Although the T-62 is Vietnam's most modern tank, it has been in service for a long time, and upgrades have been considered. So what is the optimal solution?
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| According to Lenta, the upgrade option for the T-62 tank, based on the T-55M3 package, which only replaces the 120mm cannon, would both utilize existing tests and provide the T-62 with new capabilities. |
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| According to this source, Vietnam and Israel have a collaborative project to modernize outdated T-54/55 tanks to the more modern T-55M3 standard with several upgrades: Replacing the old D-10T2S 100mm cannon with an Israeli M-68 105mm rifled cannon with heat shields to increase lifespan, reduce barrel curvature and thermal wear by up to 70% compared to the old cannon, and increase firing accuracy. |
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| The M-68 cannon is capable of firing modern ammunition such as the M-246 sub-caliber armor-piercing round and the M-456 hollow-charge round, which can penetrate more than 450mm of homogeneous armor at a range of 1,000m, or APAM (Explosive Ammunition Ammunition) rounds. Secondary weapons include a 60mm mortar for engaging concealed targets and a Vietnamese-made NSV 12.7mm heavy machine gun capable of engaging low-flying targets. |
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| The T-55M3 is also equipped with explosive reactive armor providing protection equivalent to 450mm RHA, a new 580-horsepower engine for increased mobility, and the MAWS6056B meteorological sensor manufactured by the Swiss company Idram. Although the T-55M3's power is significantly greater than the original T-54/55, it still has a number of drawbacks, the biggest of which is its firepower. |
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| Specifically, the M-68 gun, based on the British L7 prototype from half a century ago, is outdated. Although equipped with new ammunition, it still cannot penetrate the frontal armor of modern tanks and is too weak compared to upgraded T-54/55 versions with 125mm guns developed by China or Russia. |
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| However, what has been implemented on the T-55M3 tank could be applied with some minor modifications to the T-62 tank to enhance the strength of Vietnam's armored forces. The T-62 was a further step in the Soviet tank development cycle from the beginning of the T-54/T-55 series. Production of the T-62 began in 1961 and the production line remained operational until 1975. |
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| Developed from the T-54/55, the T-62 shares many similarities, such as a five-wheeled hull design with the first three wheels close together and a slightly larger distance between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th wheels. The track wheels are located at the rear, while the steering wheels are at the front without support rollers. The T-62 turret is circular, positioned above the third track wheel, and has a more egg-like shape than the T-54/T-55 generations due to its larger size to accommodate the 115mm D-68 smoothbore cannon. |
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| The biggest difference between the T-54/55 and the T-62 was the new turret and gun, which provided the tank with better firepower. However, the D-68 115mm gun was also very outdated, especially due to being "forgotten" for a long time, so the ammunition for the D-68 was all of an older generation, with combat capabilities no higher than the M-68 gun on the T-55M3, and could not directly confront modern tanks. |
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| As the most modern main battle tank of the Vietnam People's Army, the T-62 should be the target for combat capability upgrades rather than the T-54/55. Upgrades on the T-55M3 such as Blazer explosive reactive armor, 60mm mortars, MAWS6056B meteorological sensors, etc., can be easily installed on the T-62. In particular, the larger turret of the T-62 is considered capable of carrying the MG-253 120mm cannon – the same type installed on the latest generations of Israeli Merkava tanks. |
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| Replacing the D-68 115mm smoothbore cannon with the MG-253 120mm cannon offers several advantages over the 2A46 125mm cannon, such as simpler deployment and no need for major modifications to the turret to accommodate the automatic loading system. It's also easier to synchronize with other equipment on the vehicle due to their Israeli origin, and obtaining licenses for the production of high-tech ammunition is much easier than purchasing from Russia. |
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| The T-62 modernization plan, based on the T-55M3 upgrade package, which only replaces the 105mm M-68 rifled gun with a 120mm MG-253 smoothbore gun, will both utilize the tests already conducted on the T-55M3 and provide the T-62 with new combat capabilities, fully capable of engaging today's leading main battle tanks. (Image in article: Vietnamese armored forces conducting exercises with T-62s.) |
According to Baodatviet
