Apparently temporal inclination for wheeled vehicles and their supposed advantages is ceasing even in US, one of their initiators and they are back with tracked plattforms.
This decision was accepted by the group of persons, badly understanding an army. Russia does a rate not only on the wheeled but also on tracked platforms.
British Army wanted to rearm Challenger 2 with U55 gun that was an Rh-120/L55 with bore evacuator and thermal sleeve of L30A1 gun used currently in Challenger 2.
Akim, quick question -how many tanks and what type have Ukrainian Armed Forces.
This number is approximately correct. Mainly it is tanks of T-64BV. In Ukraine, three armored brigades, which are armed with more than 320 tanks. One brigade is manned by the tanks of BM Bulat. The other two brigades are armed with T-64BV. There are cropped tank regiment (in reserve) of tanks T-80 (different modifications). 10 mechanized brigades have more than 300 tanks. Artillery regiments and brigades are still about 120 tanks and more than 50 tanks in the coastal defense forces. Practically on all tanks T-64 (80) ERA "Konakt-1" is replaced by "Kontakt-5." But please note - this is only tanks that are in combat units. In general in Ukraine only tanks T-64 series, (in different state) over 2500. To sell she them does not can.
So in servise there is more or less:
On it's origins it was understandable, they had opportunity with Challenger 2 which was developed recently but they still remained with rifled gun. Maybe Britain has no longer need for tanks which is logical, so it is not worth to expect more than simple refurbishment, maintainance work.
With addition of T-80 variants (mostly T-80BV) there are about 2000 in active service.
Recently there were in service 20000, then reduced to half (mostly T-55, T-62, T-64... early tanks). Now structure is active service of 2000, and rest reserve required to be about 8000-9000. After 2020 all permanent readiness units should be with Armata and rest 5500 T-90, modernised T-72B.
How many is T-80BW? In fact modern tanks number is around 1000...
Hold a second -as I know T-72BA (Ob.184A1) is in 220 numbers. And whit Sosna-U main sight less then 60 tanks. Those tanks where produced in last decade.
"Imposiblu"
Impossible -take look about UVZ cheper and simpler T-90A (Ob.188A/A1) production. In best years it was 180 tanks per yer. Even If Armata will be ended "on time" (2015) -what is not so sure when we take a look in other russian military program... - then starting production need time. In fact the most optymistic possibility is ~500 new tanks in 2020. Propably mucht less...
Challenger 2 was not exactly their first choice. Original competition for new tank was won by M1A1 and in the long term British Army wanted improved M1A2, however prime minister Thatcher forced British Army to "reconsider" their choice and in the end support own industry. However VDS did not really designed a completely new tank, Challenger 2 in it's basics is just slightly redesigned Challenger 1 hull and completely new turret.
There were several thousands of different T-80, now I haven't a list of current formations (how many of them are active and in reserve), but there are many units with BV, recently also in Kuril islands.
"T-72BA" was purchased before 2011 and there were different variants of modernisation, I do not know exact number, maybe about 100.
Though I am skeptical, 460 tanks per year is possible. T-90A orders were under the capacity of the plant and there were many more including export and modernisations. Also UVZ since 2015 will operate new production facility currently under construction and will focus on new production, it will no longer be dedicated to T-72B upgrade which should shift to Omsk."Imposiblu"
IMHO Amrmata wil be ended whit 1-2 years later then it planed now.
Challenger 2 is complete redesign, they had opportunity, but remained with rifled gun for few yaers later to aknowledge the problem.
Main facility was indeed closed and with budget reduction there probably won't be anything than repair, hardly significant modernisation.
As I know operational status of T-80BV is far far from perfect. What is funny - rebuild T-80U wher sent to east near China region and...stored in "A" reserve (450 tanks) unit them are using T-80BV and T-72B and as I remember whole idea is to change in case war or danger thos tnak on new and fresh T-80U and old tanks (T-80BV and T-72B) will be sent for mobilisated reserve units. No idea chow close to truth is that. Info from second hand. But if You want count whole quite modern or modernisated tanks in Russian then value is pretty close to 1200 tanks + 2000 T-72B (and clones) and T-80BV. And those tank status is...far from perfect.
Im preatty sure those 220 tanks in few diffrent series. Of course scale of modernisation wkas diffrent and onlu last tow batch where closer to normal "T-72BA"standard, but as I said - Im preatty sure those 220 tanks. And only ~60 have Sosna-U. And As I understand those year and 2013 will be end whit new ~200 T-72BA.
184 - оÑновной танк Т-72Б (Ñ ÐšÐ£Ð’ 9К120)
Maybe instead of talking about complete redesign, first read some books written by British authors. Hull is just slightly redesigned Challenger 1 hull, and turret is completely new because Challenger 1 turret was in fact slightly redesigned Chieftain turret with composite armor.
Not main facility because in UK there is no such thing as main facility, there are ROF's or Royal Ordnance Factories, there were many different facilities of such types, at least two or three of them dedicated for AFV's manufacturing.
Sometimes it is difficult to say which one is active or not. After army reform and creation of brigades under new structure there are units of "permanent readiness" which make 2000 tanks, another active and mobilisation reserve.
Known as T-72BA, it started in 90s and there were different variants, some close to just repair, some better. Since 2011 modernised T-72B are uniform with standart.
T-72BA as said is old and there were many different versions and designations, some even common for different periodsbtw:
184 - оÑновной танк Т-72Б (Ñ ÐšÐ£Ð’ 9К120)
184-1 - оÑновной танк Т-72Б1 (без КУВ)
184Ð - оÑновной танк Т-72БÐ
184Ð1 - оÑновной танк Т-72БÐ1
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