T-64BV zr. 2017: Frontline Defender

[Yontzee]

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T-64BV zr. 2017: Frontline Defender

An upgraded T-64BV zr. 2017 during a parade rehearsal.

• Basic Description:
  • The original T-64BV was a Soviet/Ukrainian Main Battle Tank designed in the early 1980’s building off of the newer variant of T-64, the T-64B. The T-64B, also known as Object 447A was an upgrade over the T-64A that featured a reworked turret, the 1A33 Fire Control System, and the ability to fire gun launched anti-tank guided missiles (GL-ATGM) from the new 2A46M-1 gun. Other features adopted is a new autoloader named the 6EC60 to further increase the rate of fire of the T-64 as well as 8x Tucha-2 Smoke Grenade Launchers. The T-64BV was a further improvement allowing the installation of dynamic protection, also known as explosive reactive armor (ERA). This ERA was the Kontact-1 which allowed protection against HEAT-shaped charges. This model also included further improvements to the fire control system, radio stations, and other electronic equipment. The T-64BV still retained the 700hp 5TDF Liquid-cooled Diesel Engine capable of supplying all the needs for propulsion and electrical systems. Production of this new variant continued from 1984 to 1987. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited several hundred T-64BV’s as well as other models of the T-64 and continued to develop them today.
  • One of these models is the T-64BV zr. 2017, the designation meaning the year of the upgrade. This new T-64BV variant significantly enhances the capabilities of the of the T-64BV by incorporating new technologies and digital communications as well as rebuilding and modernizing existing propulsion systems. This was necessary as the amount of funds required to produce new significant amounts of BM Oplot main battle tanks would exceed budget constraints as well as having an to find a purpose for the excess T-64’s in storage. The upgrades include the replacement of the old Gunner sight’s with the new TPN-1-TPV 3rd-generation thermal imager, allowing enhanced night operations, improved TKN-3V Passive-IR periscope for the Commander, new Lybid K-2RB digital radio stations that allow enhanced communications between fighting units from the BTR-3 and BTR-4 series APC’s to the T-80BV’s in service with Ukraine. Other upgrades incorporate the CH-4215 Satellite Navigation System, removal of the Luna Infrared Sight, and the incorporation of the Nizh-1M ERA which is superior to the Soviet-era Kontact-5 ERA. The Nizh-1M ERA is designed to be interchangeable with Kontact-1 ERA blocks, built in similar size, significantly improving protection against HEAT-shaped charges as well as modern tank APFSDS-T rounds. This 2017 modernization was also applied to the T-80BV’s that were also in service with Ukraine. Additional features from Ukrainian T-64BV’s that can be incorporated on to this model is SLAT/Cage Armor and the ability to fire Kombat GL-ATGM’s.
  • Modifications conducted by Ukraine for the 2017 model:
    • Gunner’s TPN-1-TPV Thermal Imager
    • Lybid K-2RB Digital Radio Stations
    • CH-4215 Satellite Navigation System
    • Commander’s Improved TKN-3V Passive-IR Periscope
    • Luna Infrared Sight Removal
    • LED Headlights
    • Modernized/Rebuilt 5TDF Diesel Engine
    • Swapped Kontact-1 ERA for improved Nizh-1M ERA
      
      
  • More than 200 are in service by the Ukrainian Army and have saw heavy combat in the conflict in Ukraine. The T-64BV remains the cornerstone of the Ukrainian Army, as it is the only army to field a large quantity of T-64’s in recent history. Many additional T-64BV’s have been upgraded to this new standard beyond the original 200 since the year 2022.
    • Come check out the other vehicle that had the same modifications of the T-64BV zr. 2017 here:
      • T-80BV zr. 2018: Spearhead of the Air Assault Brigades
• Specifications:
  • Role: Main Battle Tank
  • Origin:
    • Ukraine
  • Armament:
    • Primary: 125mm KBA3 Smoothbore Gun
      • Ammunition:
        • 3BM42 APFSDS-T
        • 3BK18M HEAT-FS
        • 3OF26 HE-FRAG
        • Kombat GL-ATGM
      • Feed System:
        • Autoloader, 36rds total.
    • Coaxial: KT-7.62mm Machine Gun (1,250rds)
    • Roof-mounted: KT-12.7mm Machine Gun (300rds)
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 9.225m (gun forward)
    • Width: 3.410m
    • Height: 2.170m
    • Weight: 42.4t
  • Mobility:
    • Engine: 700hp 5TDF Liquid-cooled Diesel Engine
    • Max Speed: 60km/h
    • Transmission: Manual (7-Forward, 1-Reverse)
    • Suspension: Torsion Bar
• Crew:
  • Commander
  • Gunner
  • Driver
• Features:
  • Laser Rangefinder
  • 8x 81mm Smoke Grenade Launchers
  • ESS
  • SLAT/Cage Armor
  • Entrenching Blade
  • Armor:
    • Nizh-1M ERA
  • Optics:
    • Gunner: TPN-1-TPV (3rd-generation Thermal Imager)
    • Commander: TKN-3V (Night Vision Device)
    • Driver: TNPO (Day Sight)
• In-game :
  • This new variant of T-64BV differs from its Soviet counterpart by the inclusion of 3rd-generation thermals, the capability to fire Kombat ATGM’s, and new Nizh-1M ERA that is superior to Kontact-5 ERA that can stop both KE and CE-based ammunition. With its capabilities, the T-64BV zr. 2017 is superior to the T-72BV obr. 1989 and would sit well at 10.3-10.7.
  • Estimated Battle Rating: 10.3-10.7.
• Sources:
  1. ЗСУ отримали понад 100 танків Т-64 модифікації 2017р.
  2. Tank Encyclopedia - The Online Tank Museum
  3. https://www.armyrecognition.com/russia_russian_army_tank_heavy_armoured_vehicles_u/t-64bv_main_battle_tank_data_sheet_specifications_information_description_pictures_video.html
  4. The Ukrainian Model 2017 T-64 tank - War History
  5. Ukraine Tests Modernized T-64BV Main Battle Tank
  6. ХБТЗ ПОСТАВИВ ЗСУ ВЖЕ ПОНАД 150 МОДЕРНІЗОВАНИХ ТАНКІВ Т-64 ЗРАЗКА 2017 РОКУ (ФОТО)
  7. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/ukraine-receives-upgraded-t-64s
  8. Тепер навідник Т-64 може розпізнати ціль на відстані до трьох кілометрів - Народна армія
  9. In Kharkiv, starting works of a new modernization of the Т-64 - Militarnyi
  10. Army Guide
  11. TPN1 TPV - Trimen
  12. Ukraine Tests Modernized T-64BV Main Battle Tank
  13. Ukrainian T-64 of the year 2017. Long-awaited breakthrough?
  14. https://www.luch.kiev.ua/images/data/en/LuchEn.pdf
  15. https://www.ukrspecexport.com/uploads/files/Categories/pdf_5/be2e23.pdf
  16. http://progress.gov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/armored-military-vehicles.pdf

