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A large proportion of the Russian Armed Forces' MBTs still in use today were introduced in the 1970s and are still in use today. Therefore, a comprehensive and extensive combat performance improvement program was now correctly decided for all MBTs in use. This means that these vehicles should be able to remain in use for up to another 15 years.

MBT T-72 B3 (Obj. 184-3)

The T-72 MBT is the oldest model among the three vehicles under consideration. At its peak, up to 9,000 copies in various versions were said to have been introduced to the Soviet and Russian armed forces. It can be assumed that there are currently around 1,900 vehicles of this type in use. A larger KWS program for the T-72 B3 version (2013 model) was decided on for this vehicle in 2010. For cost reasons, the conversion rate is relatively low - perhaps around 400 vehicles have been converted to date.

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MBT T-72 B3M (Photo: www.ntiim.ru)

About three years after the start of the KWS program, the financial situation had apparently eased somewhat, so that a revised version with the designation T-72 B3M (2016 model) or T-72 B4 could be released in 2016; The first vehicles were delivered in 2018. This model now received a further improved weapon and improvements to the on-board electronics. The commander should also receive a powerful panoramic periscope. However, due to lack of space, this device could not be integrated into the rotating part in front of the commander's hatch. Therefore, in this version there was a large viewing head for a panoramic periscope on the turret roof - between the commander's and the gunner's hatch.

With a view to mobility, the more powerful W 92 S2F engine was installed in this version. The more powerful RELIKT reactive armor was also partially used. According to Russian information, this reactive armor is intended to reduce the penetration power of a shaped charge spike by approximately 600 mm (RHA).

The T-72 B3M / B 4 version in particular has a significant increase in combat power. According to reports, the KWS program will ultimately include several thousand vehicles.

Gunner position in MBT T-72 B3; The picture illustrates the problems in accommodating the numerous new assemblies. The operation of the new elements may only be possible in some cases under restraint. (Photo: archive author)

MBT T-80 BWM (Obj. 219 RWM)

The reactivation of the T-80 B MBT and the initiation of a program to modernize this model surprised many Western observers. The T-80 B / T-80 U MBTs were gradually withdrawn from use due to high operating costs.

In 2016, the surprising announcement came that a certain part of the approximately 3,500 stored T-80 B MBTs would be taken out of the depots and subjected to a comprehensive KWS program. The first vehicles of this version, known as the T-80 BWM, were presented in the Leningrad area in 2017.

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MBT T-80 BWM – turret and chassis were equipped with elements of modern reactive armor of the RELIKT type. (Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin)

The previous 125 mm smoothbore gun 2 A46M 4 is said to have been retained in the T-80 BWM. As with the T-72 B3, this vehicle also receives a new fire control system with tracking function and digital computer. The gunner also received the new aiming device. Appropriate changes were also made to the articulated arm loader in order to be able to fire the modern KE ammunition with the longer penetrators.

The T-80 B MBT was historically the best motorized Russian MBT with a top speed of 80 km/h. The reason was the installation of a gas turbine with an above-average engine output for Russian conditions. As expected, the downside of the coin was above-average fuel consumption - especially since the gas turbine did not have a heat exchanger. Consumption is said to have been significantly reduced here through the use of modern digital control in the gas turbine. In addition, precautions were taken to enable the gas turbine to start without any problems up to temperatures of minus 50 degrees. Therefore, the T-80 BWM version is to be stationed primarily in cold/arctic regions, including the Murmansk area, Siberia and the Far Eastern areas (Amur area).

T-90 M (Obj. 188 M)

Of the three models discussed here, the T-90 is the MBT with the shortest service life; It was introduced in 1993 and therefore has a maximum useful life of 26 years. Due to the relatively high production costs, only around 350 to 400 T-90 MBTs have been produced for the Russian armed forces since the beginning of the 1990s. In principle, the T-90 is based in many areas on the T-72 MBT.

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MBT T-90 M with the new weapon station on the commander's panoramic periscope. (Photo: Vitaly Kuzmin)

The new version T-90 M Prorvy-3 (Breakthrough-3) will also receive the modern 125 mm smoothbore gun 2 A46M-5, which allows significantly higher gas pressure. The modern fire control system with digital computer and tracking function was also adopted from the T-14 MBT. A new remote-controlled weapon station was apparently developed for the T-90 M, which was combined with the observation head of the commander's panoramic periscope. A similar solution is known from the T-14 MBT. To improve mobility, the previously used W 92 S2 engine was replaced by the more powerful W 92 S2F model. Protection has been improved through the use of modern RELIKT type reactive armor. Mesh armor was installed at various points in the turret area to improve protection against anti-tank hand weapons. In addition, for the same reason, grid spacer armor is used in the side and rear areas of the chassis.

Conclusion

On the one hand, when modernizing the three Russian main battle tanks in recent years, the performance characteristics of firepower and protection have been significantly improved. With the introduction of the SOSNA-U targeting device with a powerful French thermal imaging device, the gap in night combat capability that had existed for decades was made up. In particular, the T-72 B3/B4 and T-90M MBTs were able to increase their firepower almost to the level of the T-14 ARMATA MBT with the new 125 mm smoothbore cannon 2 A46M-5 and the modern KALINA fire control system.

On the other hand, the Russian government was unable to implement the overhaul of the land forces that was announced in 2015 by introducing a large number of new combat vehicles. Instead, a comprehensive modernization program was initiated for the introduced MBT models. Overall, however, the opportunity was once again missed to consistently use this turning point in equipment planning to simplify logistics and standardize. In the next 10 - 15 years, three main battle tank types will again have to be supplied with different components in the logistically critical areas of propulsion and running gear.

(This is an excerpt from an article appearing in the September issue of ES&T)

Rolf Hilmes