Nikolay Popov (14 December 1931 – 4 February 2008) was a Russian engineer who went on to be the main designer of the renowned Soviet

main battle tank A main battle tank (MBT), also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the role of armor-protected direct fire and maneuver in many modern armies. Cold War-era development of more powerful engines, better suspension s ...

, the

T-80 The T-80 is a main battle tank (MBT) that was designed and manufactured in the former Soviet Union and manufactured in Russia. The T-80 is based on the T-64, while incorporating features from the later T-72. The chief designer of the T-80 was ...

Early life

Popov was born on 14 December 1931, in the Ust-Labinsk district of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Career

Popov's main contribution to Russian and Soviet military development came in 1976, when the first productions of the T-80 began. Popov was the main designer of the tank and the T-80 ended up looking a lot like the previous T-64 and became the main battle tank of the Soviet Union due to its advanced design, being the first tank with a turbine, multi-fuelled engine and still used by the Russian army today in its elite tank units, with over 5,404 being built until its production was terminated in 1992 by the new Russian Federation.

Death

Popov died on 4 February 2008 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

References

External links

Chief designer of the T-80 tank dies
1931 births 2008 deaths Russian designers Soviet engineers 20th-century Russian engineers People from Ust-Labinsky District Weapon designers Soviet inventors {{Russia-mil-bio-stub