Imagery/Media

Another view of the T-64BV zr. 2017 on parade.

Newly refurbished T-64BV zr. 2017’s.

T-64BV zr. 2017 during trials. Note the extra ERA blocks securely fastened around the mantelet.

T-64BV zr. 2017 during trials.

Different optics of the T-64BV zr. 2017.

https://youtu.be/We6QixQjhBM

Video of the upgraded T-64BV zr. 2017.

A standard T-64BV however note the fact that the T-64BV platform can equip modern cage armor.

Nizh-1M ERA than can be used on the T-80BV zr. 2018 along with Contact-1.

Another view of the Nizh-1M ERA block.

Nizh-1M compared to other ERA including Kontact-1 (4S20) and Kontact-5 (4S22).

The TPN1 TPV thermal imaging system used for the Gunner.

The Kombat GL-ATGM.

[Yontzee]

• Suggestion has been updated.
  • Default ERA is Nizh-1M.
  • New images.
  • Clarification of some details and corrections.
  • New Sources:
    • https://www.luch.kiev.ua/images/data/en/LuchEn.pdf
    • https://www.ukrspecexport.com/uploads/files/Categories/pdf_5/be2e23.pdf
    • http://progress.gov.ua/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/armored-military-vehicles.pdf

Here is an image of a newly modernized T-64BV to the T-64BV zr. 2017 standard with some additional 2024 modifications.

[Neobushido]

another good addition for the USSR/russia tree

[Yontzee]

BR adjusted to 10.3-10.7 due to the vehicle having superior Nizh-1M ERA and expanded coverage (which includes its mantlet and LFP, the notorious weak spots of many T-series tanks). The vehicle also has 3rd-generation thermals for the gunner. The only thing holding it back is the ammo options. This can be corrected with adopting ammo like the P99 TAPNA APFSDS-T round from Slovakia which has 509mm of penetration at pointblank. If more information also comes around, possibility of using the 3BM44U1 APFSDS-T which had a theoretical ~600mm of penetration as well. It also has the high penetration Kombat GL-ATGM.

Image of a column of T-64BV zr. 2022’s.

Possible Ukrainian Suggestions and BR:

• T-64BV zr. 2022 - 10.7
• T-64BV1K zr. 2022 - 10.7 (Premium)
• T-72AMT zr. 2022 - 10.7
• BMP-1LB - 8.7
• Strila-10 Luch - 10.7
• Strela-10M (Valli) - 10.3
• Mi-8MSB-1 - 10.0
• Mi-24PU1 - 10.3-10.7
• Mi-24PU2 - 10.7

[Yontzee]

Updated the post a little.

[Yontzee]

I’m trying to find a better image but here’s a comparison of Nizh-1M ERA bricks found on the T-64BV zr. 2017 and standard K-1 Bricks:

• An image of a standard casing of Kontact-1 ERA.

• Nizh-1M ERA casing as found on the T-64BV zr. 2017.

While the differences are minuscule, the Nizh-1M ERA lacks the rounded edges and has different mounting configuration than K-1 ERA. This is because of the design of Nizh-1M itself is more squared on the corners and while it can fit in a K-1 container, it’s not optimized for it. There’s a few other iterations of Nizh-1M containers such as those found on the UFP of the Leopard 1A5V:

• UFP of the Leopard 1A5V with Nizh-1M ERA containers and K-1 containers around it.

• Here is the Nizh-1M filler itself in the front.

I wanted to highlight this because it’s a clear indicator of Nizh-1M which is superior to Kontact-5, all across the T-64BV zr. 2017, offering high protection against APFSDS-T and Tandem-HEAT charges.

• As seen above around the top of the turret cheeks and on the upper portion of the UFP near the Driver’s periscopes, the containers can also be shaped to fit around key components granted they will offer less protection due to lacking a full container’s worth of Nizh-1M ERA filler.

Special thanks to @HIMARS_Enjoyer for his previous help with comparisons.

Summary: Clear indicators of the use of Nizh-1M ERA on the vehicle.