The T-80s future in the Russian Army

Sending T-80UD from the storage means one thing only - they will refurbish them, too.
As a whole fleet of 80UD left in Russia was about 200 pcs, I hardly believe they would worry about such a homeopathic number. But that would mean that they are taking seriously the 6TD-1 restoration, and that is only a step from increasing the potential to rebuild ... T-64.
This decision would increase the reserves of tanks to be produced ... by some 30%. We talk a few thousand pieces.

In the link Arrow posted they mentioned the T-80UD being sent for upgrades, but as you mention they didn't get a lot of those, which suggests either they are going to put gas turbines in them or they have perhaps developed a diesel engine for replacement of the engine in the T-80UD, which has implications.

If they have a new diesel engine for upgrades they can put into T-80UDs then perhaps they can also put those engines in older model vehicles to replace the gas turbines.

Equally new production aircraft turbines the Russians have made have been better than the engines they received from Ukraine which suggests better quality materials and improved designs to improve performance and power and efficiency.

So will these vehicles get GTs or improved Russian made diesels?

are the same, just as the small parts that need
replacement the most, like all those screws and bolts that keep the tanks together.

Are you guys suggesting they created their own unique bolts and screws and nuts for this tank?

Really?

How stupid of them.

Considering they used cheap truck engines to power their BTRs and went to the trouble of using two in the BTR-60 to give it enough power, creating unique fasteners sounds a bit out of character.

They would be metric so I would understand western bolts and screws not being compatible at the time...

GarryB wrote:
In the link Arrow posted they mentioned the T-80UD being sent for upgrades, but as you mention they didn't get a lot of those, which suggests either they are going to put gas turbines in them or they have perhaps developed a diesel engine for replacement of the engine in the T-80UD, which has implications.
If they have a new diesel engine for upgrades they can put into T-80UDs then perhaps they can also put those engines in older model vehicles to replace the gas turbines.
Equally new production aircraft turbines the Russians have made have been better than the engines they received from Ukraine which suggests better quality materials and improved designs to improve performance and power and efficiency.
So will these vehicles get GTs or improved Russian made diesels?

Modernization of 80UD can be extended to 80U, which is in storage/in line in much more decent numbers, but we are still not talking about thousands but some 1k of both.
Yet it is a very big reservoir anyway.
Russkie reestablished production for GTD turbines, that is why a whole story of T-80 happened.
But I won't dare to guess if they are to replace the engines for turbines, diesel or refurbish existing 6TD. Every option has pros and cons
The end effect should be applicable to T-64 fleet, that would make sense.

ALAMO wrote:
Do you see my conclusions? They will end up with existing production lines, that will have to be kept alive for the next 30 years. Those newly refurbished tanks will stay in ranks till the 2050s.

That's perfectly fine. NATO's armored forces will have to rely on modernized late cold war models until the 2050s as well.

Unfortunately for them, they don't have anything like the T-14 Armata that can serve as the tip of the spear - much like how the German Tigers were for the weaker Panzers, and inflict outsized damage that way despite their relative scarcity.

Realistically NATO will take until the 40s until they can get an MBT comparable to the T-14 Armata - that's if they don't collapse along the way.

Yes, I know it is perfectly fine - I was rather addressing the fact that they will need to keep those few thousand tanks running for the next 30 years. If so, there is no technical problems with making new tanks from scratch. It is only a matter of decision, nothing else.

Are you guys suggesting they created their own unique bolts and screws and nuts for this tank?

The exact opposite (the full 360° -  ).
I pointed out that most issues with maintenance and logistics have to do with the small stuff
and that they are (mostly) the same on all russian tank models.

Hole wrote:
The exact opposite (the full 360° -  ).

Good job bro!
You are qualified as the next German MFA!

The full Europe politician 720 degree turn?

So there is basically no reason to make new T-80s. If they want the gas turbine engine, then modify the T-90.

We might be missing something though.... and I would think if they do want a gas turbine engine tank for the future then a T-14 version makes more sense... I would expect rather more room for a GT.

On the T-14 thread the video that was posted recently that mentioned minor problems with the engine that have now been sorted out, also mentioned 8 forward gears and 8 reverse gears so going backwards shouldn't be a huge problem... of course going backwards fast is not easy or very safe but the internet trolls have moaned and complained so it has become a thing.

New episode of Combat Approved.
About GTD turbines of T-80.
This hype must have a second meaning.



Long story short, they reopened production line for brand new turbines. Just as I thought.

By 2025, a new GTD-1500 with 1500HP should be ready.