Object 478BEM1: America’s Oplot

Yontzee · August 22, 2024, 9:51pm

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Object 478BEM1: America’s Oplot

One of four Object 478’s purchased by the American government.

Description:
- The Object 478BEM1 is one of four modified Object 478DU9’s that has been reduced to the level of T-80UD for export to the United States. The original Object 478DU9, developed by Kharkiv Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering and revealed in 1997, is a final product of the program designed to create a new main battle tank which was derived from the T-80UD main battle tank. The Object 478DU9 included a more powerful 1,200hp KMDB 6TD-2 6-cyl Diesel Engine, redesigned turret, improved/integrated armor known as Nizh-1M, and integrated navigational support to increase overall situational awareness. Production of the Object 478DU9, also known as the T-84U Oplot or BM Oplot zr. 1999, took place in 1999. The T-84 Oplot differentiates itself from the baseline T-84 with the introduction of thermal optic technology, further incorporated armor/ERA, utilization of a Laser Warning System and Varta Soft-Kill APS (a Ukrainian produced Shtora-1), an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) and much more. The vehicle uses a Ukrainian made KBA-3 125mm gun which itself is a copy of the 125mm 2A46M-1 gun. New ammunition was also being developed, the 3BM44U1 and 3BM44U2 APFSDS-T rounds due to the Oplot using a legacy autoloader that cannot use long-rod APFSDS-T rounds. No new information has been released and it is believed the project was shelved however, the vehicle does use the 3BM44U, a Ukrainian made version of the 3BM42 APFSDS-T round with same characteristics. Round such as the Slovakian TAPNA APFSDS-T can be used however, it was never equipped with the round. The T-84 Oplot set the standard to which all T-80UD’s and T-84’s were meant to be upgraded to however, due to budget constraints only ten were built. Currently there are six T-84U Oplot’s in service with the armed forces of Ukraine, being accepted into service in 2000. The other four were purchased by the United States for analysis purposes.
- Four Object 478DU9 main battle tanks were modified and sold to the United States, with one being uniquely changed, receiving the designation Object 478BEM1. All four vehicles had extensive modifications which included the removal of the Gunner’s Buran-Katrin-E thermal imaging sight and replaced with a basic 1G46 day sight and the TPN-4S Buran-PA Passive-IR Sight found on the original T-80UD, replacement of the serial production Nizh-1M explosive reactive armor fillers with prototype Nizh explosive reactive armor, and, specifically the Object 478BEM1, the installation of a modified Drozd active protection system that was taken from a T-55AD. The installation of the Drozd was completed in Lviv. The electronic systems were also replaced with rudimentary versions, the 1A45 Fire Control System, that did not contain classified information. All of these efforts were to protect sensitive domestic technologies from being acquired by the US. The native 6TD-2 engine with 1200hp and automatic transmission remained installed due to already being exported to China and Pakistan in other tank models. This allows the vehicle to achieve the speeds of 72km/h forward, and 32km/h in reverse. Due to the series of downgrades, the vehicles are referenced by the US as the T-80UD. Only the Object 478BEM1 uses the Drozd, the other three feature similar modifications with one other unique one being the Object 478BEM2, which has an installed Air Conditioner. The Object 478BEM1 and Object 478BEM2 are still seen in use on U.S. Army training grounds with latest reports have seen the vehicle in 2021 during thermal testing.
  - Special thanks to @HIMARS_Enjoyer for his help in the suggestion.
Specifications:
- Role: Main Battle Tank
- Origin/Manufacturer:
  - Ukraine - KMDB
- Armament:
  - Primary: 125mm KBA3 Smoothbore Gun
    - Ammunition:
      - APFSDS-T
      - HEAT-FS
      - HE-FRAG
      - GL-ATGM:
        
        9M119/9M119M
    - Feed System:
      - 28rd-Autoloader, 40rds total.
  - Coaxial: KT-7.62mm Machine Gun (1,250rds)
  - Roof-mounted: KT-12.7mm Machine Gun (300rds)
- Dimensions:
  - Length: 7.705m
  - Width: 3.775m
  - Height: 2.760m
  - Weight: 48t
- Mobility:
  - Engine: 1,200hp KMDB 6TD-2 6-cyl Diesel Engine
  - Max Speed: 72km/h Forward, 32km/h Reverse
  - Transmission: Automatic (7-Forward, 5-Reverse)
  - Suspension: Torsion Bar
Crew:
- Commander
- Gunner
- Driver
Features:
- Laser Rangefinder
- 8x 81mm Smoke Grenade Launchers
- ESS
- Entrenching Blade
- Active Protection:
  - Drozd Hardkill APS
- Armor:
  - Early Nizh ERA
- Optics:
  - Gunner: 1G-46 & TPN-4S Buran-PA Passive-IR Sight
  - Commander: TKN-4S Passive-IR Periscope
  - Driver: 1x Central TVN-5 Passive-IR Periscope
In-game :
- Estimated Battle Rating: 10.7-11.0
- The Object 478BME1 is a unique vehicle that could come to both a future Ukrainian Ground Forces tree and the US tree as an Event or Premium vehicle. The Object 478BME1 essentially plays as a more mobile version of the in-game T-80UM2 and has a little better ERA due to it being the prototype version of the Nizh ERA and Drozd hard-kill active protection system. The Object 478BME1 however, retains a lot more mobility due to having it’s 1,200hp diesel engine coupled with a highly capable transmission that allows the vehicle to reverse to 32km/h! The vehicle can fire a wide arrangement of ammunition but is hampered from using more advanced-types due to its legacy autoloader. It’s most advanced round is the 3BM42 APFSDS-T round. The Object 478BEM1 is a powerful vehicle that would enhanced whatever nation is comes to, be it US, or Ukraine.
Sources:

Images

Different views of the vehicle.

