T-84
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The T-84 Main Battle Tank is a Ukrainian development of the Soviet T-80 tank. The T-84 is based on the diesel-engined version, T-80UD. Its high-performance engine makes it one of the fastest existing MBTs in the world, with a power-to-weight ratio of about 26 hp/tonne.
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Production history
The T-84 is the latest Ukrainian development of T-64 and T-80 series, designed by KMDB in Kharkiv (while the Russian T-90 is an advanced T-72, with some T-80 features). A main design objective was to make Ukraine's arms industry independent of Russia's, after resulting difficulties in fulfilling a contract to supply T-80 tanks to Pakistan. An external difference from earlier models is the new Ukrainian welded turret, replacing the Russian-built cast one.
The T-84's outstanding feature is the 26 hp/tonne power-to-weight ratio, compared to the T-90's 18 hp/tonne. The tank is also designed to perform well in hot climates, and even includes an air-conditioned crew compartment.
Ukraine has demonstrated several advanced prototypes, intended for international sale.
Variants
- T-84 - Ukrainian upgrade of the T-80UD. New welded turret and Shtora-1 countermeasures suite, 1,200 hp 6TD-2 diesel engine.
- T-84U - Ukrainian upgrade of the T-84. New sideskirts, turret-conformal Kontakt-5 panels. New APU. French ALIS Thermal Imaging sight, satellite navigation, commander's laser range-finder, muzzle reference system, and other improvements in response to commercial competition with NATO tanks.
- T-84-120 Oplot - Ukrainian prototype of upgraded T-84U. The "Oplot" tank features a new welded turret with separate crew and ammo compartments with blowout panels on the ammo compartment, a new bustle-mounted autoloader, turret-conformal Kontakt-5 ERA, the Buran Thermal Sight, The Shtora-1 countermeasures suite, and a 120-mm main gun which fires both NATO 120-mm rounds (like the M829 DU series) and a special 120-mm version of the ATGM AT-11 Sniper.
- T-84-120 Yatagan is a prototype version of Oplot tailored for evaluation by the Turkish Army (differences are in the fire control system, communications, etc.).
See also
External links
- Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/)—Ukrainian producer of the T-80. KMDB's pages for T-80UD (http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/t80ud.php?menu=m1.php), T-84 (http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/t84.php?menu=m1.php), and Oplot (http://www.morozov.com.ua/eng/body/oplot.php?menu=m1.php).
- JED Equipment Database: T-84 Tank information and variants (http://www.jedsite.info/tanks/tango-numbers-su/t-84_series/t84-series.html)
- Globalsecurity.org: T-84 MBT (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/ukraine/t-84.htm)