Maneuverability and speed
The T-80U-M1 Bars tank is propelled by a 1,250 hp multifuel gas-turbine engine equipped with hydrostatic transmission. The specific power of 27.2 hp/t provides for the vehicle's high maneuverability and is much greater than that of foreign and other Russian tanks.
As the torque potentialities of this engine are much higher than those of the diesel engine, the probability of its sudden stoppage under an excessive load is excluded and the frequency of gear shifts when the tank moves on rough terrain is reduced.
GTD-1250 gas-turbine engine
High dynamic and acceleration characteristics allow the tank to escape a danger zone quickly. The tank accelerates up to a speed of
50 km/h within 17 to 19 s and makes a 3 to 5 m jerk within 1 or 2 seconds, which would cause a projectile fired by the enemy to richochet from the tank. Experience of using T-80U tanks in action indicates that some of them withstood up to five projectile and guided missile hits and continued with their mission. Compared to the T-80U, Bars is simpler and easier to operate and maintain. Within the near future, the tank will be equipped with a 1,400 hp heavy-duty engine.
The hydrostatic transmission is designed to considerably increase the tank's maneuverability, speed, and the reliability of final drives. Thus, a 12 percent gain is obtained when the tank moves along a regular route at an average speed and a 33 percent gain is obtained in a single turning motion. The turning radius is controlled steplessly, due to which fact the number of gear shifts in the final drives has been reduced sharply. The tank's run has become smoother and, consequently, the firing accuracy has increased.
Fuel consumption has dropped by 5 to 10 percent, while the lifetime of separate assemblies has increased as follows:
– transmission – by 30 percent;
– running gear – by 50 percent.
The vehicle is steered by means of only three controls: a handwheel, a throttle pedal, and a brake pedal. The limited number of controls allows the driver to concentrate his attention primarily on the road, terrain, and battlefield, thus maintaining his working capacity for a long time. The force applied by the driver to the controls is reduced four times and the driver's fatigue on long marches is also less.
The tank's multifuel (diesel oil as basic, kerosene as substitute, and gasoline as auxiliary fuel) capability considerably simplifies the material support of tank units.
An auxiliary gas-turbine unit, designated GTA-18, rated at 18 kW, powers all of the tank's systems when the vehicle's main engine is shut off.
In defense, the use of the auxiliary gas-turbine unit materially reduces the tank's IR signature, reducing the possibility of its detection by enemy thermal imaging devices.
Assessment of the tank's fuel consumption in a combat operation indicates that it is much lower than on tanks equipped with a traditional diesel engine using no auxiliary power unit.
Crew's comfort
During the operation of military hardware in diverse climatic conditions, particularly in the tropics, where ambient temperature and humidity are high, the Russian military hardware drastically loses its war-fighting qualities because of the lack of air-conditioning systems. Engineers of the Krios Research and Production Enterprise, who took part in the development of air conditioning systems for the Mir orbital station, have developed an air conditioning system for tanks.
The air conditioning system installed on the Bars tank features high reliability under excessive physical loads and is maintainable in field conditions.
The air conditioner developed for Bars supplies cooled air to each crew member individually, and so only the work spaces, rather than all of the tank's interior, are cooled. Compared to general circulation systems, the advantages of this system consist in a higher effectiveness and the possibility of using ventilated vests in combination with fire-resistant suites. Moreover, in addition to the air-cooling function, this air conditioning system dries incoming air, which is particularly important for countries with hot and moist climates. At halt, when the main engine is shut off, the air-conditioning system can draw power from the GTA unit.
The T-80U family of tanks can be equipped with rubber-padded tracks for movement on concrete and asphalt roads.
The T-80U family of tanks are available in different versions to suit the client-country's conditions and possibilities.