Object 219M — The T-80BVM's superior precursor

[ChieftainWarrior]

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Object 219M

TL;DR: T-80BV modernisation prototype fitted with Relikt, Arena hard-kill APS, and a 1400hp engine. The more conservative T-80BVM was chosen for production instead.

History
The T-80BV entered service in 1985, differing from the earlier T-80B with improved upper glacis composite armour and Kontakt-1 ERA across the hull and turret front. In the early 2000s, Spetsmash — the St Petersburg-based Special Design Bureau — began development on a number of upgrades to both the T-80BV and T-80U.

There were a number of reasons behind the decision to upgrade the T-80BVs (and T-80Us) rather than make a new vehicle:

• The T-80BV could reasonably take on an extra 2t
• The power plant could reasonably be increased to 1400hp from 1250hp
• The fire control system could be replaced by a newer generation one
• Protection could be improved through dynamic means and share designs with other vehicles
• Upgrading would mean major components wouldn’t have to be re-manufactured, allowing a cost reduction of 35-45%

A number of designs were constructed. This included the Object 219AM2 — a T-80U fitted with the hard-kill Arena-E APS —, the T-80UA (Object 219AM1) — which featured improved internal systems, and entered service in 2005 —, the T-80UE-1 (Object 219AC-1) — which featured the turret of the T-80UD on the T-80BV hull, as well as the same upgrades as the T-80UA, and entered service in 2005 —, and the Object 219M, the focus of this suggestion.

• Obj. 219AM2 (left); T-80UA (centre); T-80UE-1 (right)

The Obj. 219M — also known as T-80BV-RM — was by far the most comprehensive upgrade. It was developed a bit later than the other vehicles mentioned above, as part of Project ‘Motobol’ from around 2006-2008. A single prototype was produced, and during tests, showed outstanding performance. However, development of the project was cancelled in 2008, largely due to how expensive it was. A brief attempt was made at reviving the project in 2010, but it went nowhere.

In 2017, the first T-80BVM prototypes were unveiled, and they entered service in 2018. The BVM featured some good upgrades, but was essentially just a cheaper version of the Obj. 219M, lacking a number of the key features that made the latter stand out.

The single Obj. 219M prototype would go on to Omsk around 2019, after Spetsmash closed work on tank-related projects two years prior. Around that same year, Omsk fitted and tested it with an improved Burlak turret, previously seen fitted on a T-72B chassis. The current status of this prototype is unknown.

• Object 219M with Burlak turret, ~2019

Characteristics
The Obj. 219M is fitted with the 125mm 2A46M-4 cannon, an upgrade over the T-80BVs 2A46M-1. The gun is fully stabilised and fires a wide range of ammunition, including 3BM60 APFSDS, penetrating 580mm at 10m at 0°. The 9K112 ATGM guidance system was removed and replaced with the 9K119 Refleks (tandem missile penetrating 850mm of armour), as on the T-80BVM. The 1A33 fire control system was replaced with the 1A45M system, a modernised version of that of the T-80U. It includes the 1G46-2 gunner’s sight and the T01-K04MDT commander’s sight, both with a laser rangefinder and thermals (Plisa for the gunner). The turret is fitted with a roof-mounted 6P49 12.7mm HMG.

• Obj. 219M turret internals

The protection of the Obj. 219M was upgraded significantly. Relikt ERA was applied across the turret front and the hull front and sides, in a very similar layout to the T-80BVM (and thus near identical protection). Rubber flaps, similar to those on the T-80U, were applied to the turret front. By far the best part of the Obj. 219M’s protection is the installation of the Arena-E (T08-A5-1) hard-kill active protection system. This system protects against projectiles up to 700m/s in speed (so unfortunately not stopping APFSDS rounds), and has a protection zone of 270°. It has a detection zone of 50m, and has 8 launchers.

The Obj. 219M was fitted with a new 1400hp engine, a large upgrade from the previous 1100hp one. Supposedly, this allowed it to reach a top speed of 80km/h. The Obj. 219M supposedly has a power-to-weight ratio of around 30hp/t, which would imply a weight of around 47t, roughly the same as the T-80BVM.

Conclusion
The Obj. 219M would be an excellent addition to the Soviet/Russian top-tier lineup. It would perform better than or equal to the T-80BVM in almost all aspects. Therefore, it would have a BR of around 12.0, and in my opinion, fit better as a tech-tree vehicle despite its one-off prototype status.

