T80125
| T80125 | |
|---|---|
 Base line model T80125 and its variants | |
| Type | Main Battle Tank |
| Place of origin |  Velikoslavia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980 - present |
| Used by | Velikoslavia  Enyama West Enyama |
| Wars | Enyaman Civil War Fahrani Civil War |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Vishtok Armor Workshop |
| Designed | 1978-1980 |
| Manufacturer | Vishtok Armor Plant |
| Produced | 1980 - Present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 48 tonnes |
| Length | 9.72 m |
| length | 6.92 m |
| Width | 3.72 m |
| Height | 2.23 m |
| Crew | 3 |
| Armor | Steel and Composite armour |
Main armament | 12.5cm G04T L/53 smoothbore tank cannon |
Secondary armament | 2 x 7.62mm EA12 1 x 20mm autocannon 24 x 76mm smoke grenade launchers |
| Engine | Various 1000 hp |
| Power/weight | 22.2 hp/t |
| Suspension | Torsion Bar |
Operational range | 700 km (with fuel drums) |
| Speed | 65 km/h on-road 34.6 km/h off-road |
The T80125 is a Velikoslav main battle tank that serves as the prime main battle tank of the Grand Armed Forces of Velikoslavia.
Development
Design
Interior
The crew of the tank was spread among the driver's compartment and the fighting compartment. The turret of the vehicle was relatively larger than the T82125 and the chassis is slightly lower but was wider. The driver was directly behind the primary armor angle in front of the turret. The Commander was located on the right side of the turret with a commanders hatch incorporating a 20mm autocannon which had to be operated manually at first but later received an upgrade for remote operation. The gunner was located on the right side of the turret next to the autoloader. A dual shell bustle autoloader was directly behind the main gun and can hold two shells before having to be manually fed shells by the gunner. The primary computer systems are located among the three stations based on who the information is relevant to. The interior, while slightly cramped, is still ergonomically designed to maximize available space.
Armour
The original T80125 possessed basic composite armour made from a combination of two plates of spaced rolled homogeneous armour with a heavy tungsten alloy and rubber plate fixed in between. The inner RHA plate was covered from the inside with a kevlar anti-spalling liner. Later versions included newly developed armor types that offered greater protection. The armor successively thickened over the years and began to be complimented by more soft kill options. The turret's armor was armoured steel laminate with tungsten and rubber layers with an extra plate of non-explosive reactive armor on the gun mantle for increased protection. Later generations of the tank included heavier more advanced armor. All versions are equipped with NBC protection and ventilation. Later versions also include hazard warning systems for detection NBC weapons.
Electronics
The tank did introduce several new systems to the military arsenal. This included analogue steering for the turret as opposed to manual. In terms of fire control, the T80125 had the improved ability to zoom in and out and replacing the old IR search lights with an IR night vision sight located diagonally left above the gun. In 1993, a laser range finder was added but the tank could also use coincidence rangefinding and GPS incorporated references for ranging targets. Later on, a gunner's independent sight and thermal vision mode for both the GIS and GPS was introduced. Later models included a module to connect to the Redisan battle net communication network and more powerful computer suites. Early 21st century models received friend/foe identification computers and damage control devices.
Soft and Hard-kill Countermeasures
The first line of models incorporated a rack of 9 smoke grenade launchers on both sides of the turret giving them an 18 in total. Later variants increased this to 12 (24 in total) on both sides when the launchers had to be relocated to fit the forward ERA tiles. The smoke grenades produce a think smoke that hides the tank and surrounding area visually. The heat smoke gives off an infra-red signature which hides the tanks own and can disrupt lasers and reflect radar. Later models introduced a jamming system using a strong light that mimics the reference signal of wire and radio guided anti-tank missiles. This lights were mounted on the front of the tank beside the gun. The lights could be turned toggled via switch inside the tank.
