T-80

   The T-80 main battle tank is a further development of the T-64, which had a number of significant drawbacks. The most significant features of the T-80 over the T-72 are it's gas turbine engine and ability to fire the AT-8 Songster anti-tank guided missiles (T-80B and later variants).

   The T-80 was accepted to service with the Soviet army in 1976 however original version was not built in large numbers. Russia operates a total of 4 500 T-80 main battle tanks of all variants. Other operators are Belarus (92), China (200), Cyprus (41), Kazakhstan, South Korea (80), Syria (320) and Ukraine (271).

   The T-80 is protected with composite armor at the front arc.

   Vehicle is armed with a fully-stabilized 125-mm smoothbore gun, completed with an autoloader.

   Secondary armament consists of 7.62-mm coaxial machine gun and 12.7-mm anti-aircraft MG.

   The T-80 has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.

   Vehicle is fitted with the GTD-1000T gas turbine engine, developing 1 000 horsepower. Advantages of such engine are it's compact dimensions, high power output and ability to start when the temperature is up to -40°C. However it has a number of drawbacks. Most notable of them are high fuel consumption, troublesome maintenance and high unit price. The T-80 is also fitted with auxiliary power unit, powering all systems, when the main engine is turned off.

Variants

   T-80B, first version of the original T-80 produced in large numbers. It entered service in 1978;

   T-80BK, command version of the T-80B, with additional communication equipment;

   T-80BV, T-80 fitted with explosive reactive armor;

   T-80BVK, command version of the T-80BV, with additional communication equipment;

   T-80U, improved and better protected variant;

   T-80UK, command version of the T-80U;

   T-80UD, has gas turbine engine replaced by 1 100 hp diesel engine;

   T-80U-M1 Bars, has Shtora-1 countermeasures system and more powerful engine;

   T-80U-M2, new cast turret.