T-64BM tank "Bulat": the last upgrade

The change of generations of tanks began to mature in the sixties of last century. The produced machines no longer corresponded to the ideas, materials and capabilities that 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 developed.

The Kharkov tank

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

The world's first CBT

The new car, the descendant of which became the Ukrainian tank T-64BM "Bulat", was a truly revolutionary breakthrough. It combined in a unified system not only the achievements of technology, but also advanced design concepts. The tank was equipped with an opposing two-stroke multi-fuel engine. For the first time in the world, the serial tank was equipped with an automatic loading device, which made it possible to abandon the loader and reduce the crew to three. The advanced decision of the running gear created an excellent smoothness of the stroke, which allowed to conduct the aim fire immediately. The improved gun was equipped with an optical range finder, later replaced with a laser. The tank made a sensation in the ranks of potential opponents, forcing them to urgently create countermeasures. After replacing the 115-millimeter gun with a powerful 125-millimeter gun, the boundary between the medium and heavy tank was completely erased. Therefore, the T-64 became the world's first main battle tank by classification, which he laid the foundation.

Soviet modernization

With the first production batch, released in 1968, the tank was constantly upgraded. In addition to changing the caliber of the gun, work was under way to strengthen the armor protection, improving the undercarriage and instrumentation. By the time the Soviet Union 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, there was a limited modernization potential, which was the price to achieve outstanding results in reducing the weight and size of the machine.

Ukrainian Bulat

After the collapse of the USSR, the army of Ukraine had a significant number of T-64 different modifications. The Kharkov Malyshev Plant, where they were built, had every opportunity for further production and modernization. Taking into account the need to maintain the technical level of heavy combat equipment, we started our own modernization program, called the T-64BM "Bulat". Engineers had to solve a lot of difficult issues related to the features of the machine. The light weight of the tank was not only a consequence of the successful layout, but also saving on the safety margin of the suspension elements. This limited the ability to strengthen the reservation. The breakthrough engine proved to be very whimsical and not very reliable. Overcoming many problems allowed to develop all the best in the T-64BM "Bulat" and get rid of the shortcomings of the basic model.

Modernization of basic systems

Strengthening armor protection was an important requirement in the modernization process. Weight restrictions, due to the nature of the suspension, required an exact engineering solution. It was found in the form of the newest system of hinged dynamic protection "Knife" created in Ukraine. The developers themselves are confident that it is more perfect than its competitors. On the T-64BM "Bulat" installed the new 125-millimeter gun with an improved guidance and stabilization system. This greatly increased the accuracy of the fire, especially when driving. The new electric drives of the tower's rotation reduced the aiming time. The engine's engine underwent a radical improvement. In addition to increasing the specific and total capacity by 150 horsepower, its reliability and resource increased sharply.

Improving equipment

The version gives increased attention to fire control systems, combat management and awareness of the tactical situation. The advanced T-64BM "Bulat" aiming complex is stabilized in two planes. A new laser rangefinder with a range of operation up to ten kilometers is installed, which also allows for guided anti-tank missiles with a semi-active guidance system. There was an improved night device for the gunner. For the commander of the tank, the sight-observation complex was modernized. There was an opportunity to use thermal imagers, with which the machine is not equipped 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 armourers to develop independently. T-64BM "Bulat", the characteristic of which can not be negative, should be recognized as a strong average. Yielding to many positions more advanced upgrades of Russian, German and American tanks, it allows you to build battle-worthy and modern armored forces. Western tanks "Bulat" inferior to the management and information systems. Despite the improvement of the tank gun, the German gun performance is higher. The situation with reservation remains problematic. Strengthen the airborne armor quite effectively failed, and in this respect, the tank retains the logic of Soviet military planning, which is guided by the massive use of tanks. At the same time, he retained his strengths. A small silhouette, low mass, high specific power, long-range anti-tank missiles make it a dangerous opponent for the Abrams and Leopards. The differences with the Russian T-72 upgrades are less obvious and lie, rather, in the difference of the platforms themselves. The Uralvagonzavod tank has a less progressive ideology. A more reliable running gear of the Russian machine makes it easier to relate to problems of booking. But there was no consensus on a better solution. T-64BM "Bulat" against the background of the main competitors looks quite worthy.

Combat application

The first baptism of fire T-64 took in Afghanistan. It turned out that the engine of the tank was not sufficiently adapted to the high altitude conditions, and it was 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 unfolded fighting in the Donbass region with the use of all types of weapons made it possible to assess not only the old versions of the tank, but also the T-64BM Bulat, the last upgrade of which took part in them. The loss of tanks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine was unexpectedly high. This may be partly due to tactics and the nature of the use of armored vehicles. But part of the losses should be attributed to a certain vulnerability of the tank. The disproportionate number of machines destroyed by the detonation of the carousel boom is alarming. This may indicate a critically weak on-board booking. Despite the events, "Bulat" also did not demonstrate a convincing superiority over the old machines. His losses amounted to a significant percentage of the park. When evaluating the experience of using T-64 in the current conditions, it should be recognized that the tanks did not show themselves on the best side. This is the result of inefficiency of command or technical features of the T-64, it is necessary to understand the specialists.