Some other countries which have made use of Russia’s T-80 include Belarus, China, Cyprus, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Syria, and South Korea – who acquired the Russian tanks in a 1990s trade of debt relief to Russia in exchange for the delivery of T-80U tanks to South Korea. However, funding challenges have constrained Ukrainian production of the T-84, which features marked improvements over its parent T-80UD variant in several areas. Since Kharkiv was an important element of the former Soviet Union’s production of T-80s, Ukraine was able to domestically develop its own variant of the tank, known as the T-84. The T-80 first cut its teeth in Chechnya, but the main battle tank performed unsatisfactorily in urban actions such as the Battle of Grozny, which main battle tanks such as the T-80 were (and remain) unsuited for. Upgraded Russian T-80s have not performed up to expectations in Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as many models appear to have been destroyed, abandoned, or captured by Ukrainian troops. 400-500 T-80Us, T-80BVs, and T-80BVMs are likely in service with the Russian armed forces today, with an additional several thousand likely in reserve. While not as numerous as its fellow Russian cousin the T-72, the T-80 nonetheless remains in active service with the Russian Ground Forces. The T-80’s primary weapon is a 125MM 2A46M-1 automatic smoothbore gun, which is complemented by a 9M119 Refleks anti-tank guided missile system in newer versions of the tank such as the T-80U, or a 9K112 Kobra anti-tank system in the earlier T-80B.Įxplosive reactive armor has been a feature of the T-80 since very early versions of the tank, with the Relikt explosive reactive armor system included in the tank’s most modern upgrade, the T-80BVM. With a crew of three, the T-80’s basic configuration is similar to most Russian tanks designed before the collapse of the Soviet Union such as the T-72 and T-90. As a result, most models of the T-80 currently held by Russia are in reserve, many of which await modernization. While indeed not an abject failure as a tank or as a project, the T-80 is overshadowed by other Russian tanks of a similar vintage since it does not remarkably excel in any particular characteristic. Has the tank been effective? The Russian T-80 is truly a tank designed for the final years of the Cold War. However, Russia is using the old tank in Ukraine.

The T-80 tank is not exactly a new or totally impressive tank like Russia’s new Armata and T-90M.

Russian main battle tank 2017