What tank for Peru ? For over a decade, now, The Peruvian Army has been looking into options to replace its T-55 fleet. The budget allocated is approximately $800 millions with the hope of purchasing 80 to 120 tanks and the same amount (105) of APC’s.
So far, the Peruvians have apparently tested several models : The Chinese Type 90-II MBT-2000, the Polish PT-91 and the Ukrainian Oplot. Other sources cite tests conducted on Serbian M-84.
The Ukrainian T-84 Oplot is based on the T-80UD but is deeply modified with a new Composite armour layout with Kontakt-5 ERA and a completely new turret design with ammo bustle. It also incorporates a laser range finder, Thermal Imaging Sights and satellite navigation. It sports a very powerful 1200BHP engine and a 125mm smoothbore gun.
The Serbian M-84 is no longer produced. But even as a second hand weapon system, it would represent a considerable upgrade compared to the Peruvian T-55. The M-84 is based on the T-72 but incorporates composite armour, improved Fire Control System and a 1000BHP engine. It sports a 125mm smoothbore gun that can fire the AT-11 Sniper anti-tank guided missile. The hull and turret can be arrayed with Kontakt-5 ERA.
The Polish PT-91 Twardy is basically an upgraded T-72 tank. It sports a 125mm smoothbore gun mated with the Polish made Drawa Fire Control System and a blend of Polish and Israeli made optics and sights. Protection is provided by Polish made Erawa ERA. Power is provided by a 1000BHP engine.
The Chinese Type 90-II is based in part on heavily modified T-72 designs. It comes with Composite armour, ERA panels and a 125mm smoothbore gun. It has a powerful Ukrainian engine.
The results of those tests ? Well, the Peruvian army does not want the PT-91 and the T-84 Oplot fell short of expectations. There is no word on the results of the M-84 or if it even happened at all. As for the Type 90-II, Peru cannot acquire any as they come with Ukrainian engines and Ukraine has not cleared them for Chinese exports… So, what’s next ?
Well, Peru is now looking into the Chinese VT-4 (MBT- 3000), and the Russian T-90S ! It seems the Peruvian armed forced liked the MBT-2000 as the VT-4/MBT-3000 is basically a modernised version of the latest. It is manufactured by Norinco, comes equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun, Composite armour with modular ERA panels, improved sights and Fire control System and a Chinese made 1300BHP engine. It is interesting to note the Chinese built the MBT-3000 solely for export by using tried and tested existing technologies to make its production cost effective.
As for the T-90S, it is manufactured by UralVagonZavod in Russia, comes with a 125mm smoothbore gun that can fire the 9M119 Refleks anti-tank missile (AT-11 Sniper), Reflekt-5 ERA modular armour, a modern Fire Control System and improved sights. The T-90S Comes with the Shtora-1 counter measure suite which includes the two famous “red eyes” active infra-red jammers seen on many pictures.
So, is Peru going to purchase 100 new tanks, then ? Not so fast. What about the 50 T-55 Peru has in active service and the 230 ones it has in reserve ? Keeping and modernising some of them might be a way of stretching its $800 millions budget further, still…
There again, the Peruvian army is faced with several options. Three to be precise: 2 Russians and 1 Ukrainian.
The Ukrainian option is the most expensive one but modifies the T-55 deeply and is therefore the most complete. It transforms the T-55 into a modern MBT by changing everything that is possible to change from the base design. The design comes from the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (home of the T-64 and T-80UD) and is called the Tifon 2a. The Typhoon package includes a more powerful engine (1050BHP compared to the 580BHP of the original), a 125mm smoothbore gun (compared to the original 100mm gun) that can fire the Kombat guided anti-tank missile and an armour kit including Deflekt-T Ceramic passive armour and Nozh ERA.
The first Russian option comes from OmskTransMash, home of the T-80U. It is a much simpler option that focuses on the T-55 strengths and improves its capabilities without altering the design too much. It includes a more modern 100mm gun that can fire the 9M117M anti-tank missile (capable of defeating up to 600mm RHA), side skirts copied on the model of the T-80U and Relikt ERA usually found on T-90SM and T-72B3M. The Relikt ERA can increase the T-55 protection with the equivalent of up to 550-650mm RHA against APFSDS and 800-900mm RHA against HEAT projectiles.
The second Russian option comes courtesy of UralVagonZavod, home of the T-72 and T-90… And it is quite radical ! Ural, in effect, offers to fit in a more powerful engine, uprated armour (possibly Kontakt-5 ERA), remove the turret and replace it with the turret of the… BMPT “Terminator”! The old Peruvian T-55 would therefore become Terminator “light” (the original BMPT is based on the drivetrain and chassis of the T-72) but would still sport its dual 30mm autocanon and four Ataka-T AT missile launchers…
The Peruvian army has therefore plenty of choice between new tanks, modernised ones or a blend of both… Which option(s) would you pick ?
ADVERTISEMENT
I’d like to find out more? I’d care to find out some additional information.
You really make it appear really easy with your presentation however I to find this matter to be actually something which I feel I’d never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very large for me. I’m taking a look forward in your next submit, I will attempt to get the cling of it!
Greetings from Florida! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, good blog!
If you are going for best contents like I do, just visit this web page every day since it provides quality contents, thanks
My brother suggested I may like this website.
He was entirely right. This submit actually made my day.
You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this info!
Thank you!