T-80U with "Drozd" APS and its ties to Omsk's upgrade program

The T-80U with the "Drozd" APS was a project designed and created by the Omsktransmash design bureau in the late 1990s. The vehicle in question was a standard T-80U fitted with the "Drozd" active protection system.

T-80U "Drozd"

This leads to an interesting plan mentioned in the Omsktransmash book. This book mentions that 3 "Block" upgrades were planned for the T-80U. "Block 1" and "Block 2" were upgrades to incorporate modernization for already existing weapon systems, improvements towards the fire-control system and protection improvements. "Block 3" was a plan to completely rework the design of the vehicle, an entirely new compartment arrangement, a new fire-control system, a new hull and welded turret. The turret was to feature a bustle-style autoloader mounted in the rear. 

Considering the provided features for each "Block", many of the previously made T-80U variants would fall under some of these categories set by Omsktransmash. "Block 1" and "Block 2" vehicles would be T-80UM, T-80UK, T-80UE-1, T-80UM-1 and T-80U with "Drozd". 

It is worth mentioning that Omsktransmash has not given their T-80U "Drozd" an actual name, which would have made sense considering the vehicle was shown alongside the T-80UM-1. Hence why I'm referring to it as T-80U "Drozd" and not T-80UM-2. 

T-80UK

The majority of these vehicles would feature the aforementioned improvements such as new thermal sights, T-80UM/UK (AGAVA-2), T-80UE-1 (PLISA) and cross-wind sensors. While vehicles depicted in their demonstration configuration such as T-80UM-1 and T-80U "Drozd" only acted as demonstrators to showcase the compatibility of "Drozd" and "Arena" active protection systems with newer MBTs. Hence why they lack thermal sights and additional FCS upgrades. It could have been that Omsk planned on integrating thermal sights and cross-wind sensors on these vehicles if they ever went into small-scale production, which in the end wasn't the case. Alongside the large price increase that comes with mounting all these new features. 

T-80UM-1

Regarding "Block 3", it is evident that the Object 640 "Black Eagle" falls under this category since it featured a new hull, a new turret with a bustle-style autoloader mounted in the rear. Sadly not much can be said about the more intricate features of the Object 640, since to this day not much has been released to the public. 

Object 640 "Black Eagle" variant with mockup turret and 6 roadwheel chassis

There has been some misconception over the years about the T-80U with "Drozd" APS, primarily the belief that the vehicle featured "Drozd-2". "Drozd-2" is a system that was much more advanced, that would feature full 360-degree coverage and a much higher range of interception speeds. 

This is where the misconception shows itself much more openly since the T-80U "Drozd" shown in all the images across the Internet only features the same arc coverage as on the T-55AD (utilizing Drozd). There are no launch shafts facing away from the vehicle on the side or rear. This T-80U uses the same standard "Drozd" package as used on the T-55 just adjusted to being mounted on a newer style tank. 

Although it is worth mentioning that an order/purchase request was made sometime in the late 2010s, which mentions TKB-0252 ("Drozd-2") alongside all the necessary munitions and equipment for its testing while being mounted on a T-72BK (Command version of a T-72B). 

In reality "Drozd-2" came much later by several decades and it's logical that it wouldn't have existed back in the mid-late 1990s. 

References: 

• Омский завод транспортного машиностроения, Библиотека Танкпрома, Устьянцев С.В. 2018
• Andrei_bt Livejournal

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