Tank T-64BM "Bulat": latest upgrade

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Change of generations of tanks began to mature in the sixties of the last century. The cars produced no longer corresponded to the ideas, materials and capabilities that the designers could give them. At the same time, a clear understanding of the appearance of the new tank, capable of absorbing the latest technological advances, has not yet been formed.

Kharkov tank

History decreed that the first tank of the new generation T-64 appeared from the design bureau and factory that created the legendary T-34. The modern modification called T-64BM "Bulat" develops the potential inherent in the first models.

World's first MBT

The new machine, the descendant of which was the Ukrainian tank T-64BM "Bulat", was a truly revolutionary breakthrough. It combined in a single system not only the achievements of technology, but also advanced design concepts. An opposed two-stroke multi-fuel engine was installed on the tank. For the first time in the world, a serial tank was equipped with an automatic loader, which made it possible to abandon the loader andreduce the crew to three. The advanced solution of the undercarriage created excellent smoothness, which made it possible to conduct aimed fire immediately. The improved gun was equipped with an optical rangefinder, later replaced by a laser one. The tank made a splash in the ranks of potential opponents, forcing them to urgently create countermeasures. After replacing the 115mm gun with a powerful 125mm gun, the line between medium and heavy tanks was completely erased. Therefore, the T-64 became the world's first main battle tank according to the classification, which he laid the foundation for.

Soviet Modernizations

From the first production batch, released in 1968, the tank has been constantly upgraded. In addition to changing the caliber of the gun, work was underway to strengthen the armor protection, improve the chassis and instrumentation. By the time the USSR ceased to exist, the machine met all modern requirements. Suffice it to recall that it was the Kharkov tanks that formed the basis of the Soviet military group deployed in the west. At the same time, the limited modernization potential affected, which was the price for achieving outstanding results in reducing the weight and size of the machine.

Ukrainian Bulat

After the collapse of the USSR, the Ukrainian army had a significant number of T-64s of various modifications. The Kharkov plant named after Malyshev, where they were created, had all the possibilities for further production and modernization. Taking into account the need to maintain the technical level of heavy military equipment, aown modernization program, called the T-64BM "Bulat". Engineers had to solve many complex issues related to the features of the machine. The low weight of the tank was not only the result of a successful layout, but also saving on the safety margin of the suspension elements. This limited the ability to enhance the reservation. The breakthrough engine turned out to be very capricious and not very reliable. Overcoming many problems made it possible to develop all the best in the T-64BM "Bulat" and get rid of the shortcomings of the base model.

Modernization of major systems

Strengthening armor protection was the most important requirement in the modernization process. Weight limitations due to the nature of the suspension required precise engineering. It was found in the form of the newest hinged dynamic protection system "Knife" created in Ukraine. The developers themselves are sure that it is more perfect than its competitors. The T-64BM "Bulat" was equipped with the latest 125-mm cannon with an improved guidance and stabilization system. This greatly increased the accuracy of the fire, especially when moving. New electric turret rotation drives have reduced the targeting time. The engine of the car has undergone a radical improvement. In addition to increasing the specific and total power by 150 horsepower, its reliability and resource have sharply increased.

Equipment upgrades

In the version, increased attention is paid to fire control systems, combatcommand and control of the tactical situation. The improved sighting system T-64BM "Bulat" is stabilized in two planes. A new laser rangefinder with a range of up to ten kilometers is being installed, which also makes it possible to direct guided anti-tank missiles with a semi-active guidance system. There was an improved night device for the gunner. The sighting and observation system has been modernized for the tank commander. It became possible to use thermal imagers, which the machine is not equipped with for financial reasons.

"Bulat" against the background of competitors

An important result of the work on the machine was the demonstration of the ability of Ukrainian gunsmiths to develop independently. T-64BM "Bulat", whose characteristics cannot be negative, should be recognized as a strong middle peasant. Yielding in many respects to the more advanced modernization of Russian, German and American tanks, it allows you to build combat-ready and modern armored forces. Western tanks "Bulat" are inferior in control and information systems. Despite the improvement of the tank gun, the performance of the German gun is higher. The problem remains the situation with the reservation. It was not possible to strengthen the side armor effectively enough, and in this respect the tank retains the logic of Soviet military planning, which focuses on the massive use of tanks. At the same time, he retained his strengths. Small silhouette, low weight, high power density, long-range anti-tank missiles make it a dangerous adversary for"Abramsov" and "Leopards". The differences with the Russian upgrades of the T-72 are less obvious and lie, rather, in the difference in the platforms themselves. Tank Uralvagonzavod has a less progressive ideology. A more reliable undercarriage of the Russian car makes it easier to deal with booking problems. But there was no consensus on the issue of a more perfect solution. T-64BM "Bulat" looks quite decent against the background of its main competitors.

Combat use

The T-64 received its first baptism of fire in Afghanistan. It turned out that the tank engine was not well adapted to the conditions of the highlands, and it turned out to be impossible to use this machine. The USSR did not export the T-64, using it only in its own army, so the tank does not have such a rich history as the T-54 or T-72. However, the unfolding battles in the Donbas region with the use of all types of weapons made it possible to evaluate not only the old versions of the tank, but also the T-64BM Bulat, the latest modernization of which they took part in. The losses of tanks from the Armed Forces of Ukraine turned out to be unexpectedly high. Perhaps this is partly due to the tactics and nature of the use of armored vehicles. But part of the losses should be attributed to a certain vulnerability of the tank. The disproportionately large number of vehicles destroyed due to the detonation of a carousel ammo rack is alarming. This may indicate a critically weak side armor. Despite the measures taken, "Bulat" also did not demonstrate convincing superiority over the oldmachines. His losses amounted to a significant percentage of the park. Assessing the experience of using the T-64 in the current conditions, it should be recognized that the tanks did not show their best side. Is this the result of the ineptitude of the command or the technical features of the T-64, specialists will have to figure it out.