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Russia Uralvagonzavod
T-80U
The definitive late-Soviet gas-turbine-powered main battle tank, offering rapid acceleration and cold-weather reliability at the cost of high fuel consumption. Reactivated T-80U/BV variants have been pulled from storage for use against Ukraine alongside the newer T-80BVM.
In service since 1985 · 6 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
70
km/h
335
km range
25.9
hp/t
125
mm gun
46,000
kg
Pricing: No public unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Established · 6 operators
In service since 1985. Status: active · ~4,500 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the T-80U can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 70 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 335 km |
| Power-to-weight Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility. | 25.9 hp/t |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 1,700 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 125 mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore (autoloaded) |
|---|---|
| Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods. | 12.7 mm NSVT + 7.62 mm PKT machine guns |
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 125 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 38 |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Composite armor with Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor |
|---|---|
| Reactive armor Explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks that disrupt shaped-charge jets. | Yes |
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | Kontakt-5 ERA, smoke grenade launchers |
| NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments. | Yes |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 9.9 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 3.6 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2.2 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 46,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | GTD-1250 gas turbine |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 1,250 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Gas turbine |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 4,500 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 6 |
Specifications compiled from public Uralvagonzavod and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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What is the top speed of the Uralvagonzavod T-80U? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U has a maximum speed of 70 km/h.
What is the range of the Uralvagonzavod T-80U? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U has a maximum range of 335 km.
How much does the Uralvagonzavod T-80U weigh? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U has a combat weight of 46,000 kg.
How many crew does the Uralvagonzavod T-80U require? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U requires a crew of 3.
What is the main armament of the Uralvagonzavod T-80U? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U's primary weapon is the 125 mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore (autoloaded).
What engine does the Uralvagonzavod T-80U use? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U is powered by the GTD-1250 gas turbine.
What is the Uralvagonzavod T-80U used for? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U is a main battle tank typically used for anti armor, infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Uralvagonzavod T-80U? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-80U is operated by 6 countries.
How much does the Uralvagonzavod T-80U cost? +
Uralvagonzavod T-80U: No public unit cost. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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