The strife in Ukraine has demonstrated the significance of tanks in contemporary warfare. Ukraine takes pride in the T-84 Oplot, the first homegrown main battle tank with origins in the Soviet Union.

The Role of Tanks in War The military incursion in Ukraine has suggested a loss of between 40% and 50% of the Russian armored vehicle fleet. Russian tanks such as the T-62, T-64, T-80, and T-90 have exhibited minimal adaptability on Ukrainian terrain.

On the contrary, Ukraine will profit from the arrival of more advanced Western main battle tanks in the forthcoming months, including the M1 Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2.

Additionally, Ukraine has the T-84 Oplot, the first domestically produced main battle tank.

Origin of the T-84 Oplot The T-84 Oplot was developed from the Soviet Union’s T-80 UD program during the Cold War. Following the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine was left with thousands of T-80s that required components from the newly established Russian Federation.

As a result, Ukraine decided to create its own armored vehicle based on the T-80 platform. Despite being a modern tank, the T-84 could not be manufactured on a large scale due to budget limitations and a lack of priorities.

Currently, only six T-84s remain in Ukraine, as four were sold to the United States for evaluation.

Characteristics of the T-84 The T-84 incorporates significant enhancements compared to the T-80. It features blowout panels for secure ammo storage, a welded turret, and a high-output diesel engine that makes it one of the fastest tanks globally.

The T-84’s weaponry is similar to that of the T-80, including a 125mm smoothbore main gun, a KT-7.62 coaxial machine gun, and a KT-12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun. The main gun can load various types of ammunition, such as HEAT and APFSDS shells. The 6TD-2 turbocharged diesel engine provides 1,200 horsepower to the Oplot.

The Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau in Ukraine made the T-84. It is a third-generation main battle tank. It is an enhanced version of the T-80 tank, which was first created in the 1970s by the Soviet Union. Some of the most crucial aspects of the T-84 tank are:

The T-84 is armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun that can fire an array of rounds, including high-explosive, armor-piercing, and guided missiles. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun are also mounted on the tank.

Armor: The T-84 has upgraded composite armor that provides better protection from small arms fire and anti-tank weapons. The tank’s armor also has modules called explosive reactive armor (ERA), which can detonate incoming weapons and reduce their potency.

The T-84 has a diesel engine with 1200 horsepower, giving it a top speed of about 70 km/h on and 45 km/h off the road. The tank also has a hydro-pneumatic support system that makes it very easy to traverse rough terrain.

Electronics: The T-84 has state-of-the-art electronics, such as a fire control system with a laser rangefinder and thermal imaging sights. The tank also has a battle management system that enables communication with other tanks and units on the battlefield.

Crew: Three people operate the T-84: a commander, a gunner, and a driver. The tank’s advanced electronics and automation systems simplify the crew’s tasks and enhance the tank’s effectiveness in battle