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Cate's Research-Investigation Bureau

CRIB is an independent passion project led by 1 person interested in Russian military equipment. This blog focuses on Russian military vehicle news, historical events and development. Any coinciding information or the author's perspective on reality is purely random.

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- January 07, 2021

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Comprehensive Soviet/Russian vehicle collection
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Soviet/Russian Tank Sight Collection
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Assortment of 2E42-4 "Jasmin" Information

"AGAVA" - "AGAVA-2" and its confusing history

- December 28, 2020

When covering Soviet sight technology, there are always some interesting designs and approaches to solving an issue. It is a common fact that the Soviet Union in the 1980s-1990s was quite behind in thermal sight technology. Only in the 1990s, but to be specific in 1992, did the Soviet Union, now Russia, start to field small batches of thermal sights on their tanks, primarily T-80Us and some of the early T-90 variants, which had just recently entered service. Russia's journey through creating its own domestic thermal sight traces back to 1982. The 1980s were quite an important time for the 'Krasnogorsk Factory named after S.A. Zverev', which is still to date, an optical Engineering and optoelectronics factory. The factory is primarily known for making domestic Soviet cameras back in the day. However, that's not the only thing that the factory produced back then. Close to the mid-1980s, the facility was contracted to develop new thermal sight technology for the Soviet M...

Soviet Union/Russian thermal sight development history

- August 11, 2021

Related topics: "AGAVA" - "AGAVA-2 "and its confusing history Thermal imagers were classed as; Gen-I, Gen-II and Gen-III. Gen-I sights featured the most basic technology due to them being the first of their type. Gen-II sights commonly improved on Gen-I technology by utilizing similar but more refined technical advancements or used completely new methods. Gen-III sights used new advanced technology that is no longer associated with Gen-II and additionally features new materials for photo-elements and ways of processing. Image 1 (For full resolution open the image in a new tab) The table above represents domestic Soviet and early Russian thermal modules/sights. Generations are split into 3 different time periods, Gen-I sights primarily appeared in the 1980s but also made appearances in the 1990s, Gen-II sights appeared in the 1990s and Gen-III sights appeared in the late 1990s and 2000s. Gen-I systems: Utilize linear photo-receiver with 2 types of indicators; b...

A new sight for the modernized T-90

- April 21, 2021

Back in 2018, a new programme was started. This programme's focus is to create domestic equipment for Russian armoured vehicles, specifically optics. This is so that the Russian army can stop depending on the french company "Thales" and their Catherine technology. T-72B3 received new internal components for the Sosna-U sight, phasing out any foreign components. As for the T-90M/T-90MS, something else was done. Previously, the T-90M/T-90MS employed the Sosna-U sight, which featured french components from Thales. However, the internals of the sight was not simply replaced. This time, a completely new domestic sight was created under the name PNM-T. The sight was reportedly made by the PJSC ANPP TEMP-AVIA in 2018 or 2019. The first appearance was in the Telekanal Zvezda show, during the episode about the Proryv-3 (T-90M). In this episode, a new plaque can be seen with the name of the sight. Its first public physical appearance, however, was at the Army-2019 event. The doo...

T-80 rubber flaps - Part 3

- January 27, 2024

Over half a year ago, I promised to write an article about T-80 rubber flaps and their purpose, which would have completed the trifecta article collection: T-80 aerodynamic features and T-80 MBT engine air filtration and dust prevention systems . This article builds up on the T-80 aerodynamic features topic and will conclude this series. Unfortunately, I have come across zero primary sources, that directly mention the purpose of these rubber flaps, which makes it difficult to write an article with primary sources. There are 2 disputed arguments on this topic; one argument states that the flaps on the T-80s are meant to redirect airflow and reduce air contaminants like sand and dust from entering the engine. The other argument is that these flaps are used as additional protection to prematurely detonate HEAT warheads. I will discuss this topic by only talking about the presence of the flaps on T-80s. Firstly the rubber skirt, is present on the lower frontal plate of T-80s. I...

GTD-1000 - GTD-1000TF - GTD-1250 Gas Turbine Engines

- December 05, 2020

The world's first mass-produced tank gas turbine engine GTD-1000T was created at the Klimov Plant in 1968 for the T-80 main battle tank developed By the special tank design Bureau of the Kirov plant (now JSC "Spetsmash"), which was adopted by the Soviet Army in 1976. Since 1980, a modification of the GTD‑1000TF for T-80B/BV tanks was produced, since 1986 a modification of the GTD-1250 for T-80U tanks. GTD-1250 Engines of the GTD-1250 family as part of the power plants of T-80 tanks are in service with the armies of Russia, Belarus, Cyprus, South Korea, Kazakhstan. Turbine engine GTD-1000T/GTD-1250, which have a large volume-weight capacity and a more favourable traction characteristic compared to diesel engines, provide T-80 tanks with interesting characteristics: - higher operational readiness - easy start-up at low temperatures (up to -40°C) - better cross-country ability on soils with a low load-bearing capacity - best noise and heat-masking qualities - increased ...

