PT-16 is another link in the evolution of Tward
Military equipment

PT-16 is another link in the evolution of Tward

28.07.2022 /

PT-16 is another link in the evolution of Tward. Housekeeper PT-16 in all its glory. New turret covers and chassis give the tank a silhouette that is hard to associate with T-72/PT-91 vehicles.

The sheer scale of production of T-72 tanks in both the Soviet Union and Russia, as well as in several licensed countries, make them one of the most popular combat vehicles of their class in the world today. Many of their users are considering the possibility of their further operation, and this implies the need for repair and modernization. Poland was the manufacturer of such vehicles, and the Polish armed forces are still their users, so our country has significant competencies in terms of supporting the operation of these tanks, as well as modernization to adapt to the needs of the modern battlefield.

Бригада строителей Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa SA, Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowe Urządzeń Mechanicznych OBRUM Sp. z o. o. and Zakłady Mechaniczne Bumar-Łabędy SA, которые начали подготовку

The new proposal for the comprehensive modernization of the T-72 / PT-91 tanks set itself the following tasks:

  • increase in firepower and improvement of fire maneuver parameters,
  • increasing the level of ballistic protection,
  • increased mobility,
  • increasing the comfort of the crew and the possibility of increasing the duration of the flight.

These are not entirely new requirements, since the weaknesses of these tanks have long been known, especially in modifications operated outside the Russian Federation and post-Soviet states:

  • insufficient firepower as a result of the use of outdated steel-core sub-caliber ammunition (armor penetration at the level of 300 mm RHA);
  • ineffective fire maneuver due to outdated turret and gun drives;
  • a gun with low efficiency (accuracy) as a result of the asymmetric location of one retractor and the location of the hinges of the gun below the axis of the gun barrel, which leads to a "rupture" of the barrel when fired;
  • short-term support for the recoil of weapons in the cradle, without the possibility of resetting the backlash;
  • low specific drive power factor;
  • location of ammunition and additional ammunition in the fighting compartment;
  • uniaxial stabilization of sights;
  • outdated electromechanical fire control system;
  • active devices for night observation and aiming.

Carried out in OBRUM Sp. z oo analytical work showed the possibility and expediency of further modernization of the T-72/PT-91 tanks, mainly in terms of increasing the firepower and survivability of the crew on the battlefield, as well as the comfort of the crew. It was decided that the relevant work could be carried out in Poland and constitute an industrial proposal addressed to the current users of the T-72/PT-91 tanks, mostly foreign, but also worthy of analysis by the Polish armed forces.

The modernization was designed as a package, so its volume can be adjusted in accordance with the client's expectations, both in terms of obtaining specific performance parameters and the available budget.

The upgrade package, which is a comprehensive upgrade proposal, was presented on the PT-16 demonstrator, which was completed this summer and shown to the public for the first time at MSPO in Kielce.

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