M-84AS Knowpia

M-84AS
M-84AS
	Serbian M-84AS
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Serbia
Service history
Used by	Serbia
Production history
Designer	Military Technical Institute
Designed	2004
Manufacturer	Yugoimport SDPR
No. built	~5
Specifications
Mass	45 tonnes
Length	9.53 m
Width	3.73 m
Height	2.23 m
Crew	3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Armor	cylindrical pad, high-hardness steel, titanium, aluminium, tungsten, NERA plus modular Kontakt-5, Shtora
Main; armament	125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun and a 9M119 Svir
Secondary; armament	7.62 mm M86 coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm M87 anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine	diesel V-46TK; 1,200 hp
Power/weight	26.7 hp/tonne
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational; range	700 km
Maximum speed	75 km/h

The M-84AS prototype main battle tank is a modernized version of the M-84 produced by Yugoimport SDPR in Serbia. M-84AS is sometimes referred to as M-84AB1 and M-2001 and is based mostly on imported components.

Design edit

The modernization gives an improved fire-control system with integrated day/night sight.^[1] The M84A1 gun is replaced with a similar but improved gun which, along with better control characteristics, enables easy and fast field replacement of the barrel. The M-84AS tank is able to fire 9M119M Refleks anti-tank guided missiles with laser guidance through the barrel, which enables accurate engagement of enemy tanks up to 5 km.^[2]

The M-84AS is equipped with imported Shtora-1 and Kontakt-5 that both enhance survivability of a tank. Kontakt-5 is an explosive reactive armor package (ERA) which offers improved protection against modern tandem charge warheads and kinetic energy penetrators compared to the earlier Kontakt-1.^[3] It is also equipped with the modern Shtora electro-optical system for defense against wire and laser guided anti-tank missiles.^[4] The new turret will provide protection against Kinetic Energy (RHAe) anti-tank guided missiles. Its new 9M119 Refleks is a laser beam riding guided anti-tank missile designed to penetrate 900 mm of RHA. Since this version has not entered serial production for Serbian army new more modern version M-84AS1^[5] is developed that will enter serial production.

Effectiveness edit

Apart from external differences to the M-84, it also has different internal structure and equipment, far surpassing the M-84AB in both capability and durability. Developed originally from the M-84, the M-84AS is more than just a quick tweak to bring it up to standard. Many improvements were adopted from what can be argued to be its sister tank, the T-90S. With slight differences in armour and maneuverability; the T-90S is better armored while the M-84AS is faster and more maneuverable. Considering the speed perspective, the M-84AS moves at 75 km/h on road while the T-90S moves at 60 km/h on road with off-road speeds varying according to terrain. The armor on the T-90S is somewhat superior with thicker composites, NBC protection as well as having the option of Active Protection System and KMT mine sweeping systems.^[6]^[7] Aside from the propulsion and armor, the targeting system is equivalent.

References edit

^ "www.yugoimport.com • Pogledaj temu - Multisenzorska platforma TOMS". Yugoimport.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
^ "Refleks / 9K119, 9M119, AT-11 Sniper, Svir". Deagel.com. 2010-01-10. Archived from the original on 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
^ "Simple arguments for crack influence on scaling of interface defeat" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
^ "Shtora-1 Active Protection System". Defense-update.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2010-02-07.
^ "New upgrades for Serbian M-84 AS1 MBT main battle tank | June 2020 News Defense Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year".
^ Tank Т-90С
^ T-80U and T-90 Trials 20.10.99