The Object 478BME1 being transported to training grounds.

Thermal testing of the Object 478BEM2 in the US.

Satellite image of the vehicle spotted at the YPG Threat Systems & Target Simulation site.

Drozd seen on a T-55AD for reference.

Would you like to see the Object 478BEM1 in-game?

Yes
No

0 voters

Apollo_1641 · August 22, 2024, 9:59pm

Hell yeah

BasherBenDawg8 · August 22, 2024, 10:15pm

How could anyone say no when the US literally purchased them, major +1!
(Although seems like the rounds and firepower might be lackluster, are you sure TAPNA would be the best round it could theoretically receive? Was 3BM44 and 3BM44U1 not in production at the time or just not compatible for some reason? if you know any more info on it I would love to see it!)

Yontzee · August 22, 2024, 11:09pm

The 3BM44U is just a Ukrainian made version of the 3BM42 and there is not enough information regarding the modernized 3BM44U1/U2 rounds with most known information coming from blogs and not direct sources. Those sources state that the rounds were only mockup so we actually don’t really know enough about it. There’s an image of what it’s supposed to be capable of but again, there’s just nothing on it officially. The developers still “could” use it if they could get more information on the round itself, being the length/diameter of the rod, etc. but I don’t think it’s possible at this point.
The P99 TAPNA APFSDS-T round would just be a filler round, in reality the vehicle would’ve been sent with 3BM44U/3BM42 rounds.
Techncially it can fire the ‘Kombat’ GL-ATGM but the missile itself wasn’t developed by the time these 4x Oplots were sent to the USA.

A promotional image of the 3BM44U1 APFSDS-T round.

RadiOwO · August 23, 2024, 1:37am

wait, if the ukrainian vehicle will come to US tt, whats about the Ukrainian tt, Is it okay (if it ever will be in game) to have a tech tree of a country, and a tank of the same country in separate tt?

Yontzee · August 23, 2024, 1:37am

I wrote the suggestion for Ukraine but the mods moved it to US. Still could go to either/both. I would rather have it in Ukraine since it gives them more Hardkill APS beyond Zaslin. US already has Trophy and ID-LD between the M1A2 SEPv3, M1A1 FEP, and M2A4E1 Bradley.

Константинович7 · August 23, 2024, 4:05am

Could be great as event vehicle but I suppose this next one will be another Goofy mid-war WW2 vehicle or a bad Western IFV with Trashmaster.

JamesPond1200 · August 23, 2024, 4:12am

This would be an AWESOME tank for the US. +1 for getting Ukrainian tanks in-game however possible. I do wish they hadn’t been crippled by export restrictions, but it is what it is.

Yontzee · August 23, 2024, 4:27am

I mean…you could technically give the vehicle the Nizh-1M ERA and the Catherine-FC 2nd-generation thermal camera because it did have it but it was removed for the export. Could be a similar case to a certain vehicle with thermals…coughs in T-80BV with Agava

JamesPond1200 · August 23, 2024, 4:29am

Given the fact that Gaijin has done ahistorical equipment before, I see no reason why that couldn’t be an option, perhaps as a modification or something.

HIMARS_Enjoyer · August 23, 2024, 7:38am

I think i saw a mention of the purchase of these missiles by the United States , but I can’t confirm it

Sanchouzz · August 23, 2024, 8:49am

I prefer Obj.477, but this one is good too.

Neobushido · August 23, 2024, 12:34pm

Should go in the Russian tree as a squadron vehicle or event

dellstroy · August 23, 2024, 12:52pm

The United States acquired 4 T-84s out of 10 existing ones and therefore has every right to receive them.💁‍♂️

HIMARS_Enjoyer · August 23, 2024, 1:11pm

Where did you get this information?

HIMARS_Enjoyer · August 23, 2024, 1:14pm

Also hull armour with Kontakt-5 looks different than one with Nizh ERA on T-64, i think it’s the same with T-84

Yontzee · August 23, 2024, 1:39pm

From the stuff you gave me. It was set to previous gen which is Kontact-5.

HIMARS_Enjoyer · August 23, 2024, 2:28pm

There was only information that there was placed first prototypes of Nizh ERA instead of serial ones and this information was not confirmed by anyone official

Yontzee · August 23, 2024, 2:40pm

Probably was a translation error. Made it seem like the ERA was replaced with earlier ERA as a whole. Corrected. The image you provided lines up with the Object 478BEM1’s armor configuration.

BasherBenDawg8 · August 23, 2024, 5:12pm