With a height of only about 2m, the Black Eagle is considered the shortest main battle tank in the history of the world.
In search of a solution to replace the T-72 and T-80 tanks, right from the late 1980s, the Soviet Union assigned factories and design bureaus to develop new tanks. This program “squeezed” through the Russian Federation when the Soviet Union collapsed. Two projects were born, the first was the T-95 tank (Object 195) designed by the research facility in Nizhny Tagil, and manufactured by the Uralvagonzavod plant. And the other project is Black Eagle (Black Eagle) aka Object 640 or T-80UM2 made by Kirov Design Bureau (LKZ). After the closure of LKZ, Black Eagle was handed over to the MPA design bureau in Omsk in the late 1990s.
In September 1997, a model of the Black Eagle tank was displayed for the first time.
In September 1997, a model of the Black Eagle tank was displayed for the first time at the 2nd VTTV military exhibition in Omsk. The tank on display has a tank based on the T-80U, a very large turret and main gun, hidden by pieces of canvas and camouflage nets. Another model appeared at an exhibition in Siberia in June 1999, with a longer trunk consisting of 7 tracks (T-80 only 6).
This tank has an estimated weight of 50-65 tons, 7m long, 3.6m wide.
Specifications of Black Eagle so far are still shrouded in mystery, only know that it has an estimated weight of 50-65 tons, 7m long, 3.6m wide and especially only 2m high – this making it the shortest main battle tank in history. Although “dwarf” , but the power of the Black Eagle tank is not to be underestimated, if not terribly strong. Developed on the basis of the T-80U tank, the body of the Black Eagle has a great similarity, but is longer and has more than one pair of heavy duty wheels to keep the crew away from the rear of the vehicle. Its composite armor is very thick (400mm) and is equipped with Kaktus explosive reactive armor. The slope in front of the tank and turret is designed to maximize protection.
In addition, when put into service, Black Eagle can be equipped with active defense systems Drozd-2 or Arena and optical jamming systems Shtora-6 and Shtora-8B. Some sources also claim that the Black Ealge is equipped with a radar that can detect aircraft and helicopters up to 16km away.
In terms of firepower, the first prototype of the Black Eagle appeared with a 125mm 2A46M main cannon.
In terms of firepower, the first prototype of the Black Eagle appeared with a 125mm 2A46M main cannon. However, the plan of the LKZ and later the KTBM wanted to equip it with a 135mm or 140mm or 152mm gun with an effective range of up to 10km. In addition to conventional armor-piercing shells, the 152mm cannon can also launch anti-tank missiles through the barrel. In addition, Black Eagle is also equipped with a new automatic loader system installed in the turret liner, which can be loaded very quickly to increase the rate of continuous fire (10-12 rounds/minute). . The Black Eagle’s ammunition box is designed separately from the main compartment, so if the ammunition box explodes, the crew will not be hit by shrapnel.
The Black Eagle’s ammunition box is designed separately from the main compartment.
Notably, the Black Eagle abandoned the traditional Soviet round turret, and replaced it with a boxy “oversized” turret designed to resemble the West. Large cannon with bullets and longer pedestal frame, so Black Ealge must have a powerful engine. It has been tested with a gas turbine engine with a capacity of 1,500 horsepower, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 70-75km/h, a range of 650-1,000km depending on the amount of fuel carried.
Despite possessing unprecedented features, the Black Ealge project was forced to cancel due to lack of funds in 2002. However, this prototype provides an insight into the direction of tank development. Russia. Black Eagle is considered to successfully combine all the basic features into a modern main battle tank, such as armor, firepower, mobility.