The T-80U is an advanced MBT operated by the former Soviet Union. It entered production in 1983 and entered service in 1984. The T-80U is equipped with a 2A46 125mm gun (D-81T is the military designation) stabilized in both elevation and traverse. The 2A46M power elevates to +14�/-5�. The T-80U can fire the AT-8 "Songster" and AT-11 "Sniper" anti-tank missiles from the barrel of its main gun. The main gun is fed by an automatic loader. The T-80U is fitted with an active infrared searchlight, but later versions are fitted with an improved passive thermal sight, the Agava-2 or the Buran. The T-80U is fitted with an advanced GTD-1250 gas-turbine engine and a related APU. this gives the T-80U a higher power-to-weight ratio than previous Russian main battle tanks.
Modern Russian MBTs, including the T-80U, have a higher reliance on ERA than many Wester tanks, as is evident when you see the Kontakt-5 ERA plates on the frontal arch. Also fitted is an advanced form of armor called 'Combination-K', which incorporates layers of steel and ceramics, much in the same fashion as British 'Chobham' armor. The T-80U is equipped with advanced electronic countermeasures in later models, such as the SHTORA-1 and ARENA, that aren't commonly found on Western MBTs. The Shtora-1 is an optronic jamming complex, comprised of two boxes on the frontal arc of the turret. These emit preciesly modualted pulses which are supposed to disrupt the guidance of optically tracked anti-tank missiles, such as TOW, Eryz, HOT, and RBS 56 Bill. The Arena is an advanced early warning radar system designed to warn the crew of incoming projectiles (i.e. anti-tank missiles) and dispense aerosol grenades to disrupt laser guidance systems. Both of these systems can be found on the T-80UM2, the latest model of the T-80 series.Operators of the T-80U include Russia, Ukraine (T-84), South Korea, and Pakistan (also T-84).
