The modernised T-80BVM is the tank best suited for Arctic operations, the Northern Fleet says.
More than 20 new tanks will this year be delivered to the tank brigades located in the Kola Peninsula. In the course of 2019, the upgrades of the brigades will be completed, the Northern Fleet informs.
Several new armoured combat vehicles of the kind have already been delivered to the Northern Fleet.
The Russian military considers the T-80BVM the tank best suited for operations in the high north. It has a 125 mm smoothbore gun with a range of up to 3,000 meters. Secondary armament consists of a coaxial 7,62 mm machine gun and roof-mounted 12,7 mm machine gun.
According to military-today.com, Russia today Russia operates a total of 4,500 T-80 main battle tanks of all variants. Due to high operational costs these tanks are being kept in reserve. Currently Russian Army operates T-90MTBs and overhauled or upgraded versions of the T-72.