The conflict in Ukraine has shown the importance of tanks in modern warfare. Ukraine boasts the T-84 Oplot, the first domestically developed main battle tank with roots in the Soviet Union.
The Role of Tanks in War
The military intervention in Ukraine has hinted at the loss of between 40% and 50% of the Russian armored vehicle fleet. Russian tanks such as the T-62, T-64, T-80, and T-90 have shown little adaptability on Ukrainian terrain.
On the other hand, Ukraine will benefit from the arrival of more sophisticated Western main battle tanks in the coming months, such as the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2.
In addition, Ukraine has the T-84 Oplot, the first domestically manufactured main battle tank.
Origin of the T-84 Oplot
The T-84 Oplot was developed from the Soviet Union‘s T-80 UD program during the Cold War. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine was left with thousands of T-80s that needed components from the newly formed Russian Federation.
So Ukraine decided to develop its own armored vehicle based on the T-80 platform. Despite being a modern tank, the T-84 could not be produced on a large scale due to budget constraints and a lack of priorities.
Currently, only six T-84s remain in Ukraine, as four were sold to the United States for evaluation.
Characteristics of the T-84
The T-84 incorporates significant improvements compared to the T-80. It features blown panels for safe ammo storage, a welded turret, and a high-output diesel engine that makes it one of the fastest tanks in the world.
The T-84’s armament is similar to that of the T-80, including a 125mm smoothbore main gun, a KT-7.62 coaxial machine gun, and a KT-12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun. The main gun can load various types of ammunition, such as HEAT and APFSDS shells. The 6TD-2 turbocharged diesel engine provides 1,200 horsepower to the Oplot.
The Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau in Ukraine made the T-84. It is a main battle tank from the third generation. It is an improved form of the T-80 tank, which was first made in the 1970s by the Soviet Union. Some of the most important things about the T-84 tank are:
The T-84 is armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun that can fire a variety of rounds, including high-explosive, armor-piercing, and guided missiles. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun are also on the tank.
Armour: The T-84 has improved composite armor that protects it better from small arms fire and anti-tank weapons. The armor of the tank also has modules called explosive reactive armor (ERA), which can blow up incoming weapons and make them less powerful.
The T-84 has a diesel engine with 1200 horsepower, giving it a top speed of about 70 km/h on and 45 km/h off the road. The tank also has a hydro-pneumatic support system that makes it very easy to move over rough ground.
Electronics: The T-84 has modern electronics, like a fire control system with a laser rangefinder and thermal imaging sights. The tank also has a system for managing the fight, which lets it talk to other tanks and units on the battlefield.
Crew: Three people work on the T-84: a captain, a gunner, and a driver. The tank’s advanced electronics and automation systems make the crew’s job easier and make the tank more successful in battle.
Overall, the T-84 is a modern main battle tank that is very powerful and can be used in various lighting situations. It is generally thought to be one of the best tanks in the world because of its advanced weapons, armor, mobility, and electronics, which make it a tough opponent on the battlefield.
Survivability of the T-84
The survivability of the T-84 is superior to that of the T-80, thanks to the use of NOZH and Duplet explosive reactive armor, which gives it greater protection against APFSDS and HEAT rounds.
This armor has been installed on the hull and turret, improving its resistance against modern anti-tank weapons. However, the actual battlefield performance of the T-84 has not yet been reported, as no Ukrainian T-84 has been recorded destroyed by Russian anti-tank weapons.
Russian preparations and prospects for the T-84
Moscow has recently claimed that its Kornet anti-tank missile is capable of shooting down a modern German-made main battle tank. This statement indicates that Russia is preparing to acquire more anti-tank missiles before the arrival of Western armored vehicles in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian squadron of Oplot tanks has a better chance of resisting Russian attacks compared to its less advanced counterparts. Although its performance in actual combat has not been tested, the T-84 represents a remarkable achievement in the development of Ukrainian-made armored vehicles.
conclusions
The T-84 Oplot is Ukraine’s first self-built tank, with significant improvements compared to its Soviet predecessor, the T-80. Despite its large-scale production limitations, the T-84 shows Ukraine’s ability to develop advanced military technology.
Its performance on the battlefield has yet to be proven, but the T-84 represents hope for the Ukrainian defense in the midst of the current conflict.
