For the military parade of Victory Day that will be held in the center of Moscow on May 9, 2021, Russia's armed forces will display four main battle tanks that are in service with the Russian army including the T-72B3M, T-80BVM, T-90M, and T-14 Armata.
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Russian army T-72B3M main battle tank at rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade 2021. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
The T-72B3M also called T-72B4 is an upgraded version of the T-72B3M Main Battle Tank developed and manufactured by the Russian company Uralvagonzavod. It was unveiled for the first time International Russian army Tank Biathlon competition in October 2014.
The design of the T-72B3M is very similar to the T-72B3 with a crew of three including the driver seated at the front middle of the hull, the turret in the middle with commander and gunner, and engine at the rear of the hull.
The main armament of the T72B3M / T-72B4 consists of one 2A46M5 125-mm smoothbore gun which is a modernized variant of the standard 2A46M cannon, also known as the D-81TM. It can fire a wide range of ammunition, including Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS), High-Explosive Fragmentation (HEF), and High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT). It can also fire the anti-tank guided missile 9M119 Reflex (NATO code: AT-11 Sniper).
The T-72B3M is protected with the new Relikt explosive reactive armor. It will replace the old Kontakt-5 system and is expected to be two times more effective. It offers a high level of protection against shaped charges, tandem warheads, APFSDS rounds, anti-tank guided missiles, as well as low-velocity and high-velocity missiles.
Russian army T-80BVM main battle tank at rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade 2021. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
The T-80BVM is an upgraded version of the standard T-80 MBT (Main Battle Tank) featuring new armor protection. The turret is fitted with Relikt explosive reactive armor kit providing protection against tandem warheads and reduces penetration of APFSDS rounds by over 50%. The front and the side of the hull are fitted with additional armor compared to the standard version of the T-80.
The T-80BVM keeps the same armament as the original T-80 that includes a modernized version of the 2A46 125 mm smoothbore gun. It has an automatic carrousel automatic loading system and the tank can carry a total of 45 rounds and missiles. The gun can launch anti-tank guided missiles 9M119M Refleks (NATO code AT-11) with a maximum range of 5,000 m. The second armament includes one 7.62mm PKTM coaxial machine gun and one 12.7mm NSVY heavy machine gun mounted on the commander cupola.
The T-80BVM is fitted with a new fire control system as well as an improved night vision system for the driver and gunner.
The T-80BVM is powered by a an upgraded gas turbine engine developing 1,250 hp. that offers advantages of compact dimensions, high power output, and ability to start when the temperature is as low as -40°C. The tank can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km/h with a cruising range of 500 km.
Russian army T-90M main battle tank at rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade 2021. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
The T-90M also nicknamed Proryv-3 is an upgraded variant of the export version of the T-90MS Main Battle Tank (MBT) developed and designed by the Russian Company Uralvagonzavod. It is an improved version of the standard T-90 in terms of protection, mobility and firepower. The T-90M was tested by the Russian army during the military exercise Zapad-2017 which was held from 14 to 20 September 2017.
The T-90M is armed with one 125 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun able to fire standard ammunition but also anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) Refleks NATO Code AT-11 Sniper-B. The second armament includes one PKT 7.62mm coaxial machine mounted to the right of the main armament. at the rear of the commander, hatch is mounted a remotely operated weapon station armed with an NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
The layout of the T-90M Model 2017 Proryv-3 is similar to all the family of Russian T-90 MBT with a driver at the front, turret in the center, and the power pack at the rear. The T-90M features a new all-welded turret design protected by the Relikt ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) armor fitted at the front and on each side of the turret. The T-90M is also protected by soft and hard-kill active protection systems (APS), which seems similar to the Afganit system installed on the T-14 Armata.
The T-90M has a crew of three with the driver at the front center of the hull which has a single-piece hatch cover that lifts and opens to the right with a single day periscope that gives observation through the frontal arc. The other two members are seated in the turret with the gunner on the left and the commander on the right.
Russian army T-14 Armata main battle tank at rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade 2021. (Picture source Vitaly Kuzmin)
The T-14 Armata is the latest generation of main battle tanks designed, developed, and manufactured by the Russian defense industry. The main feature of this tank is the use of an unmanned turret with the three crew members seated at the front of the hull.
The main armament of the T-14 Armata consists of one 2A82-1M 125 mm smoothbore gun which has a rate of fire from 10 to 12 rounds per minute. It can fire a wide range of ammunition, including Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) projectiles, anti-tank guided missiles, High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT-FS), air-burst High Explosive HE-Frag shells as well as anti-tank guided missiles. The secondary armament consists of one 12.7 mm Kord (GRAU index 6P49) heavy machine gun mounted on the roof of the turret and a 7.62 mm Pecheneg PKP or a PKTM (6P7К) machine gun, both are remotely operated.
The T-14 Armata is protected by an internal armored capsule. Both the chassis and the turret are equipped with the Malachit dual-explosive reactive armor (ERA) system on the front, sides, and top. The tank is also equipped with the Afganit Active Protection System (APS), which includes millimeter-wave radar to detect, track, and intercept incoming anti-tank munitions, both kinetic energy penetrators and tandem charges.
The T-14 Armata is powered by a ChTZ 12N360 (A-85-3A) diesel engine developing up to 1,500 hp. coupled to a 12-speed automatic gearbox. The tank can reach a top speed of 90 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.
