A social media blunder by Ukrainian military personnel could have serious consequences for the Western allies. Recently, a video appeared on the Internet showing the dynamic protection features of the German Leopard 2 tank. This video inadvertently revealed confidential information about the weak point of the armored vehicle.
The tank's dynamic protection is designed to reduce damage from anti-tank missiles. As shown in the video, special defense mechanisms are attached to the tank's armor for this purpose. If hit by an incoming explosion, they can deflect the main impact energy, thus minimizing damage to the armor.
Such information is strategically important and is usually kept strictly confidential. The publication of the video could jeopardise the safety of Leopard 2 tanks, which are used not only by the Ukrainian army, but also in a number of other NATO countries.
On the other hand, it is known that almost every hit to the armour of the Leopard 2 tank causes serious damage and a second hit is critical.
The Uralvagonzavod company will resume the production of T-80 tanks, which were first put into service with the Soviet army in 1976.
"This is the task, at least our army has set it. And now we are actively interacting, working, exploring these issues with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, because this, consequently, requires new capabilities," Potapov, general director of the Uralvagonzavod company, told the Zvezda TV channel.
The T-80 tank was built in the USSR at the Omsk Transport Engineering Plant . It first joined the Soviet Army in 1976. The tank was particularly distinguished by the possibility of using a single gas turbine power plant, for which it was named "flying". With the most modern modification, the T-80BVM, is currently in service with the Russian Army.
The upgraded version is equipped with a 125 mm gun. and can launch guided missiles. The modern T-80 has a multi-channel sight, a modified 1250-horsepower gas turbine engine and a gun stabilizer.
The main feature of the Russian army's main battle tank is that the engine can be either diesel or gas turbine. The range of direct fire is about three thousand meters.
The researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences Vladimir Prokhvatilov, proposed in the future to equip the T-80 with modern means of protection against missile and drone attacks.
"I believe that it is necessary to install the most modern means of protection against missile and drone attacks. You can leave a lot as it is, but it is necessary to improve the means of protection against these attacks, and on any tanks, not only on the T-80. This is the main concern now," he said in an interview with News.ru.
In July , the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported that, Uralvagonzavod had delivered a new batch of T-72B3 and T-90M tanks to troops, increasing production rates more than threefold last year.
The T-72B3 is the main Russian tank and the basis of the Russian army's tank fleet, being an alternative to the T-90A. The T-90M is a deeply modernized version of the T-90A, and is currently the most modern Russian tank, with the exception of the T-14.
During the press conference, the head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service, Kirill Budanov, announced the plans of the Ukrainian military leadership to continue active military operations even after the onset of cold weather and autumn rains. This statement, was a response to numerous suggestions by experts about a possible suspension of hostilities due to deteriorating weather conditions.
"We are prepared for any conditions and we are ready to continue our counterattack regardless of the time of year and weather factors," Budanov stressed.
However, if the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue hostilities at this moment, their effectiveness will be even less than at the moment, as in almost three and a half months the Ukrainian Armed Forces have failed to achieve significant success in any of the sectors.
