication of information about the direction and angle of rotation at the destination for the driver.
The factory tests of the Op-Lot-M tank took place at the end of 2008, and by the beginning of April of the following year, the state tests were successfully completed. Despite the increased mass, there were no problems with the undercarriage of the combat vehicle, and the 1200 engine, the HP. effectively worked in all weather conditions, including at high ambient temperatures. As the General Designer for the creation of armored vehicles and artillery systems, Hero of Ukraine, Lieutenant-General M. Borysyuk, noted, the Oplot-M tank "meets modern requirements and is quite competitive compared to world analogues." All the basic components, assemblies, devices and elements of weapons "Oplota-M" are the invention and the final product of Ukrainian manufacturers, and in its armor protection was embodied several domestic technical know-how.
The order for the adoption of the Oplot-M tank was signed on 28 in May on 2009. It was planned that the Ukrainian armed forces would order Opn-X tanks on Oplot-M this year, but due to the global financial crisis these plans were not destined come true, although 10 February 23 G. KMBM chief designer Yu.Busyak confirmed the existence of the state order, saying: "I can officially announce receipt of the state order for the manufacture of the first 2010 combat vehicles" Oplot-M ", which will be sent to military units of the Ground Forces" .
The cost of one machine is 3,5 - 4 million dollars.
BREM-84
Together with the T-84 tank (“478DU7 object”), an armored repair and recovery vehicle BREM-84, designed on its base, was delivered to Malaysia, the purpose of which is to evacuate damaged tanks, towing faulty equipment, as well as performing aggregate repair directly in field conditions . The mass of the BREM-84 is 46 t. In addition to the crane with a lifting capacity of 25 t, which provides for dismantling the engine or turret of the tank, it is equipped with a traction winch with 25 t force and an auxiliary winch 900 force kg. The machine has a cargo platform, a set of tools and accessories for the repair of tanks, as well as bulldozer equipment.
Information