Uralvagonzavod has resumed production of the T-80BVM main battle tank, a modernized version of the Soviet-era T-80BV, following the outbreak of the war. The T-80BVM represents a third-generation MBT, incorporating a low-profile turret and sharply angled armored hull designed to improve survivability against a wide range of threats. Originally developed in the 1980s, the T-80BV was a major step forward in Soviet armored vehicle design. The BVM upgrade program began in the early 2010s, with the updated model first publicly revealed in 2017. Since then, the tanks are being delivered in batches to frontline Russian forces.
Workers assembling T-80BVM hulls at Uralvagonzavod.
The T-80BVM features enhanced armor protection, including a mesh layer beneath the turret armor similar to that used on the more advanced T-90M. A so-called “cope cage,” now a standard feature on many Russian tanks, incorporates the same mesh to counter aerial threats such as drones. At the rear, a protective plate shields the engine compartment, while an extension of the cope cage—equipped with a rubber screen—offers additional defense for the tank’s 1,250-horsepower gas turbine engine. An elastic mesh screen has also been installed on the upper glacis to protect the driver. The tank is compatible with electronic countermeasures, such as jammers, which can be added to increase protection against drone attacks.
T-80BVM tanks delivered to frontline units. Note the extended cage armor behind the turret, designed to protect the engine compartment.
The overall layout of the T-80BVM follows the typical Russian MBT configuration, with the driver seated at the front, the turret centrally mounted, and the power pack located at the rear. Both the hull and turret utilize angular armor geometry to increase effective protection and improve deflection of incoming projectiles.
Its main armament is the 125mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun, capable of firing various types of munitions, including APFSDS, HE-FRAG, and HEAT rounds. It can also launch 9M119M Refleks (NATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper) anti-tank guided missiles, which use a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead for defeating reactive and composite armor. Secondary armament includes a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun and a roof-mounted 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine gun for anti-aircraft and anti-personnel use. For added concealment and defense, the tank is equipped with eight smoke grenade launchers, four on each side of the turret.
T-80BVM tanks delivered to frontline units.
In response to the growing threat from loitering munitions and FPV drones, T-80BVM tanks have also been seen equipped with makeshift anti-drone defences. These include broom-like wire structures mounted at the front and along the sides of the turret cage. Designed to trigger drone warheads prematurely, these lightweight wires provide additional protection without obstructing crew visibility or interfering with turret rotation. The wires also shield vulnerable spots such as the driver’s hatch, which has become a common target for drone strikes.
