Ukraine sells military secrets about tanks to the US.
Kyiv continues to sell military secrets. Recently, Ukraine sold its most advanced tank, the T-84 Oplot, to the US for $7 million, even though mass production of this tank has not yet begun domestically.
So what did the Pentagon buy Oplot for? What secrets did Ukraine sell to the US? Details in Sputnik's report.
Tanks have too many problems.
The Ukrainian Oplot tank, weighing approximately 51 tons, is an improved version of the Soviet T-80UD (the diesel-powered version of the T-80). The latest T-84BM version features a modern fire control system and electro-optical countermeasures, infrared night vision, day/night vision, and Duplet explosive reactive armor designed for better protection against armor-piercing rounds and multiple anti-missile rounds.
The tank features a new integrated computer and communication system. It is equipped with a 1,200 horsepower 6DT-2E two-stroke diesel engine. Its main armament is the Ukrainian-made KBA-3 125 mm smoothbore cannon. According to experts, in terms of overall combat power, the T-84BM is nearly equivalent to the Russian T-90A tank.
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| T-84U "Oplot" tank. |
Since 2008, the Ukrainian army has only received three Oplot tanks. Kyiv has supplied 49 tanks to Thailand, although the contract has been delayed. But the buyer is particularly angry about the poor quality: the paint coating on the tanks peels off very quickly, and many rust spots are clearly visible.
It turned out they were using components and assemblies that had been in storage for decades or even salvaged from other tanks in the open. Therefore, the new Oplot tanks were essentially still equipped with the TD-1000T engine, the same engine used in the T-80 from the mid-1970s. Although these engines were considered a breakthrough when they were introduced, they were outdated decades later. (They began development in the Soviet Union in 1968).
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| The tanks are believed to be old models in Ukraine. Photo: It |
