T-80UD Tank | Ukrainian built T-80U with diesel engine | Full details (2024)

• Vehicle Name T-80UD Tank
• Vehicle Type main_battle_tank
• Unveiled / Entered Service in 1985
• Is In Service

The T-80U was the second main production model of the T-80 Main Battle Tank. It featured a new turret a 1250hp gas turbine engine, Kontakt-5 Explosive Reactive Armour and Refleks Anti-Tank Guided Missile system.

The T-80UD was developed by the Ukrainian Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (aka KMBD) at the beginning of the 1980’s, which entered series production at the State Enterprise Malyshev Plant in 1985.

The principal difference between the T-80U and T-80UD was the replacement of the Gas Turbine engine with a Diesel one, resulting in a different engine deck and rear exhaust system.

In addition, the Russian T-80UD differed from those manufactured for Ukraine, who initially operated an “early” model using Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armour before the standard model that used Kontakt-5 ERA.

Production ran from 1987 to 1991. The exact numbers built are hard to confirm, as (i) Ukrainian tank forces continued to principally use the older T-64 (which have been upgraded) and (ii) T-80UD sold to Pakistan, were assembled from cannibalising parts from T-80 and new turrets assembled in Ukraine.

T-80UD built from Russia had the equivalent systems and capabilities as the Russian T-80U. Where as the Ukrainian vehicles used a locally built quick change, 125mm KBA3 smoothbore capable of firing all Russian developed 125mm ammunition.

Both vehicles used the same carousel autoloader as the T-80U, but the Ukrainian T-80UD could carry a total of x48 125mm rounds, which was more than the T-80U.

The Ukrainian vehicles also used a different coaxial machine gun, the KT-7.62 and thr 1ETs29 Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun mount, on the commanders cupola, which could be operated from within side the turret.

The Russian T-80UD used the 6TF 1,100hp diesel engine, whist the Ukrainian vehicles used the 6TD-1 1,000hp 6-cylinder diesel.

Whilst its clear that both T-80UD had less power to weight ration and acceleration compared toe T-80U and its fuel guzzling gas turbine engine, the diesel engines used drastically less fuel and had over 200+ kilometres operational range.

This benefited the operator with having to supply less fuel, less time fuelling and less pressure for logistical elements.

Russia

Identical in capability to the standard T-80U Main Battle Tank, but fitted with the 6TF 1,100hp diesel engine.

Ukraine

Early model fitted with Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armour. Later models fitted with Kontakt-5 Explosive Reactive Armour.

Pakistan

Multiple sources do not share the same number. Arms Trade Transfer data shows 320 T-80 vehicles ordered in 1996. A total of 320 were delivered between 1997 to 1999. It states that this order was for T-80U and only 50 T-80UD.

Jane’s state that a number of T-80 were sold by Ukraine and that the final 175 tanks of the order were older hulls with newly fabricated turrets.

Russia

Russia received roughly 200 tanks prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Their exact status is not known as of 2024. Russia’s T-80UD’s were unveiled to the public in the 1990 Victory Day parade in Red Square. The tanks were spotted again in the failed 1991 Soviet coup d’état, when members of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party tried to forcibly seize control of the country from Mikhail Gorbachev.

Ukraine

Reported that 300 vehicles were left in Ukraine or in service following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its not known how many of these made up the delivery to Pakistan or in service as Ukraine continues to upgrade their older T-64. During a UK news interview of Ukraine tank crews and equipment in the first year of the 2022 Russian Invasion and Occupation, a platoon of T-80BV tanks were described by the crews as the most modern and valuable T-80 they had.