Main battle tank
| M-84AS |
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 Serbian M-84AS |
| Type | Main battle tank |
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| Place of origin | Serbia |
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|
| Used by | Serbia |
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|
| Designer | Military Technical Institute |
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| Designed | 2004 |
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| Manufacturer | Yugoimport SDPR |
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| No. built | ~5 |
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|
| Mass | 45 tonnes |
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| Length | 9.53 m |
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| Width | 3.73 m |
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| Height | 2.23 m |
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| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) |
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|
| Armor | cylindrical pad, high-hardness steel, titanium, aluminium, tungsten, NERA plus modular Kontakt-5, Shtora |
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Main
armament | 125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun and a 9M119 Svir |
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Secondary
armament | 7.62 mm M86 coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm M87 anti-aircraft machine gun |
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| Engine | diesel V-46TK
1,200 hp |
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| Power/weight | 26.7 hp/tonne |
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| Suspension | torsion bar |
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Operational
range | 700 km |
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| 75 km/h |
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The M-84AS prototype main battle tank is a modernized version of the M-84 produced by Yugoimport SDPR in Serbia. 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.[1] 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 anti-tank guided missiles with laser guidance through the barrel, which enables accurate engagement of enemy tanks up to 5 km.[2]
The M-84AS is equipped with imported Shtora-1 and Kontakt-5 that both enhance survivability of a tank. Kontakt-5 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.[3] It is also equipped with the modern Shtora electro-optical system for defense against wire and laser guided anti-tank missiles.[4] 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[5] 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. 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 and KMT mine sweeping systems.[6][7] Aside from the propulsion and armor, the targeting system is equivalent.
