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From: smpod@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Stefan)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Soviet tanks post T72
Message-ID: <1991Mar15.042044.11367@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 15 Mar 91 04:20:44 GMT
References: <1991Mar14.020342.21021@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker)
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From: smpod@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Stefan)
In mhr@compsci.aberystwyth.ac.uk writes...
>	Can anyone out there give me a complete, but not too technical
>list of the tanks built by the Soviets since the T72? (Types of gun,
>engine, armour etc.)

>From D. Isby's "Weapons and Tactics of the Soviet Army":

The T-80 may be the successor to the T-64, and includes many of the upgrades 
introduced during the latter's production: improved armour, smoke mortars,
and a laser rangefinder.  Its turret resembles that of the T-72M, however,
while the engine is reported to be a turbine venting towards the rear.
Placement and shape of the exhaust are consistent with a 900-980 hp turbine.
..
A new suspension is intended to cure the T-64's noise and vibration problems
at high speed....

There are probably two T-80 versions, both with the 125mm gun but one also
being able to use the AT-8 Songster.

..Externally, the armour seems to be similar to that of the T-72M.


According to US Congressional testimony, a new, even more advanced battle
tank, designated Future Soviet Tank 1 (FST-1) by the US Army, is currently
under development...The US Army predicts that the Soviet will introduce
two new main battle tanks in the early 1990's.

Improved protection is thought to be one of the main features of FST-1, being
equivalent on the glacis to 700mm of rolled homogeneous armour, while top
armour is equivalent to 80mm.

..there have since been reports that this tank, with stratified Chobham-
type armour, appeared in Soviet service in...1986.

The US Army expects FST-1 or the FST-2,...to be a 42-tonne design with a larger
calibre -possibly 135mmm- gun and an improved engine.  Other projected features 
include lasers and microwave radars capable of disrupting enemy sensors. 
A turretless design, also using the 135mm gun, has been reported.