Models from 2002 onward incorporated the KiteShield active protection system, which was designed to intercept anti-tank missiles and rocket propelled grenades. The system used a single Doppler-pulse radar mounted on the top of the turret to find, track and intercept incoming projectiles. Once it classed an incoming target as a threat, it would send a command to any significant rotating intercept-modules that sit on the sides of the vehicle. These would fire a blast of metal pellets at the incoming missiles or RPG which were able to disable the fire mechanism or destroy the projectile. It had a very small kill zone so as not to endanger personnel near the vehicle. The system could engage multiple-threats from different directions. In addition, the radar also added a direction warning system to the crew, which provided both warning of an imminent attack and the option to retaliate.
Armament
The main armament of the T80125 was the 12.5cm G02T L/43 smoothbore tank cannon manufactured by North Armor Plant. It was capable of effectively engaging and destroying any tank fielded when it came out in 1978. The effective range using APFSDS extendws to a little over 2km but penetration lessened over greater and greater distances. Using an HE-frag shell, it could reach distances beyond 12km at max elevation. The the recommended effective range was 4km with ordinary shells. ATGM capability was added to the vehicle in 1983 with a main gun upgrade. The gun had a velocity of 1900 to 2000m/s and the tank could carry 45 rounds in total. The loader had two modes, the gunner selected the type of round manually or sets it to sequence where it automatically kept loading the type of round the loader selected. When the weapon fired, the empty charge case ejected into a holder which was in turn discarded automatically by a separate mechanism during the loading cycle. The gun had a bore extractor to remove any poisonous fumes. Later series added a muzzle-drop compensator to improve accuracy on the move.
Variants
- T80125-M1 - Initial production model ordered in 1980. Sported the G02T 125mm smoothbore main gun. This was the only variant with a right mounted searchlight. It was produced at Vushock Heavy Industries in Engels until 1982 when production was switched over to the Mark 2.
- T80125-M1E - Export version of the M1 released in 1981. The model had decreased armor, downgraded internal systems, and additional cost saving measures.
- T80125-M2 - 1982 upgrade with a gas turbine engine and a newly designed thermal sighting system. Upgrades to the gun stabilization and the relocation of the searchlight to the right side rounded out the Mark 2.
- T80ARV - Armored Recovery Vehicle produced in 1983 off of the Mark II chassis. Half of the production run was offered in gas turbine and half in diesel. Produced in small numbers right up to the turn of the century.
- T80EV - Engineering vehicle that entered production in 1984. Half of all produced vehicles were equipped with a heavy bucket scoop and the other half with a bulldozer blade and crane.
- T80125-M3 - Introduced in 1985 as the primary production upgrade. Included Explosive Reactive Armor and a new autoloader system for firing ATGMs. Featured the new G03T 125mm main gun over the older G02T. The front armor angle was changed to 30 degrees for increased shot deflection.
- T80125-M3E - Export variant featuring Mark 2 pre upgrade systems but retaining the upgraded gun. Offered with a 1,200 horsepower diesel engine instead of a gas turbine.
- T80ABL - Entered production in 1986 as an armored bridge layer based on the T80125 chassis. Capable of deploying a twenty meter bridge.
- T80125-M4 - Introduced in 1988 as an extensive modernization of the T80125. It included a modified turret design, increased armor, and a modified suspension system. A more powerful 1600 horsepower gas turbine increased the top speed slightly. Plastic armor track skirts covered the upper part of the suspension with separate panels protecting the sides of the fuel and stowage panniers instead of the flipper type armor panels used in older variants. The turret front and top were heavily reinforced with composite armor and provisions for mounting reactive armor were added. An electronic fire control system, additional smoke grenade launchers, and a new optical sight were added.
- T80125-M5 - 1993 upgrade featuring the newly redesigned FVJS81 fire control system and a better gunsight system featuring thermal, night vision, and a laser range finder. A series of composite panels to reduce heat signature were placed around the front of the vehicle. The turret was further upgraded with different shot deflection angles and thicker armor. The turret front and top were heavily reinforced with composite armor. Appliqué armor was applied to the front of the hull. Laser-guided antitank missile capability was added as well as the new G03TB main gun. Additional mounts for more ERA bricks were added around the vehicle.
