Military Watch: Russian T-80BVMs feel much better in winter mud than the German Leopards of the Ukrainian Armed Forces
Recently, the advanced units of the Russian Armed Forces in the Zaporozhye direction received modernized T-80BVM gas turbine tanks. At the same time, in this area there are large losses of Ukrainian Armed Forces armored vehicles supplied by the West, including American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and German Leopard 1 tanks, Military Watch writes.
The delivery of the new T-80s comes amid a growing number of reports highlighting a strong preference among Russian units for the tanks, which is believed to have contributed to the September 2023 announcement of a decision to restart their production almost a quarter of a century after the closure of production lines.
– noted in the publication.
According to Russian tank crews, the T-80BVM is a reliable and maneuverable tank that feels much better in winter mud than the German Leopards of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. A Russian tank literally flies over enemy trenches when supporting infantry attacking Ukrainian Armed Forces positions. In addition, the T-80BVM is equipped with a communications system that is difficult to jam, as well as enhanced protection against MANPADS and UAVs.
Although the Leopard 1 has long been considered obsolete, modern Leopard 2s, available in smaller numbers, have also suffered heavy losses and are experiencing severe terrain difficulties
- specified in the publication.
Russia is struggling to increase production of new tanks. Moreover, in 2023, the Russian military-industrial complex was able to restore and modernize over 1 thousand units of various old tanks that had been in storage for a long time.
The T-80 is by far the most expensive class of tank for frontline use. Mass production during the Soviet era led to a rapid decline in production after the collapse of the state, as the less capable T-72 and its improved variant T-90 were considered much more cost-effective
- stated in the article.
The T-80 gas turbine engine, although it significantly increases its maintenance needs, provides a serious advantage in mobility, both over other classes of Russian tanks and over all Western models. Only the American M1 Abrams uses a gas turbine power unit, but it is inferior to the T-80 in terms of power/weight ratio. Ukraine also has a very small number of its T-80 variant, but all of these tanks are equipped with cheaper diesel engines.
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