Prospects for the use of T-80 and the existing generation of tanks
The fate of the last adopted by the Soviet tank T-80 from its inception to the cessation of production. Despite the serious resistance, it was not the military or industry who 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 tried to conquer its niche in the armored forces.
If you look at what the T-80 is fundamentally different from its generational counterparts (T-64 and T-72), then it turns out that the presence of a gas turbine power plant. The tank was created in a very original way, not a gas turbine engine was introduced into the tank, and the tank was adapted for the gas turbine engine. For a long time the tank could not “stand up” and it was difficult to take root in the army.
Work on the tank with the GTE began in the 60-s. 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 long development and refinement of the tank, it was put into service in the 1976 year, but produced in small batches.
Due to the weak firepower of his sighting complex by this time hopelessly outdated. T-80 crossed with T-64B, installing a tower on it from this tank. In 1978, they were commissioned under the symbol T-80B, and he received the most advanced at that time Ob sighting system and Cobra guided weapons.
After serious troop tests of all three types of tanks in the 1976, Ustinov decides to develop an improved T-80U tank. The combat branch is developed in Kharkov, and the corps in Leningrad. In this case, there were two variants of the power plant: with a GTE with a power of 1250 HP. and diesel power 1000 hp
Create a CCD 1250 horsepower. failed. After the test cycle, the tank with the existing GTN hp power. in the 1000 year is adopted under the symbol T-1984U. For this tank, a specially designed Irtysh sighting system with a laser-controlled Reflex armament was specially developed.
After Ustinov’s death in 1984, support for a tank with a problem gas turbine engine dropped dramatically, since there was a variant of this tank with a 6TD diesel engine with 1000 hp power. With the creation of such a diesel, the characteristics of the power plant were almost equal, and the shortcomings of the CCD remained. After testing this tank in 1985, it was put into service under the symbol T-80UD.
So there were two modifications of the last most perfect Soviet tank. Production of the T-80UD was discontinued in 1991, and the T-80U, having undergone several modifications under the symbol T-80UM with a GTE with a capacity of 1250 hp, was also discontinued in 1998. In the Russian tank building, the T-72 family of tanks was taken as the basis.
Despite the generally good characteristics of the tank in the industry, he 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 has proven to be ineffective due to the large 1,6 times of fuel consumption, power reduction when working in high temperatures, increased dust wear of turbine blades, complexity and high cost of gas turbine engines.
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 with powerplant problems described above.
The Armata has been identified as a promising tank, although there are many questions on it. This tank is produced in small batches. After complex military tests, it is likely that the future direction of work will be determined.
The T-80 tank and the entire existing generation of tanks should be considered from the point of view of accomplishing the tasks facing the Russian army at the present stage before the troops are filled with a new generation of tanks, which will not be long before. 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 models. And there are many thousands of tanks ...
According to its characteristics, the fleet of existing tanks of the T-64, T-72 and T-80 series are approximately equal, there are no fundamental differences, giving a serious lead, they have. All of them are equipped with the same 125-mm cannon, aiming complexes, about the same power of diesel or gas turbine power plants and have similar protection characteristics. They install almost the same universal devices, components and systems. All this allows for the modernization of tanks and bring their effectiveness to the requirements of today.
The existing fleet of main machines and their modifications for upgrading and upgrading 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 group, the combat units are unified, equipped with practically the same sighting complexes, the layout and placement of instruments and components is not much different. On the basis of the T-XNUMCDU combat compartment, it is advisable to develop a single combat compartment for all groups of tanks with the equipment of the Irtysh sighting system and the Reflex guided weapons or their subsequent modifications. The modern thermal imager and the commander’s panoramic sight must be introduced into the complex.
On the basis of the hull of the T-80U, develop a hull with the T-XNUMHUD tank with the installation of a CCD with a capacity of 80l.s. and diesel 1250TDF with the same power or to provide for the replacement of diesel on GTE.
On the basis of the hull of the T-80B, develop a hull with the T-64B with the installation of the CCD 1250 horsepower. and diesel 6TDF with the same power or to provide for the replacement of diesel on GTE. The corps of tanks will be with different running gears - rubberized and with rollers with internal shock absorption.
On the basis of the hull of the T-90 tank, develop one hull with the T-72B tank with the installation of the HP 1000 diesel engine. The use of powerful diesel and gas turbine power plants with a mass of tanks up to 50 t will provide high power density and good maneuverability.
For all tanks, it is advisable to develop a unified system of protection using the latest advances and developments in armor, dynamic and active protection, ensuring the protection of the existing generation of tanks from modern means of destruction.
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 tactical control, modern radio communications systems that provide communications hidden and protected from suppressors and carried by mortar or gun launch UAVs. The introduction of these tools will significantly improve the management efficiency of the tank unit.
After carrying out such modernization of the existing generation of tanks, they will not yield to the main foreign models in firepower, protection and maneuverability, and will ensure high efficiency for many years to come.
At the same time, 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 you to bring them to virtually one tank with modifications to 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 upgrading tanks and bringing them up to date instead of releasing new modifications of the T-72 family. Whatever loud names you call them, they still remain modifications of the basic machine, and they do not provide a fundamental breakthrough in terms of the main characteristics of the existing generation of tanks.
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