The Obiekt 292, or Object 292 (Объект 292), was an experimental tank of design bureau of the Kirov Plant (JSC Spetsmash) and scientists of the All-Russian Research Institute Transmash. The prototype was based on the T-80U and with its turret. The chassis was that of a T-80BV, with few modifications, but the turret of the T-80U was up-gunned to a 152.4 smoothbore gun. The new gun had the same chamber diameter as the 125mm but was much longer. Anti-tank capacity was improved in such a way that the tank could potentially engage and destroy any Western tank of the time at battle distance with a single shot.

Design

The tank was based on the T-80's chassis, using a new turret, and was armed with an LP-83 152.4 mm smoothbore gun. A variant of the tank utilizing a rifled 152mm armament was never completed. Like most Russian tanks of its time, the gun offered poor depression and slow reload despite the presence of an autoloader. The traverse rates of the barrel and turret were also lower than the regular T-80, thanks to the heavier gun. Despite being less versatile in battle, the firepower was superior to the T-80 and other similarly-armed Russian MBTs. In September 1990 the tank was completed and in 1991 underwent trials. The trials showed high stability and reliability of the gun and the tank itself. However, the absence of funding discontinued further work on the tank's improvement. A major benefit of this new design was that the new turret was interchangeable with the standard T-80 main battle tank turret. The Ammo rack consisted of only 16 152 mm rounds.

References

{{Cold War tanks Main battle tanks of the Soviet Union Cold War tanks of the Soviet Union Abandoned military projects of the Soviet Union Main battle tanks of the Cold War History of the tank Trial and research tanks of the Soviet Union

Design

See also

References