M-84AS

M-84AS

Serbian M-84AS
Type Main battle tank
Place of origin Serbia
Production history
Designer Military Technical Institute Belgrade
Designed 2004
Specifications
Weight 45 tonnes
Length 9.53 m
Width 3.73 m
Height 2.23 m
Crew 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Armor cylindrical pad, high-hardness steel, titanium, aluminium, tungsten, NERA plus modular Kontakt-5, Shtora
Main
armament
 125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun and a 9M119 Svir
Secondary
armament
 7.62 mm M86 coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm M87 anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine diesel V-46TK
1,200 hp
Power/weight 26.7 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion bar
Operational
range
 700 km
Speed 75 km/h

The M-84AS is a modernized version of the M-84 main battle tank produced by Yugoimport SDPR in Serbia. M-84AS is sometimes referred to as M-84AB1 and M-2001.

Design

The modernization gives an improved fire-control system with integrated day/night sight.[1] The M84A1 gun is replaced with a similar but improved gun which, along with better control characteristics, enables easy and fast field replacement of the barrel. The M-84AS tank is able to fire anti-tank guided missiles with laser guidance through the barrel, which enables accurate engagement of enemy tanks up to 5 km.[2][3]

The M-84AS is equipped with non-explosive and non-energetic reactive armour (NERA) which offers protection against modern tandem charge warheads on missiles.[4] It is also equipped with the modern Shtora electro-optical system for defense against wire and laser guided anti-tank missiles.[5] The new turret will provide protection against Kinetic Energy (RHAe) anti-tank guided missiles. Its new 9M119 Refleks is a laser beam riding guided anti-tank missile designed to penetrate 950 mm of RHA.

Production history

A commission is being drawn up to bring all 232 M-84 tanks currently in service to M-84AS standard. The project is expected to cost millions and span till the end of 2010. Kuwait has considered Serbia to be a frontrunner candidate for modernizing their M-84 tanks. In addition, there were an undisclosed amount of Arab countries that are interested in acquiring the tank.

Effectiveness

Apart from external differences to the M-84, it also has different internal structure and equipment, far surpassing the M-84AB in both capability and durability. Developed originally from the M-84, the M-84AS is more than just a quick tweak to bring it up to standard. Many improvements were adopted from what can be argued to be its sister tank, the T-90. With slight differences in armour and maneuverability; the T-90 is better armoured while the M-84AS is faster and more maneuverable. Considering the speed perspective, the M-84AS moves at 75 km/h on road while the T-90 moves at 60 km/h on road with off road speeds varying according to terrain. The armor on the T-90 is somewhat superior with thicker composites, NBC protection as well as having the option of Active Protection System and KMT mine sweeping systems.[6][7] Aside from the propulsion and armor, the targeting system is equivalent.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "www.yugoimport.com • Pogledaj temu - Multisenzorska platforma TOMS". Yugoimport.com. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  2. ↑ "Tenk M-84AB1" (in Serbian). Oklop.net23.net. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  3. ↑ "Refleks / 9K119, 9M119, AT-11 Sniper, Svir". Deagel.com. 2010-01-10. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  4. ↑ "Simple arguments for crack influence on scaling of interface defeat" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  5. ↑ "Shtora-1 Active Protection System". Defense-update.com. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
  6. ↑ Тank Т-90С
  7. ↑ T-80U and T-90 Trials 20.10.99

External links

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