vs
Posted on 02/26/2023 1:13:56 AM PST by familyop
Nearly sixty-two years since the first of the Soviet Army’s T-62s entered service, the Russian Army has once again modified the now obsolete tank. The “T-62M Obr. 2022” as shown in this Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) tweet appears equipped with a thermal sight only about half as old as the tank itself.
Russia has deployed its aging T-62s to Ukraine since last spring, and in October announced a plan to "modernize" 800 of the type for service.
The base T–62M dates to 1983, and NATO intelligence first observed the upgraded model during the Soviet Union's war in Afghanistan. It represented a considerable improvement over the original tanks, ironically built at the famed Malyshev Factory in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with upgraded armor and fire control systems, as well as a new diesel engine. It also featured the capability to fire 9K116-2 "Sheksna" (NATO: AT-10 Stabber) anti-tank guided missiles.
That 1PN96MT-02 thermal sight, however, has its roots originally in the early production run of BTR-80 armored personnel carriers in the mid-1980s. This T-62 isn’t the first Russian tank to gain this aging optic. A late-January tweet from Tank Diary (@TankDiary) shows a train full of T-72Bs with the simpler, older sights equipped.
Forbes also reported earlier this month that Russians had equipped a number of T-80s with the inferior 1PN96 system. Given that many T-62s had to be reactivated from storage, the modification is likely a necessity brought on by battlefield losses of more capable types and especially sanctions that have impacted Russia's ability to generate modern electronics. Many systems, such as armored vehicles' sensors, were imported from Western countries prior to the war.
While the modern Sosna-U panoramic optics found on contemporary T-72B, T-80BVM, and T-90 variants vastly outclass the 1PN96, they rely upon a French-made Thales thermal imager. Invasion-related sanctions obviously foreclose replacing those Sosna-Us lost in combat or making additional units to retrofit reactivated tanks.
Former Russian leader Dmitri Medvedev threatened the arrest of defense industry officials at a tank factory visit last year as supply chain problems snowballed. Furthermore, each passing day is another day closer to modern western tanks and armored fighting vehicles arriving on Ukraine's side with their own superior optics. Modern armored warfare depends largely on who can fire the first shot, so having a better or worse set of eyes can prove decisive.
Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can get caught up on our previous rolling coverage here.
THE LATEST
Saturday’s intelligence update from the British Ministry of Defense noted a lull in attacks by Iranian-made kamikaze drones since February 15, but that quiet is expected to end once Russia can replenish its stocks.
Heavy fighting continues in eastern Ukraine as reports say Russian forces are storming the town of Ivanivske, a settlement on the vital supply line road between the besieged city of Bakhmut.
Footage shows Ukrainian soldiers firing a Carl Gustav recoilless rifle in the trenches somewhere along the eastern frontline.
A year ago, Russian forces poured over Ukraine’s northern border with Belarus both in and around the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Now Ukraine is putting a serious defensive line between its capital and Russia’s client state, with two kilometers worth of landmines and anti-tank fortifications.
In the south, the Ukrainian General Staff reports that Russian forces have evacuated riverine forces from the Konka Island area of the Dnieper River delta immediately south of Kherson.
Croatia has reportedly begun readying a fleet of 12 Mi-8MTV-1 and two Mi-8T “Hip” helicopters that were recently retired from the Croatian Air Force for transfer to Ukraine.
A report in Jutarnji detailed the operation, with technical work preparing the helicopters underway at the Aviation Technical Center in Velika Gorica outside the capital of Zagreb. The Hips will join the Ukrainians’ considerable fleet of Mi-8/17 variants frequently seen flying at extremely low altitudes on combat missions near the frontline.
Lastly, the latest long-range strike on Mariupol apparently destroyed a few Russian armored vehicles with dozens of casualties, adding to the intrigue of what exactly Ukraine has to reach targets so far behind the lines.
That's it for now. We'll update this story if we have more to report.
“While the modern Sosna-U panoramic optics found on contemporary T-72B, T-80BVM, and T-90 variants vastly outclass the 1PN96, they rely upon a French-made Thales thermal imager.”
No need to read further. Thales matrix was pulled in 2014 for more advanced domestic Gen 4 variant by Cyclone.
They are made in much numbers that most are exported to China.
T-62M is more capable than most Leo2s they are shipping to the Ukrainians.
Second-line troops are carrying M91-30 Mosins, so why not T-62’s? Everything old is new again. Or maybe everything old is the stuff the Ukes haven’t blown up yet.
CC
“T-62M is more capable than most Leo2s they are shipping to the Ukrainians”
Really?
vs
In this century, tanks are targets. Artillery is still king. Neither side’s tanks have faired well.
Capability against other tanks is determined by who has the best sighting system. First sight, first shot, first kill.
T-72-90m tanks are inferior in that regard and old sight systems are even more inferior.
Except it is tank versus 100 anti tank weapons.
Artillery is still king.
————
…and Vlad absolutely has no shortage of artillery and ammunition. The US ( and EU) ditched years ago any meaningful artillery doctrine for air superiority…..which Vlad can shut down very easily by destroying any airfield in theatre or in any NATO country with his proven supersonic cruise missiles.
Vlads recent massive missile attacks ( unreported by MSM) have been hammering not only their electrical grid, but primarily targeting the Ukies AA. Don’t be surprised when his massive Air Force “ suddenly reenters” the scene. His bombers have already been launching air/ ground missiles (since late October ) at untouchable stand off distances.
The Ukies AA system is continually being degraded, which is why the corrupted comedian is crying for AA systems ( and not receiving any). The Pentagon knows when Vlad’s aircraft reappear in any size- it’s all over.
You will know it’s lights out permanently when Vlad decides to destroy the 12 bridges across the Dniepner. The West is continually in “reaction” mode, Vlad still holds all the cards and initiative...expect the tempo to step up when Artyomovsk ( Russian name for Bakmut) is totally liberated.
In this day and age of anti tank weaponry having perfect targeting systems, I do not think it really matters what type of tank either side rolls out into the battle field. They are all going to be scrap metal after the first few hours.
Dumbhugs who have no idea but like to weight in are so amusing. Leo2 has tons of modifications dating to early 1970s and earlier are vastly inferior to T-72s.
T-62M is a 1980s upgrage. Not to mention that they are rare in theater and only brought for the Kherson militia whose tankers are former Abkhazian military who are familiar with them.
Ridiculous.
Russia’s T-72B3 Turret Toss World Record: 100m Up In the Sky
Now Russia Is Adding Inferior Optics To Its T-80 Tanks, Too
We already knew that the Russian army—in a desperate effort to make good its losses in Ukraine—was pulling old T-72 tanks out of storage, adding 1970s-style optics and shipping them toward the front. Probably to get blown up.
Now it seems the Russians are giving their slightly-better T-80 tanks the same treatment. T-80s are starting to show up with the same outdated 1PN96MT-02 thermal gunner’s sights that could put “war-emergency” T-72s at a disadvantage in Ukraine.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/02/09/now-russia-is-adding-inferior-optics-to-its-t-80-tanks-too/?sh=2a9c4a1de95a
Russia has run out of rations and ammunition last March. Everybody knew it.
can’t spell “Russian apparatchik” without “sucks”
Well they do seem to have some problems, Russian Wagner chief Prigozhin blames ammunition shortage for high deaths, and Russian missile attacks on Ukraine's grid seem to only occur only once a week with the grid still functioning.
Attacks on the grid are targeting transformators for easy repair. If one wanted to knock it off, generation would be targeted.
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