- T80125-M5E - Export variant with Mark 4 era systems though retaining the new gun and armor upgrades from the Mark 4.
- T80125-M6 - Released in 1994 as the military was looking to cut operations costs per vehicle. The gas turbine was removed for a diesel engine producing 1,300 horsepower. Featured additional weight saving, lighter aluminum materials on the drive train.
- T80125-M7 - A version of the vehicle released in 1998. Featured A newly shaped turret with an ammunition stowage compartment in the rear that allowed for additional rounds to be carried. The new G04T 125mm smoothbore gun replaced the older G03TB. A highly advanced computerized fire control system that took over and integrated many functions of previous generation systems was installed. Additional armor was placed on the forward slope and frontal turret of the vehicle. A redesigned revolver autoloader and ballistics reference computer round out the upgrades. First saw combat in Operation Valiant.
- T80125-M7E - Export variant of the Mark 7 aimed at attracting customers from developing nations.
- T80125-M8 - The Mark 8 was the military production variant introduced in 2002 with lessons learned from deployment of the M7 in Operation Valiant. The frontal arc was sloped slightly more to 40 degrees, creating additional room for the driver. An updated fully modern fire control system that combined the full functions of the vehicle's offensive capabilities was introduced. Turret armor was further reinforced and the engine was upgraded slightly to increase efficiency and fuel savings. The variant was fully equipped with a newly introduced friend/foe identification system as well as a new damage management system.
- T80125-M9 - Comprehensive upgrade introduced by Vushok in 2010 featuring an entirely new fire control system. A more space conscientious autoloader system gives the crew a slight increase on available movement room inside the vehicle. A new triple layer armor scheme featuring rolled homogeneous steel, ceramics, and advanced composites along with a top layer of non-explosive reactive armor offers more protection. Modifications to the turret, including more armored angles and an increased height, provide more protection and movement room for the crew. The G04TB L/56 gun was introduced on this variant. It was greenlighted for production that same year.
- T80125-M10E - Built on the M9 variant, the T80125-M10E is the newest development of the T80125 platform for export customers. The tank also incorporates a fully autonomous heavy machine gun emplacement and an upgraded electronics and camera framework. The G04TB L/56 gun was streamlined compared to its original iteration on this variant. The vehicle was solely slated for export and developed to Enyaman Ground Forces specifications, but is available to a global market; in many ways, it is a cheaper alternative to the T80125-M9.
- T80135-M1 - Latest production variant of the series, redesignated to the T80135 designation due to the introduction of the newly developed H01T L/61 135mm main gun. The vehicle features a virtual reality type system with integrated crew helmets that give crewmen a 360 degree view around the vehicle at all times and feed data from multiple cameras and sensors. Introduced in 2020, the vehicle is equipped with an advanced next generation computer suite that allows it to compete with more modern tanks. It is capable of fighting on parity with any existing Ajax armored formation. The vehicle saw its first deployment in the Fahrani Civil War in 2022. Active deployment of the Bulwark Active Protection Suite provides another layer of protection for the vehicle. Production to replace several generations of older units was greenlit in 2021.
- XT80135-XM1 - Experimental prototype for testing new technology. It is the first to test a fully remote controlled turret with the driver and captain both protected behind the hull armor and no loader. The turret is fully automated with an autoloading system and a fully independent optics, fire control, and targeting system. The technology is still in its infancy and has yet to be approved for deployment.
Foreign Variants
Export Customers
- West Enyama - T80125-M10E - 43
Mesogeia - T80125-M8, T80125-M9 - 250
Peuramaa and Lumisaari - T80125-M9, T80135-M1 - 45 (30 on order)
Norinnia - T80125-M10E - 10 (inherited from Enyama)