Black Eagle tank

The Black Eagle tank ( _ru. Чёрный Орёл, "Chyorny Oryol", or "Obyekt 640") is a prototype main battle tank produced in the Russian Federation. It was developed by the KBTM design bureau in Omsk in the late 1990s. A definitive version of this tank has not been publicly demonstrated, and it is unknown whether development continues. The Black Eagle demonstrates the direction Russian tank designers have been investigating, and may provide insight into future tank development.

Development started during the 1980s, when the design bureau of the Leningrad Kirov Plant (LKZ) developed a new design based upon the T-80U chassis. Later, when the bureau closed, the documentation was transferred to KBTM in Omsk.

A mock-up of the Black Eagle was first demonstrated at the VTTV arms exposition in Omsk, in September 1997, making a single brief pass, far from the reviewing stands. The tank appeared to be a standard T-80U hull, topped by a very large turret and gun, obscured by camouflage netting and canvas. The turret later turned out to be a crude mock-up.

An early prototype was shown at an arms exposition in Siberia, in June 1999. This tank had an elongated hull with seven pairs of road wheels instead of the T-80's six, and a turret still mostly obscured by camouflage netting.

The Black Eagle or "Object 640" is based on a lengthened T-80U hull, with an extra pair of road wheels and a brand new turret. It appears to have very thick front armour and new-generation "Cactus" explosive reactive armour on the hull and turret. The turret has a very large, box-shaped turret bustle instead of the traditional dome shape of previous Soviet and Russian main battle tanks. According to Russian reports, the Black Eagle design has abandoned the carousel-style autoloader in the fighting compartment for an autoloader mounted in the large western-style turret bustle, which incorporates a blow-out armoured ammunition compartment for crew safety, like the U.S. M1 Abrams tank. The prototype has a 125 mm tank gun, but it has been stated that it may accommodate a larger 152 mm gun [http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/2004630.asp] Dead link|date=February 2008 (compared to the 120 mm or 125 mm-calibre guns of main battle tanks in service). Due to its size, it is probably substantially heavier than the T-80, and so would require a more powerful engine to achieve the same mobility. There is debate about whether the Black Eagle will incorporate the Drozd or Arena Active Protection System.

There is still speculation whether the Black Eagle is intended for export, or if it will be fielded with the Russian Army. Some rumours persist that this may be a South Korean project, as the 152mm gun that is thought to be next generation Russian weaponry is not being outfitted on this model.

Recent information seems to suggest that the Black Eagle program has been halted due to the acceptance of the T-90 built by Uralvagonzavod into the Russian military. This is also compounded by the fact the company responsible for the Black Eagle's design, Omsk Transmash, has been in a state of bankruptcy since 2002. As of July 2008, the Russian army plans to adopt a new tank after 2010, built by same factory as the T-90, possibly to be designated T-95. [Christopher F. Foss, “Russia's New MBT Tipped to Sport a 152 mm Gun”, "Jane's Defence Weekly," July 30, 2008, p 6.]

Notes

References

* Jim Warford (1998). [http://www.knox.army.mil/center/ocoa/armormag/backissues/1990s/1998/so98/5warford98.pdf “The Resurrection of Russian Armor: Surprises from Siberia”] , in "Armor" vol. 108, no. 5, pp 30–33. Fort Knox, KY: US Army Armor Center. ISSN 0004-2420.
* Steven Zaloga and David Markov (2000). "Russia's T-80U Main Battle Tank", pp 4, 42–44. Hong Kong: Concord. ISBN 962-361-656-2.

External links

* [http://russianarmor.info/ Vasiliy Fofanov's Modern Russian Armour] - click "Black Eagle MBT" in the links in the left-hand frame.
* [http://www.warfare.ru/?lang=&linkid=1780&catid=244 Black Eagle MBT] - at Eugene Yanko in association with Omsk VTTV Arms Exhibition and Military Parade JSC
* [http://armor.kiev.ua/fofanov/Tanks/MBT/b_eagle.html Black Eagle MBT] - at Vasiliy Fofanov
* [http://www.brtsis.com/tanks.htm Russian Tanks] at BRTSIS Brief on Russian defence, trade, security and energy