The T-80, once heralded as the “tank of the English Channel” for its supposed ability to conquer Europe, has long struggled with a reputation for vulnerability in combat.

This past summer marked the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the “last” Soviet-designed main battle tank (MBT), the T-80. When it was introduced, the T-80 was seen as quite a sophisticated vehicle for the era, with its powerplant allowing it to reach speeds exceeding 70 km/h (45 mph). Importantly, the tank’s jet-powered engine allowed it to warm up quickly, even in the dead of winter—a matter of vital importance in Russia, as Nazi Germany’s tank corps had discovered to their chagrin decades earlier.

With its high speed, Soviet designers sometimes half-jokingly referred to the improved T-80B as the “Tank of the English Channel,” as they envisioned that it could blast through Germany and make it to the English Channel in only five days. Of course, regardless of combat effectiveness, the tank would have needed a lot of pit stops along the way, as its gas turbine engine consumed massive amounts of fuel. It also required expensive, complex maintenance. And its combat record was far from stellar, with the tank suffering heavy losses in the First Chechen War from 1994 to 1996 and largely remaining on the sidelines of Russia’s ensuing wars in Chechnya, Georgia, and the initial invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia Sings Praises of Its “Flying” Tank

Nevertheless, officials at Rostec, Russia’s state-owned military-industrial conglomerate, recently praised the capabilities of the T-80BVM, the modernized variant of the problem-plagued T-80—claiming that the tank had been upgraded before the start of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“The vehicle was created no less than 50 years ago. Today, it remains recognizable externally, but has evolved into something completely new. Even before the special military operation, the T-80 underwent a comprehensive upgrade to become the T-80BVM. During the course of combat, it has been adapted to the environment, receiving hundreds of additional modifications, including enhanced armor protection and upgraded systems,” the state corporation told Russian news agency TASS.

The report stated that the MBT can today be employed in a “wide range of tasks,” including breaking through enemy lines and conducting direct-fire strikes while serving with a spotter drone—and serving as a type of “sniper tank,” thanks to its relatively quiet gas turbine engine and long-range main gun that can allow it to operate as a form of mobile artillery.

“Of course, it’s still a ‘flying’ tank that can leap into the air with its entire multi-ton mass from an earthen ramp. This capability isn’t just for show—the tank boasts excellent cross-country mobility over difficult terrain, as well as high maneuverability and speed,” Rostec added.

The latter reference is based on a 1993 “Air Show Jump” during an arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in which a T-80U drove at high speed over a dirt ramp and was able to launch into the air, land, and continue to drive forward.

The demonstrations have been repeated at Russian arms shows, with the Kremlin suggesting the MBT maintained full combat readiness even after completing the “Dukes of Hazzard” move. However, it is one thing to make a jump in a controlled environment that was carefully prepared in advance—and quite another to try it on a battlefield where you can’t know where you might land!

Still, the question to ask is: if the vehicle had already been upgraded, why wasn’t it employed in the early stages of the invasion? Perhaps it was busy demonstrating its jumping abilities elsewhere.

The T-80BVM Tank’s Specifications

• Year Introduced: 2019
• Number Built: Unknown (112 ordered)
• Length: 24 ft 5 in (7.4 m); hull only
• Total weight, battle-ready: ~46 tons
• Suspensions: Torsion bar suspension
• Engine: One GTD-1250TF gas turbine (~1,250 hp)
• Armament:
  • 125mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore cannon (autoloader); APFSDS, HEAT, HE-FRAG, and 9M119 Refleks (ATGM) missiles fired through the barrel
  • 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun
  • 12.7 mm NSVT roof machine gun
• Top Speed: 43.5 mph (70 km/h) on road; 31 mph (50 km/h) off-road
• Range: 310 mi (500 km) with external fuel tanks
• Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)

What Was Wrong with the Original T-80?

Russia may feel obliged to tout the combat effectiveness of the T-80 tank in part because its combat history has until now been lackluster at best—and catastrophic at worst.

During the First Chechen War of 1994–1996, rebel forces discovered that the tank’s Korzhina autoloader stored ready propellant in a vertical position in a carousel layout under the turret. A carefully aimed RPG round aimed at the turret would trigger a massive explosion inside the tank, incinerating the crew and blowing the turret off the tank chassis. Tank crews came to dread such an attack, and the T-80 earned a reputation as a “steel coffin.”

In one engagement during the Battle of Grozny in December 1994, Chechen forces destroyed 18 of 84 T-80 MBTs in a Russian armored division. Those models lacked explosive reactive armor, which made them vulnerable to man-portable anti-tank weapons. That explains why the T-80 was not deployed in the Second Chechen War in 1999 or the 2008 Russo-Georgian conflict. The T-80 also remained on the sidelines during much of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Despite the T-80’s shortcomings, more than 4,800 of the original tanks were manufactured by the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and production continued into the 1990s. And as the Ukraine war has drawn on, the T-80 has been among the second-tier platforms the Kremlin has sent into action. The results have reportedly been mixed at best, with the T-80 suffering heavy losses on the battlefield. 

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. He has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines, and websites over a 30-year career in journalism, including Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author at Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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