I know thats an old post but 2A46M-4 and 2A46M-5 (only difference between them is mounting, different for T80s and T72/T90 tanks) guns can use longer APDSFS shells lile 3BM60/3BM59. Only thing required in such case is improved autoloader to be able to fit such shells. Also considering whats left of nations to add, its gonna be mostly low production series tanks and/or prototypes. So imo should be tech tree when rank 8 ground vehicles are added.
Saying all that about guns just because I am not sure if T80UM1 had its autoloader upgraded, didnt really research it much, but in case it does it means it should get 3BM60.
Then T80UA can be added, it has Shtora too, but lacks other measures this one has while having Improved autoloader and 2A46M-4 gun. T80U with Shtora,laser warning system and best APDSFS rounds avaible for 2A46M-4 gun (no 3BM59 in game still but whatever). Not much changes but in need to add something to 8th rank maybe it could do.
I think sooner or later the BVM will become higher in level, or the T-80U lower in level (unlikely).
Otherwise it is not clear where to add T-80UM-1, T-80UA and other transitional modifications.
Probably T-80UM-1 can take 11.3 since AP system doesn’t play a serious role at this level and is not worth a boost in combat rating, but T-80UE got new turret drives, 2-3 generation thermal imager, new shells and is clearly better than T-80U, but still significantly worse than t-80bvm.
I think BVM is fine on its level and i still stand on this being early rank 8 thing. All BVM is is just adding Relikt, better engine and gun to the BV. U is basically making BV better with adding Kontakt 5 amd much better turret. So coupled with UA version it will be Kontakt 5, better engine, Shtora and LWS, better gun much better turret.
While all improvements BVM brings is Relikt and gun.
10.3 turret with only Relikt attached to it is at 11.7 (armour wise)
The UA is the same 1250 hp engine, the cannon is the same as the bwm.
The only difference is the UA will not have the relic, which is what makes the bvm a strong tank. The K-5 has low side coverage and the upper frontal detail will be penetrated by top nato shells.
The UA has better turret armor, but considering the K-5 will be there and not a relic, it won’t end up being better.
So the UA is no better than the BVM. It’s either “the same” or “worse” when it comes to ERA, which is what makes the BVM strong.
For this reason, it probably won’t come as a premium. Knowing that the British and the Americans got “special” versions of normal tanks with all such capabilities for their rank 7 premiums, as much as I would like this premium anyway.