T-80UD

   The T-80UD is a variant of the T-80U main battle tank, fitted with a diesel engine in place of the gas turbine. Design of the T-80UD is similar to the T-80U except the powerplant. Production of the T-80UD commenced in the late 1980s in Ukraine and around 500 of these MBTs were built. Production ceased in 1991. These vehicles are in service with Russian and Ukraine. A number of these main battle tanks were exported to Pakistan in late 1990s.

   Armor protection of the T-80UD includes composite armor and explosive reactive armor packages. Vehicle is fitted with an NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.

   The T-80UD is armed with a fully-stabilised 125-mm smoothbore gun, fitted with a carousel-type autoloader. It also fires 9M119 Refleks (AT-11 Sniper) laser-guided anti-tank missiles in the same manner as ordinary projectiles. Missiles have a maximum range of 5 km and can also be used against low-flying helicopters. A total of 45 rounds are carried, including APFSDS, HEAT and HE-FRAG. Effective range of fire with APFSDS round is 2 000 - 3 000 m day and 2 000 - 2 600 at night. Armor penetration is about 590 - 630 mm at 2 000 m range.

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

   The T-80UD is fitted with a modern fire control system and has high first round hit probability.

   Vehicle is powered by the 6TD diesel engine, developing 1 000 hp. Diesel engine of the T-80UD is 8 - 10 times cheaper to manufacture and consumes 1.2 - 1.4 times less fuel comparing with gas turbine engine. Vehicle is fitted with self-entrenching blade and deep wading kit.

   Further development of the T-80UD became the Ukrainian T-84 main battle tank. It is worth mentioning that vehicles supplied to Pakistan had many features of the T-84, including new turret.