Object 640

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Object 640
Drawing (top and side view) of the object 640

Drawing (top and side view) of the object 640
General properties
crew 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
length ~ 7.0 m
width 3.58 m
height 1.80 m
Dimensions ~ 48.5 t
Armor and armament
Armor Composite armor , reactive armor
Main armament 125mm 2A46 M smoothbore cannon
Secondary armament 7.62 mm PKT machine gun
12.7 mm NSWT Fla-MG
agility
drive Gas turbine (optional diesel engine)
920 kW (1250 PS)
suspension Torsion bar
Top speed unknown
Power / weight approx. 20 kW / t (27 PS / t)
Range unknown

The Object 640 , ( Russian Чёрный Орёл , Tschorny Orjol; German: "Black Eagle") was a concept for the further development of the Russian T-80 U main battle tank , which emerged as a system demonstrator for possible increases in combat value of the T-80 in the 1990s. The concept included a slightly modified T-80B hull in combination with a new type of turret system, which, in addition to a semicircular additional armor attached to the front, provided in particular the installation of a new type of car charging system in the rear of the turret. The prototype was shown to the public in 1997 at the WTTW ( Russian ВТТВ ) exhibition by the Omsktransmasch company in Omsk .

After neither the Russian army nor potential foreign customers showed any interest in the “Black Eagle”, the project was not pursued any further.

Basics and history of development

After the Russian armed forces decided in 1995 for the T-90 as the future main battle tank, the Uralwagonsawod company hoped to win over the foreign customers of the T-80 for upgrading the combat value of this vehicle. Countries such as South Korea , Iran and Cyprus came into question . In order to underline the potential of the T-80 concept, a significantly more advanced weapon system was manufactured with the Object 640. The innovations mainly concerned the design of the turret: After Russian tanks had found themselves at a disadvantage compared to Western models in the past, especially in terms of their relatively weak armor , the Object 640 was supplemented with massively reinforced turret armor made of reactive modules . In the rear of the turret, an improved car loader system was installed, the attachment of which allowed the installation of a stronger cannon (up to caliber 152 mm) as well as the use of detonation plates above the magazine. This should increase the crew's chances of survival in the event of an ammunition fire. Further possible additions to the T-80U concept (such as the installation of a more powerful diesel engine or a more powerful gas turbine with up to 1,500 hp) were discussed during the presentation in September 1997; however, these modifications have in all probability not been implemented in the demonstrator vehicle. This only had an improved version of the multi-fuel gas turbine GT-1250 G with reduced consumption.

Due to the massively increased tower weight (around 2.5 t more than the original tower of the T-80U), retrofitting an existing T-80 would not have been an option; Potential customers would have had to order completely new vehicles. This and the associated costs probably prevented orders for the Object 640 and thus also a series production of this battle tank. After the acquisition of the T-90, the Russian armed forces will instead introduce the completely redesigned T-14 battle tank based on the Armata platform.

Armament

An additionally stiffened version of the 125 mm smoothbore cannon 2A46 M-4 with a larger barrel return was installed in the object 640 , which improved accuracy and allowed the use of tempurable air burst ammunition . Through further modifications, the very time-consuming tube change in Russian tank models has been simplified; The procedure was shortened from 30 to 4 hours, which is, however, still very long compared to western tanks (the Leopard 2 needs about 30 minutes to change the barrel).

As a further innovation in the armament, a 12.7 mm machine gun that can be operated under armor protection was installed on the turret hatch. Due to the arrangement of the loading machine in the rear, the installation of a stronger cannon would theoretically have been possible; some sources speak of 135 mm, others even 152 mm. However, due to the considerable modifications that were already necessary to increase the accuracy of the 125 mm cannon, such an increase in caliber would probably not have been completely problem-free.

Armor and protection

Various features of the prototype

The Object 640 was to set new standards in Russian armor-making in terms of the strength of its armor. In particular, the front armor of the turret was massively reinforced by attaching a semicircular arch made of "cactus" reactive armor modules. The armor of the tower itself consisted of a composite arrangement of two layers of armor steel and a ceramic layer in between, the "cactus" system consisted of a laminate layer with an explosive charge placed above it. Overall, the armor thickness at the turret front should be 1160 mm RHA against KE ammunition and 1710 mm RHA against HEAT ammunition, according to the manufacturer . Uralwagonzavod promised security against the effects of the most common anti-tank weapons if hit were favorable.

In addition to active and passive armor layers, the surface of the Object 640 was also provided with a radar-absorbing coating , the effectiveness of which is doubted by experts due to the generally complex and uneven external structure of Russian tanks. In addition, the object 640 should be equipped with a distance-active protection system.

equipment

During the development of the system demonstrator "Schwarzer Adler" emphasis was placed on the installation of improved fire control and target acquisition systems. The commander received a stabilized panoramic periscope with thermal imaging function and the gunner received a target device with thermal imaging and a laser range finder . In addition, a digital fire control system with extensive sensors for measuring ballistically relevant factors and a navigation system were installed. The maneuverability of the tank had also been optimized through an improved gearbox and more user-friendly equipment in the driver's area.

literature

  • Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tanks today and tomorrow . Concepts - Systems - Technologies. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-613-02793-0 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wassili Fofanow: Black Eagle (Obiekt 640) Armor Estimate. 2005, accessed on January 11, 2013 (English, detailed information on armor).

Web links

Commons : Object 640  - collection of images, videos and audio files