The initial T-84 production version was designated simply as the "T-84" with no letter prefix. While based highly on the Soviet T-80UD design, these incorporated all-new welded steel turrets and introduced the Shtora-1 electro-optical active protection system for integrated self-preservation on the battlefield. The tank was powered by the locally-produced KMDB 6TD-2 diesel-fueled engine of 1,200 horsepower.
The T-84U was brought online with various upgrades to help improve the T-84s battlefield reach. Chief among the additions was a laser-range finder, thermal imaging sight, GPS navigation, Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) blocks, standard side armor skirts and an auxiliary power gas turbine engine which allowed the tank to operate its key systems without the engine running - a feature that the preceding T-80UD lacked.
The T-84 "Oplot" became a rather ambitious modernization program for the T-84 series as a whole. The turret was redesigned again and of welded construction. Ammunition was now stored in separated compartments from the crew to help increase crew safety in the event of a direct hit from an enemy projectile or missile. The autoloader was now installed to the turret bustle. The Ukrainian Army currently fields only a handful of Oplot series tanks as of this writing though recent developments have seen procurement of the type in greater quantity.
The T-84 "Oplot-M" is nothing more than the latest incarnation of the T-84 and naturally based on the Oplot production variant. The type is a modernized form of the Oplot (hence the "M" in the designation) and brings about an updated countermeasures suite to deal with the ever-expanding potency of new anti-tank/anti-armor weapons on the battlefield today. Armor protection is also improved through Nozh ERA blocks which protect the vehicle from newer tandem projectile warheads.
The export-minded T-84-120 "Oplot" sports a revised turret installation and fits a NATO-standard 120mm main gun with new autoloader. Side armor skirts are standard.
Naturally, as with any other main frontline tank system available in number, the T-84 has been evolved into various other battlefield forms including the BREM-84 armored recovery vehicle (ARV, also known as the "Atlet"), the BMU-84 bridgelayer and the BTMP-84 infantry fighting vehicle - the latter currently residing in prototype form as of this writing. The infantry fighting vehicle version deserves special notice here for it is one of the few modern instances where a main battle tank design has served as the basis for an IFV. This particular modification sees an extra pair of wheels added to a lengthened hull design which mounts a 125mm main gun in a traversing turret installation. The engine is relocated to permit installation of a five-man fighting compartment to the rear of the hull.
The Ukrainian government has attempted to swoon the Turkish Army into procuring their T-84 system and developed the T-84U "Yatagan" prototype specifically for the task (also becoming a marketable model for any other interested customer). The major difference in this version is the inclusion of a 120mm main gun over that of the original's 125mm caliber system as well as an all-new autoloader system. The main gun is, therefore, cleared to fire both NATO-standard projectiles as well as AT-11 "Sniper" anti-tank guided missile. The fire control system (FCS) and communications suites are all tailored to Turkish needs and side armor skirts are standard.
Operators (beyond Ukraine) are set to include Georgia (with twelve tanks ordered) and Thailand (with some 49 examples under order).
The T-84's first-actions were recorded in the 2014 Ukranian-Russian engagements as part of the ongoing War in Donbass.
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