Ukrainian KhBTZ plant starts testing T-64BV Obr.2022 battle tank.

Ukraine’s Kharkiv Armored Plant has announced that it is testing its latest modernization of the T-64BV main battle tank designated T-64BV Obr.2022 main battle tank. Herman Smetanin, the plant’s director, said: “Among others, from now on, this combat vehicle has navigation, internal and external communication systems which fully meets NATO standards.”
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T-64BV Obr.2022 main battle tank (Picture source: UkrOboronProm)

The T-64BV features "Kontakt-1" reactive armor and "Tucha" 81-mm smoke grenade launchers on the left of the turret. The tank has been equipped with third-generation surveillance and sighting units, rubber shields, and anti-accumulation sternward bar armor. This variant of the T-64 MBT is equipped with a new fuel system, protected fuel tanks, a new Laska K2 12,7 mm AA Machine Gun, new surveillance and sighting systems (most probably the 1G46 instead of the 1G42), new lights and communication and navigations systems. With a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph), the T-64BV has a cruising range of 600 kilometers (373 miles).

Modernization of the Ukrainian Army’s tank units centered around upgrades to the T-64, which has provided a much cheaper alternative to the production of new T-84s that the country can ill afford, as Military Watch writes. Approximately 100 of the T-64BM Bulat, which is one of the variants enhanced domestically, are in service and benefit from additional passive and explosive reactive armor, NBC protection, automatic fire suppression systems, and the same fire control system as that of the T-84. It also integrates an improved 850 hp engine, although this fails two compensate for the increase in weight from extra armor which leaves the tank slow and relatively unmanoeuvrable.

The remaining T-64 tanks in service are of the T-64BV variant. T-64s have taken significant losses in combat against Russian-backed insurgents in eastern Ukraine, and while upgrades have provided improved survivability the design's age has limited its ability to go up against modern anti-tank weapons. They are expected to fare poorly against modern battle tanks such as Russia’s new T-80BVM or T-90M, which the Ukrainian vehicles would likely face in the event of an escalation of hostilities.

T-64BV Obr.2022 main battle tank (Picture source: UkrOboronProm)