Specifications
Armament

• 125mm 2A46M-4
  • Two-plane stabiliser
  • 3BK18M HEAT-FS
    • 550mm at 0º
  • 3OF26 HE
  • 3BM60 APFSDS
    • 580mm at 0°
  • 3BM42 APFSDS
    • 457mm at 0°
  • 9M119M1 ATGM
    • Tandem warhead
    • 850mm at 0°
• 12.7mm 6P49
• Laser-rangefinder
• 1st gen thermals (gunner); 2nd gen thermals (commander)

Armour

• Turret
  • Up to 1000mm frontally
• Hull
  • Front - 700-1000mm
  • Sides - 80mm
  • Rear - 50mm
• Arena-E APS
  • Incoming Projectile Detection Speed
    • 70-700m/s
  • Incoming Projectile Interception Distance
    • 50m
  • Number of Projectiles
    • 8

Mobility

• Speed
  • +80/-11km/h
• Weight
  • ~47t
• Engine power
  • 1400hp, ~30hp/t

Other

• Crew
  • 3

Images

Spoiler

Sources

Spoiler

Модернизированный танк Т-80БМ. — DRIVE2
Gur Khan attacks!: Т-80: «острие меча» затупилось?
СТАЛЬ И ОГОНЬ: СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВНЫЕ ТАНКИ: Бурлак vs Армата. По поводу "новинки" из Омска.
Основной танк Т-80БВ-РМ («Объект 219М») (Россия) | Dogswar.ru - Стрелковое оружие, военная техника, вооружённые силы мира
Объект 219М: доработанный Т-80 может успешно конкурировать с "Абрамсом" - Andrei-bt — LiveJournal
Tankograd: T-80
In Development: T-80BVM | Armored Warfare - Official Website
Модернизация Т-80УЕ-1 и Т-80УА
Gur Khan attacks!: «Арена-Э», завершая испытания
https://dzen.ru/a/ZkpXD9F-E1_WQUjl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjdAHnfkHL4

[Военный_Красный]

I completely support this addition, I would really like to see it in the game, since I don’t have the T80UM2 with APS

[Константинович7]

More unique additions to top tier this is, I’m honestly tired of T-90M and T-80BVM gameplay.

[JamesPond1200-psn]

This would be fantastic! The apex of T-80 design. +1

[Wifi-Soldier98]

This should come when 12.3 becomes a thing. Along side the SEPv3, XLR, 2A7 (which needs to go up)

[UMBRAL_STALKER]

+1 it’s about time Russian top tier should get a tank with a proper aps, also would be nice if they put it in 12.0 since it doesn’t feature relikt era on the sides of the hull. if only the t-90m with arena-m aps would be suggested…

[Imaflyingturkey]

oh my gah that thing is ugly but still +1 even though i would not go anywhere near that

[HunLepto]

Would be nice to see in-game, but only if another BR bracket gets introduced.

[UMBRAL_STALKER]

Curious, why do you think it should be above 12.0?

[HunLepto]

While probably more minorly, it would be just a straight up upgrade over the T-80BVM, a tank that is already quite strong at its BR. The mobility upgrade would be very noticeable, I’d assume the better cannon would affect pen and/or velocity somewhat and armor layout seems somewhat better (atleast the turret, leaving less spots open than the BVM). It all depends just how different it would be, but the mobility upgrade would still be quite noticeable (especially if the upgraded engine also means better reverse gear).

[ChieftainWarrior]

@HunLepto

I’d assume the better cannon would affect pen and/or velocity somewhat

It uses the 2A46M-4, which in-game (it’s on the T-80UE-1) is identical to the T-80BVM’s 2A46M-1. Not sure if there should be any differences but they’d be minor if anything.

The major selling points are the mobility (which as you say will be very noticeable) and the hard-kill APS. Thermal generation is worse (1st gen gunner thermals vs 3rd gen gunner thermals, neither have commander thermals) but I think it could still be justified to be higher than the BVM, at around 12.3.

[HunLepto]

It using 1st gen gunner thermals vs 3rd gen gunner thermals could maybe be justify adding it at the same BR (tho I’m not a big thermal player anyways), but I feel like those other points certainly make it just noticeably better in vehicle characteristics. The main thing I feel like that matters the most is if the reverse speed is better, the same or worse, since that’s the main weakness of the Russian tanks.

[EL337GH0ST]

Would it have the same gun handling (elevation and traverse speeds) as the BVM, UE-1 or the basic U?

[WalletWorrier]

Give me this

[Славянский_Прострел]

ground russia is starving

[IceySmooth]

Would be a follow on upgrade but prob BR higher?

PS where are the frontal coverage Arena launchers? Noticing side and rear coverage on rear of turret

Are they built into/underneath frontal ERA arrays??

[Константинович7]

It does have a active protection system as you can see in the rear section and likely a passive protection system with laser signal receptors.

The small tubes in the front and sides are 81 mm Tucha smoke launchers, which likely works with the laser signal receptor and the active protection system offering cover when a threat is detected.

[mm10000]

“The T-80BVM’s superior precursor” doesn’t narrow things down like a example i could think of right now is the Object 640 black eagle i bet there is allot more T-80BVM alertives we never got because of a certan man

[Константинович7]

Object 640 is relative to the T-80U, Object 219M is relative to the T-80B, since the T-80BVM is a heavy modernization of the earlier T-80 modifications.

[mm10000]

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