Progression of thermal imaging sight housings on Soviet AFVs

- July 15, 2022

Throughout the development cycle of thermal imaging sights during the Soviet Union and subsequently Russia, engineers designed several variations of covers to protect newly developed tech. Ranging from simple covers to semi/fully-mechanised systems. The "AGAVA" series of thermal imaging sights was one of the earlier systems to be mounted on Soviet tanks dating back to the 1980s. The first sight iteration mounted on a T-80B utilized a simple protective housing with a hinge-mounted frontal cover. The front cover would be opened using a pull-string mechanism. AGAVA on T-80B AGAVA on T-80B "AGAVA-2" made an appearance on T-80U, UM and UK tanks in the early-mid 1990s. The newer iteration still retained the same hinged door mechanism with a pull-string while also receiving a new roof cover, which served as additional protection against variable weather conditions. AGAVA-2 on T-80U - Swedish trials 1994 The overall complexity and ease of operation for this sight underwe...

T-72B3 Obr.2016 equipped with Arena-M APS

- June 27, 2021

The T-72B3 has undergone many upgrade programs since its first appearance in 2011. This includes the use of different engines, a variety of different ERA packages like Relikt and Kontakt-5, utilization of soft-bag ERA, slat armour encasing the engine bay, and mounting of CITV on a small batch of T-72B3 tanks in 2014 for Tank Biathlon. These upgrades, being the most common, overshadow one specific variant of the T-72B3. T-72B3 equipped with Arena-M (T09-A6). This variant was first shown in 2013 during the RAE expo in Lower Tagil, Russia. While only a mockup, it gave a good idea of how the vehicle would look if it ever mounted such a system. Two years later, during the RAE-2015, the vehicle was shown again. In 2019, an image appeared online showing a T-72B3 with Arena-M. It is presumed to be the prototype variant that is undergoing testing. T-72B3 Obr.2016 with Arena-M being prepared to cross water To the present day, as of 27.06.2021, the...

Modernized T-72M1 "T-72M1M" with Arena APS

- August 07, 2021

The T-72M1M with Arena APS was only shown once during the Russian Arms Expo in 2002, Lower Tagil. It was a modernized T-72M1 that featured the latest technological advancements at the time. While primarily being offered as an export variant, it was also considered that the vehicles modernization package would also be offered to nations that already have T-72M1 and want to upgrade them. This vehicle featured several major improvements over baseline T-72M1 tanks. The first major improvement was its Fire-control-system. Previously installed TPN1-49-23 gunners night sight was replaced with a multi-channel thermal sight with an integrated laser rangefinder and ATGM guidance channel. Having the ability to guide ATGMs the vehicle also came with the 9K119 ATGM complex. The old TPDK-1 gunner's sight was not replaced but was used as an auxiliary sight in the case the main multi-channel sight fails. T-72M1M also improved on the T-72M1 by featuring a ballistics computer and automatic target t...

T-90A - a short history of sights

- November 16, 2020

In 2004, the T-90A (Object 188A1) tank joined the Russian armed forces. It included many fire control system upgrades, a new welded turret, and improved mobility. The T-90A Obr. 2004 tank was fitted with a T01-K05 Buran-M Obr. 2004 3rd generation night vision sight, which improved over the previous T01-K01 Buran-PA sight from the T-90 Obr. 1992. --Picture of T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2004-- In 2005, the tank received an upgrade for the sight, which became T01-K05 Buran-M Obr. 2005, with noticeable differences in the sight's housing. --Picture of T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2005-- --Picture of T-90A diagram with Buran-M Obr. 2005-- --Picture of two T-90As, one with Obr. 2004 and one with Obr. 2005 Buran-M sights-- Above: T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2004 sight, and behind it, T-90A with Buran-M Obr. 2005 sight. In 2006, the T-90A had to be brought to more modern standards, so the production of this model with new second-generation thermal imaging sight began. The sight was named ESSA, wh...

Soviet T-80U Object 219AS

- November 06, 2020

Soviet T-80U Object 219AS with AGAVA-2 (T01-P02) thermal sight. Swedish Trials 1993-1994