T-80UD

   The T-80UD is a variant of the T-80U main battle tank, fitted with a diesel engine in place of the high performance gas turbine. The original T-80 with a gas turbine was produced since 1976. The T-80UD with a more conventional diesel engine was introduced in 1985 and entered service with the Soviet Army in 1987. Design of the T-80UD is similar to the T-80U except the powerplant.

   Development of this MBT commenced back in the mid 1970s. Production of the T-80UD commenced in Ukraine in 1987. About 500-800 of these MBTs were built. It was planned as the main MBT of the Soviet Army. However with the collapse of the Soviet Union its production ceased in 1991. These tanks are currently in service with Russia and Ukraine. A number of Ukrainian T-80UDs were exported to Pakistan in the late 1990s. Due to expensive maintenance Russian Army plans to retire all T-80 series tanks by 2015.

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

   The T-80UD is armed with a fully-stabilized 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 aim low-flying helicopters. A total of 45 rounds are carried, including APFSDS, HEAT and HE-FRAG. 28 rounds are stored in the autoloader. Remaining ammunition is stored inside the hukk. 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 the gas turbine engine of the T-80U. Vehicle is fitted with self-entrenching blade and deep wading kit.

Variants

   T-80UDK command tank;

   T-84 main battle tank. It is a further development of the T-80UD. In the mid 1990s a contract was signed to supply 320 T-80UD tanks to Pakistan. After collapse of the Soviet Union fulfilling the contract was difficult due to disturbed nature of Soviet military industry. A number of T-80UD parts were produced in Russia and their acquisition was troublesome. Also Russia interferred politically and at the same time competed on international market with their new T-90 MBT. This forced to develop local capabilities in Ukraine, resulting in the T-84. The T-80UD tanks supplied to Pakistan had many features of the T-84, including new turrets. In most respects the T-84 is similar to the Russian T-90;

   Atlet armored recovery vehicle, fitted with a crane, winch, and a front-mounted dozer blade. It is also based on the T-80UD.