The Oplot-M Main Battle Tank is a further development of the previous Oplot, which is
based on the T-84.
This MBT was revealed in 2008.
It is an improved version, rather than entirely new design.
Main components of this tank were developed back in the 1990s.
This MBT completed Ukrainian Army trials, however it was not ordered by the Ukrainian
Army due to funding problems.
Thailand ordered 49 of these tanks.
Thai tanks have some minor modifications to meet local requirements and are referred as
Oplot-T. First tanks were delivered to Thailand in 2013.
Deliveries are rather slow due to ongoing military conflict in Ukraine and by 2016 only
20 of these tanks were delivered.
The Oplot-M MBT is fitted with Duplet built-in Explosive Reactive Armor of new generation,
that protects against tandem warheads.
It is claimed to be superior to the Russian Kontakt 5 ERA armor.
Protection of hull sides was also improved.
The tank is fitted with Shtora countermeasures system, which reduced hit probability of enemy
ATGW with semi-automatic guidance.
It has been reported that this MBT can also be fitted with Zaslon active protection system.
The Oplot MBT is armed with a 125 mm smoothbore KBA-3 cannon, a KT-7.62 Coaxial machine gun
and a KT-12.7 anti-aircraft machine gun.
The main gun is fed by a loading system equipped with conveyor, automatic loader and control
system.
The ammunition includes high explosive fragmentation, armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot,
high explosive anti tank and gun mount rounds.
The main gun can also fire a laser guided missile against battle tanks, armoured vehicles
and hovering helicopters within the range of 5,000m.
The missile can be fired on the move against travelling targets.
The tandem warhead fitted on the missile can defeat targets equipped with explosive reactive
armour and advanced spaced armour.
The Oplot has 46 rounds of ammunition for the main gun, of which 28 rounds are placed
in the automatic loader.
Other ammunition types carried are 1,250 rounds for KT-7.62 machine gun, 450 rounds for KT-12.7
machine gun and 450 rounds for AKS submachine gun.
This Ukrainian tank has a hunter-killer engagement capability.
Commander uses a panoramic sight with thermal vision to search for targets.
Once the target is selected the gun is laid on the target automatically and the gunner
completes al the aiming and firing process.
During that time commander looks for the next target.
Such engagement method is present on all modern main battle tanks.
The Oplot-M has improved sights, aiming and observation systems.
This tank is operated by a crew of 3, including commander, gunner and driver.
There is no need for the loader, as the tank has automatic ammunition loading system.
Smaller crew allowed to reduce overall dimensions of the vehicle, making it a smaller target
on the battlefield.
Vehicle is powered by Ukrainian 6TD-2E turbocharged diesel engine, developing 1 200 hp.
It is improved and more environmentally friendly version of the previous 6TD-2 diesel engine,
used on the T-84 MBT.
Another engine, the 6TD-3 is currently under development.
It will have a power output of 1 500 hp.
This main battle tank is also fitted with auxiliary power unit, which powers all systems,
when the main engine is shut down.
The Oplot-M is fitted with a deep wading kit and can ford water obstacles up to 5 m deep.
Specifications:
Weight: 51 tonnes Length: 7.075 m
Width: 3.400 m Height: 2.800 m
Transmission: Automatic Suspension: Torsion bar
Ground clearance: 0.50 m Fuel capacity: 1,140 litres
Operational Range: 500 km
Speed: Road 70 km/h
Off-road: 45 km/h