The M-84AS prototype

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 sys ...

is a modernized version of the

M-84 The M-84 is a Yugoslav main battle tank, a variant of the Soviet T-72. The M-84 is still in service in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kuwait. Development and production Development The M-84 is based on the Soviet T-72M (expo ...

produced by

Yugoimport SDPR Yugoimport–SDPR ( sr, Југоимпорт–СДПР, Jugoimport–SDPR) is a Serbian state-owned weapons manufacturer as well as intermediary company for the import and export of defense-related equipment. It is headquartered in Belgrade, w ...

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia ( Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hu ...

. M-84AS is sometimes referred to as ''M-84AB1'' and ''M-2001'' and is based mostly on imported components.

Design

The modernization gives an improved fire-control system with integrated day/night sight. The M84A1 gun is replaced with a similar but improved gun which, along with better control characteristics, enables easy and fast field replacement of the barrel. The M-84AS tank is able to fire

9M119M Refleks The 9M119 ''Svir'', 9M119M ''Refleks'' (NATO reporting name AT-11 ''Sniper'') are laser beam riding, guided anti-tank missiles developed in the former Soviet Union. The two missiles are similar, but vary in range and launch platform. Both are desi ...

anti-tank guided missile An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...

s with

laser guidance Laser guidance directs a robotics system to a target position by means of a laser beam. The laser guidance of a robot is accomplished by projecting a laser light, image processing and communication to improve the accuracy of guidance. The key ide ...

through the barrel, which enables accurate engagement of enemy tanks up to 5 km. The M-84AS is equipped with imported Shtora-1 and

Kontakt-5 Kontakt-5 is a type of second-generation explosive reactive armour (ERA) originating in the Soviet Union. It is the first type of ERA that is able to significantly decrease the penetration of armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFS ...

that both enhance survivability of a tank.

is an explosive reactive armor package (ERA) which offers improved protection against modern tandem charge warheads and kinetic energy penetrators compared to the earlier Kontakt-1. It is also equipped with the modern

Shtora Shtora-1 (russian: Штора, "curtain") is an electro-optical active protection system or suite for tanks, designed to disrupt the laser designator and laser rangefinders of incoming anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). The system is mounted on t ...

electro-optical system for defense against wire and laser guided anti-tank missiles. The new turret will provide protection against Kinetic Energy (RHAe) anti-tank guided missiles. Its new 9M119 Refleks is a laser beam riding guided anti-tank missile designed to penetrate 900 mm of RHA. Since this version has not entered serial production for Serbian army new more modern version M-84AS1 is developed that will enter serial production.

Effectiveness

Apart from external differences to the M-84, it also has different internal structure and equipment, far surpassing the M-84AB in both capability and durability. Developed originally from the M-84, the M-84AS is more than just a quick tweak to bring it up to standard. Many improvements were adopted from what can be argued to be its sister tank, the

T-90S The T-90 is a third-generation Russian main battle tank. It uses a 125mm 2A46 smoothbore main gun, the 1A45T fire-control system, an upgraded engine, and gunner's thermal sight. Standard protective measures include a blend of steel and compo ...

. With slight differences in armour and maneuverability; the T-90S is better armored while the M-84AS is faster and more maneuverable. Considering the speed perspective, the M-84AS moves at 75 km/h on road while the T-90S moves at 60 km/h on road with off-road speeds varying according to terrain. The armor on the T-90S is somewhat superior with thicker composites, NBC protection as well as having the option of

Active Protection System An active protection system is a system designed to actively prevent certain anti-tank weapons from destroying a vehicle. Countermeasures that either conceal the vehicle from, or disrupt the guidance of an incoming guided missile threat are design ...

and KMT mine sweeping systems.T-80U and T-90 Trials 20.10.99
/ref> Aside from the propulsion and armor, the targeting system is equivalent.

References

External links

Article on the M84-AB1, published in "Odbrana"

Article on M-84 published by UK parliament commons

Forecast international on tank engine

Canadian assessment of ordnance
{{DEFAULTSORT:M-84as Post–Cold War main battle tanks Main battle tanks of Serbia Tanks with autoloaders Military Technical Institute Belgrade T-72

Design

Effectiveness

See also

References

External links