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T-55H
History and Description
In the early 2000s, the Serbian defense company Yugoimport developed a modernization package for the aging T-55 tank, designated T-55H. The upgrade was designed to enhance the tank’s mobility, protection, and firepower, while also extending its service life. The T-55H was first unveiled at the 2005 military exhibition in Nikinci, and later showcased at Partner defense fairs in 2007, 2009, and 2011 to attract foreign buyers. Despite these efforts, the project ultimately failed due to a lack of international interest.
To improve mobility, the T-55H was fitted with a MPG-780 modular powerpack unit consisting of the same transmission and V-46-6 780-horsepower engine as used in the M-84 tank. This upgrade allowed for a maximum road speed of 60 km/h and an operational range of 545 km. The original tracks were replaced with new ones compatible with rubber pads, improving traction and ride quality.
Protection was significantly enhanced through the installation of domestically-produced KAO M99 Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) on the turret and upper front plate. Development of the M99 ERA began in the early 1990s and was finalized in 1998, originally for use on the M-84, T-72, and T-55 tanks. Structurally and conceptually, M99 is comparable to the Russian KONTAKT-1 ERA. The ERA is capable of reducing the penetration of HEAT projectiles by up to 80% and of kinetic energy rounds by up to 25%, depending on the projectile type, angle of impact, and the distance of the ERA from the tank. Each ERA block measures 152 by 305 by 65 mm, weighs 6 kg, and contains 350 grams of explosive. The ERA is resistant to 23 mm autocannon fire, artillery fragments, and the detonation of adjacent blocks. The total weight of the ERA adds approximately 750 kg to the tank, or up to 1,000 kg when additional blocks are mounted on the sides. Further protection upgrades included the addition of rubber screens to the lower front plate and sides of the hull. Six smoke grenade launchers were installed on each side of the turret. The tank also received a halon-based fire extinguishing system, an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection subsystem, and a dozer blade mounted on the front hull. Mine-clearing capabilities were improved through integration of KMT-6J equipment. Additional safety features included laser warning receivers and an anti-explosive protection kit for the fuel tanks.
Firepower was modernized with the installation of the SUV-55 fire control system, the same used in the earlier T-55A Igman project. The new FCS combines a DNNS-1A gunner’s sight with an image intensifier and a laser rangefinder and Cossonay Model 270-A-20XMBL meteorological sensor. The original coaxial SGMT machine gun was replaced with the 7.62 mm M86 (a PKT variant), while the loader’s roof-mounted DShK was replaced with the 12.7 mm M87 (a variant of the NSVT). A new 100 mm M98 APFSDS round was added to the tank’s ammunition load. This round, a licensed version of the Israeli M111 Hetz, offers superior performance against sloped armor compared to the older Soviet 3BM25. At a distance of 2 kilometers, the M98 can penetrate 150 mm of rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) at a 60-degree angle, whereas the 3BM25 can manage only 100 mm under the same conditions. Against flat armor, the performance difference is less pronounced.
In short, the most notable improvements were:
- MPG-780 modular powerpack unit, with 780 HP output,
- KAO M99 ERA blocks,
- Rubber side skirts,
- 12x smoke grenade dischargers,
- Dozer blade,
- KMT-6J mine-clearing equipment,
- SUV-55 fire control system,
- 12.7 mm M87 and 7.62 mm M86 machine guns,
- M98 100 mm APFSDS round
Specifications
- Essentials
- Length with gun forward; 9.00 m
- Width; 3.37 m
- Height; 2.40 m
- Mass; around 37 t
- Crew; 4 (driver, commander, loader, gunner)
- Protection
- Armor; standard T-55A armor
- APS; N/A
- ERA; KAO M99
- Smoke; 12 x BDK M79 smoke grenades, ESS
- Mobility
- Engine; V-46-6 780 hp
- Power/weight; 21.1 hp/t
- Top speed; 60 kph
- Transmission; 7 forward, 1 reverse gear
- Amphibious; No
- Firepower
- Main; 100 mm D-10T2S cannon
- Reload; 8.5 s
- 43 rounds in total
- Stabilizer; Two-plane stabilizer
- Vertical; -5° / +18°
- Horizontal; 360°
- Turret rotation speed; 15°/s
- Zoom; Day: 3-7x, night: 9.5x
- Types of rounds:
- 3BM-8
- BR-412D
- 3BM25
- 3BK17M
- M63 (OF-412)
- M69 (3BK5M)
- M98
- Secondary; 7.62 mm M86 machine gun
- Penetration at 10 m; 10 mm
- Fire rate; 700 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 250 rounds
- Supplementary; 12.7 mm M87 machine gun
- Penetration at 10 m; 38 mm
- Fire rate; 700 shots/min
- Belt capacity; 60 rounds
- Main; 100 mm D-10T2S cannon
Video
Placing a 780 hp engine in a T-55A tank
https://youtu.be/k71z1Me9l_Q
Sources
https://www.yugoimport.com/en/proizvodi/t-55t-62-main-battle-tank-families-upgrade-package
Pokusaji modernizacije tenka T-55
Eksplozivni reaktivni oklop
Republic of Serbia - Tank Encyclopedia
T-54/T-55 - Wikipedia
https://www.mycity-military.com/
PALUBA - Index