Post by bazooka on Sept 4, 2019 6:31:12 GMT
South Korea Provides U.S. Army with Russian T-80 Battle Tanks for Testing
[South Korean T-80 Battle Tank]
The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the U.S Army’s 7th Cavalry Division have reportedly been provided access to South Korean T-80U battle tanks for testing. While the mainstay of South Korea’s tank divisions are formed of indigenous K1 and K2 platforms, 80 T-80U tanks were acquired from Russia in the mid-1990s to form two elite units. The capabilities of the platforms were surpassed almost 20 years later by the Hyundai Rotem K2 Black Panther, although they are otherwise still considered South Korea’s most capable platforms. The T-80U is fielded by two battalions of South Korea’s 3rd Tank Brigade, but through close defence ties with Seoul the United States Army has been able to gain a better understanding of the heavy Russian tanks at a time of rising tensions with Moscow.
South Korean T-80 Battle Tank
At the time of the Soviet collapse the T-80 was the heaviest and most capable battle tank in service, and was developed as a replacement for the elite T-64. Unlike other lighter platforms such as the T-62 and T-72, the platform was designed exclusively for Soviet use and was approved for export only with after the state’s dissolution by a number of cash-strapped successor states. The U.S. has sought to gain access to a number of Soviet technologies and high end weapons systems for study since the state’s collapse, most recently through its relationship with Ukraine following the overthrow of the government in Kiev in 2014. The T-80 retains a prominent role in Russia’s ground forces, although its high maintenance and age mean that T-72B3, T-90 and new T-14 are increasingly being relied on by frontline units. North Korea has also acquired a small number of T-80 tanks, although these were not intended for deployment but rather for study in order to develop the indigenous Pokpung Ho. The Pokpung Ho retains similar capabilities to the Russian T-80 and T-90, but is heavily tailored towards North Korea’s specific defence needs and retains superior anti aircraft and mountain warfare capabilities.
South Korean T-80 Battle Tank
At the time of the Soviet collapse the T-80 was the heaviest and most capable battle tank in service, and was developed as a replacement for the elite T-64. Unlike other lighter platforms such as the T-62 and T-72, the platform was designed exclusively for Soviet use and was approved for export only with after the state’s dissolution by a number of cash-strapped successor states. The U.S. has sought to gain access to a number of Soviet technologies and high end weapons systems for study since the state’s collapse, most recently through its relationship with Ukraine following the overthrow of the government in Kiev in 2014. The T-80 retains a prominent role in Russia’s ground forces, although its high maintenance and age mean that T-72B3, T-90 and new T-14 are increasingly being relied on by frontline units. North Korea has also acquired a small number of T-80 tanks, although these were not intended for deployment but rather for study in order to develop the indigenous Pokpung Ho. The Pokpung Ho retains similar capabilities to the Russian T-80 and T-90, but is heavily tailored towards North Korea’s specific defence needs and retains superior anti aircraft and mountain warfare capabilities.
