CNG T-80U | The First and Last Foreign User of T-80Us

Zulizia · September 7, 2026, 11:31pm

Cypriot National Guard T-80U

The T-80U in Cypriot service in 2006

In Summary

The Cypriot Government were the first to buy the T-80U in 1996, and the only official military to still use the base T-80Us today. This is a distinct Cypriot version of the base T-80U, opting for getting rid of the flashlight on the right side of the barrel (as seen on the Soviet T-80U and Swedish Trialed T 80 U in game) later in its service, upgrading it to include the Plisa System (The same used by the T-80UE-1) and mounting the 12.7mm PKT on the center-front mount, instead of the rear-right mount.

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The Cypriot T-80U with its exposed crew during a parade in the 2020s.

History

Our story unsurprisingly begins with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, which resulted in the many Post-Soviet countries in the “transition period” to suffer tremendous GDP Decline (for Russia, around 40% over 7 years). As a result, the Russian state had many Soviet-era T-80Us that they could offer to other countries with their not-so-shaky reputation. They offered their T-80Us to many countries including Sweden (now represented in game as the “T 80 U” Squadron Vehicle), but also to the Cypriot government who were desperate to get rid of their aging vehicles. At the time, the Cypriots had leftover T-34/85s from the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus, AMX-30/-30B2s from the French from 1987 and M48A5 MOLFs loaned from Greece. As a result, the Cypriots needed a modern, battle-proven MBT to spearhead their army. The Russians needed a quick buck, the Cypriots needed a lifeline.

So in 1996, the Cypriots received their first 27 Cypriot T-80Us, then their 14 T-80UKs in 1997. They also purchased a further 41 refurbished T-80Us in 2010 to bolster their army and simplify logistics. Furthermore, the Cypriot T-80Us have been upgraded to include the 2nd generation Plisa Thermal Imager, most recognizably used on the T-80UE-1.

As of now, the Cypriot National Guard are planning to retire the T-80Us as Russian Sanctions have made it near-impossible to consistently maintain these MBTs for years to come. They’ve been eye-ing Israeli-made Merkavas, French-made Leclercs and Greek Leopard 2HELs. They have even offered giving Ukraine their T-80U and T-80UKs in exchange for Greek Leopard 2s.

A Cypriot T-80U fielding the “Plisa” system, lacking the turret flashlight and using the center-pintle HMG mount, during a parade in the 2020s~.

Specifications
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Commander)

Engine: GTD-1250 Gas Turbine Engine, 1250hp
Weight: 46 tons
      Max Speed: 90km/h Forward, 11km/h Reverse
      Power-to-weight ratio - 27.2hp/t
Dimensions;
      Length: 9.65 meters
      Width: 3.6 meters
      Height: 2.2 meters

Main Armament - “2A46M-1” 125mm Smoothbore Gun

¬ Vertical Guidance - -5° to 15°
¬ Vertical / Horizontal Rotation Speed - 4.4°/s | 24°/s
¬ 45 Rounds total, 28 Rounds in Autoloader, 6s Autoloaded Reload
- ¬ 3BM46 APFSDS
- ¬ 3BM42 APFSDS
- ¬ 3BK18M HEAT-FS
- ¬ 3OF26 HE
- ¬ 9M119 ATGM

Anti-Aircraft armament: 12.7mm NSVT MG