A video posted on Facebook yesterday, May 12, 2023, reveals that Oleksii Rezikov, the Ukrainian Defense Minister, has personally tested the domestically produced T-84 Oplot main battle tank (MBT).
At the same time, Rezikov confirmed that the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has decided to order T-84 Oplot tanks from Ukroboronprom, a state defense conglomerate, for the nation’s military.
After testing the Ukrainian-made T-84 Oplot main battle tank, Defense Minister Oleksii Rezikov said: “It is always nice to test front-line teams. But when it comes to Ukrainian stuff, it’s much nicer. Yesterday I had the honor to test Oplot tanks personally… And I am convinced there must be a tank like the Ukrainian T-84 Oplot tank in the tank coalition’s front ranks of the tank coalition… That is why it has been decided that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine will order Oplots from Ukroboronprom for the Ukrainian Army.”
In 2021, the state-owned Malyshev factory, under Ukroboronprom, reported that it had produced the Oplot tank ordered by Ukrspetsexport, a Ukrainian defense industry company. This model was designed for demonstrations at international fairs and tests for potential foreign customers.
The T-84 Oplot MBT is the main Ukrainian tank developed by the Kharkiv Morozov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau.
This combat vehicle is designed to annihilate all types of ground targets in the midst of resistance from enemy fire. It is a testament to the capabilities of the Ukrainian military industry and a key step in the modernization of the country’s armed forces.
The T-84 Oplot main battle tank (MBT), a product of the Kharkiv Morozov Mechanical Engineering Design Bureau, Ukraine, is a next-generation evolution of the T-80 series. Although it shares its lineage with the T-80, it is a state-of-the-art main battle tank.
Although it shares its lineage with the T-80, the T-84 Oplot boasts substantial upgrades that elevate it to the status of a distinct tank model.
A key aspect of the MBT T-84 Oplot is its engine and its performance. Armed with a powerful engine, the tank performs remarkably in various terrains, demonstrating its robustness and adaptability. Its advanced motorization system gives it superior speed and mobility, allowing it to function relatively easily in difficult environments.
The formidable firepower of the Oplot T-84 is another of its defining characteristics. It is equipped with a wide range of weapons, including a high-velocity cannon and anti-tank missiles that can effectively engage various targets. Coupled with an advanced fire control system, these weapons make the T-84 a powerful force on the battlefield.
The main weapon of the T-84 Oplot is a 125mm smoothbore gun, capable of firing a wide variety of ammunition, including APFSDS (Armour-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot), HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) and HE-FRAG (High-Explosive Fragmentation).
This gun can also fire the 9K119M Refleks anti-tank guided missile (NATO designation AT-11 Sniper). The missile has a range of up to 5,000 meters and is guided by the tank’s fire control system.
The tank is also equipped with a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun for attacking light-armored targets and infantry and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the turret roof.
In addition, the T-84 Oplot has an autoloader that reduces the crew to three people (commander, gunner and driver) and can maintain a high rate of fire. The tank carries a total of 46 rounds for the main gun, including various ammunition types.
The T-84 Oplot MBT also prioritizes crew protection with its advanced armor and defensive systems.
It is designed with reactive, composite armor that offers substantial resistance against a wide variety of threats. Additionally, the tank’s built-in countermeasures protect anti-tank and RPG-guided missiles, increasing the survivability of the tank and its crew in combat.
At its core, the T-84 Oplot MBT is a complete combat vehicle that balances firepower, mobility, and protection. It is a testament to the capabilities of the Ukrainian military industry and a key step in the modernization of the country’s armed forces.
