I feel like it would be nice to add that the T-80UD we know (with K-5 and a remote turret) was produced in 1987, being introduced in that year as well. Previous iterations used K-1 or T-80B models, such as the '478A, and those range from 1983-1985.
As far as I know it’s referred to as the T-84U ('478DU9), while the “T-84M” you refer to use T-84UM, as '478DU9-[1/T]. This is the Oplot-M / Oplot-T.
The T-84M I believe refers to the '478M, which was a tech demonstrator for various systems.
I think the ERA coverage is a bit generous for the side skirts shown in that image. In reality it’s coverage is probably a lot closer to the T-80U sideskirts, according to the Thai repair manuel
The green line would represent how far the ERA extends back
I’d love to be wrong tho, but don’t know of any other source that could prove otherwise
By the way, there’s no reason the Thai Oplot couldn’t fire the Chinese ammo for the VT-4, as the Chinese shells should work in all older Soviet autoloaders…just saying
VT-4 uses ZPT-98/A, that’s just a different version of 2A46M, the same rounds can be used, different maybe came from the recoil mechanism, mount, cradle, … etc but not so different that can use standard 125mm, it can even fire modern barrel launch ATGM 125mm from any nation (mainly Ukraine, Russia and China) if the client wants.
It’s like M256 but can fire L/44 standard rounds.
I heard from a guy who’s in Thailand that the Ammo they use is infact Chinese, but I would want to look for proof. The fact is tho that Chinese Ammo can be loaded into older Autoloaders, so should be possible, and we know they have the ammo for the VT-4
