«Oplot» Ukrainian tank’s tower

FILE A tower of “Oplot” Ukrainian tank, in Kharkiv, on Wednesday, October 1, 2008. On June 3, 2009, Defense Minister of Ukraine said that in May 28, 2009, he signed a decree on adding of “Oplot” Ukrainian tank to armoury of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The head of the Defense Ministry did not concrete the cost of this military equipment. According to his words, one “Oplot” tank will cost 55 copecks to every Ukrainian. “Oplot” main fighting tank is a result of many years activity on tanks construction of Kharkiv design department on mechanical engineering of O.O. Morozov. “Oplot” main fighting tank is elaborated on the base of T-80 UD, but differs from it by the range of improvements. Among them are: new rolled –welded tower; built-in dynamic protection of new generation, which provides increasing security in anterior sector both from cumulative and armour-piercing shells; thermal imaging rear sight, V-engine with power at 1200 h.p. situated in horizontal condition; transfer to digital technology with regard to components of fire control complex and systems adjoining to it; auxiliary power-supply unit; accounting system of bending barrel; navigational system; more wide on-board screens, which provide additional protection of tank hull sides and components of running part from antitank means short range action used by infantry of enemy. The new variant of “Oplot” main fighting tank, which is planned for an export, also includes: automatic gear change instead of mechanical speed control; new control elements of tank (mechanic –driver drives a tank with a help of steering control, and not control levers, thanks to that a work load on mechanic –driver decreases), air conditioning system, measuring transducer of initial speed of shell and other improvements. As of today a tank of this modification is the most modern among tanks of “T” series. “Oplot” main fighting tank is assembled from components of the Ukrainian production, although, an establishment of systems of foreign producers is stipulated (according to a wish of customer). Photo is presented by Kharkiv design department on mechanical engineering of O.O. Morozov/small size/ UNIAN