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    The T-80: Russia’s Flying Tank and the Gas Turbine Revolution

    21 min
    |
    |
    27 juin 2026
    History & SocietyTechnology

    Explore the history of the T-80, Russia’s 'flying tank.' Learn how Dmitry Ustinov resurrected this gas turbine-powered beast despite early Soviet opposition.

    The T-80: Russia’s Flying Tank and the Gas Turbine Revolution

    Meilleure citation de The T-80: Russia’s Flying Tank and the Gas Turbine Revolution

    “

    The T-80 was a tank built for a war that never happened in the seventies, only to find its place in the very different conflicts of the 21st century.

    ”
    J

    Generated by Jinkyu

    Question posée

    A comprehensive overview of the T-80 tank, covering its unique gas turbine engine technology, technical design specifications, and its historical combat performance across different conflicts.

    Voix des présentateurs
    Lenaplay
    Lenaplay
    Sources de connaissances
    GTD-1250 Gas Turbine Engine
    link
    http://ciar.org/ttk/mbt/fofanov/armor.kiev.ua/fofanov/Tanks/EQP/gtd-1250.html
    [PDF] ARCHIVED REPORT T-80 - Forecast International
    link
    https://www.forecastinternational.com/archive/disp_pdf.cfm?DACH_RECNO=422
    T-80U/UK/U(M) Main Battle Tank
    link
    http://ciar.org/ttk/mbt/armor.vif2.ru/Tanks/MBT/t-80.html
    70% Lost in Grozny: Russia's T-80 Tank Was Slaughtered in the First Chechen War — and Then Wrongly Blamed for the Disaster - National Security Journal
    link
    https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/70-lost-in-grozny-russias-t-80-tank-was-slaughtered-in-the-first-chechen-war-and-then-wrongly-blamed-for-the-disaster/
    T-72 vs T-80 How the Soviets Split Their Armor - Military Vehicles Vault
    link
    https://militaryvehiclesvault.com/t-72-vs-t-80-how-the-soviets-split-their-armor/
    T-80
    link
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-80

    Foire aux questions

    The T-80 earned its reputation as the 'flying tank' due to its incredible speed and agility on the battlefield. Unlike traditional tanks with diesel engines, the T-80 utilized a high-pitched gas turbine engine, similar to the heart of a helicopter. This powerful engine allowed the forty-ton machine to move so fast that it could actually get airborne when traveling over bumps on a test range, distinguishing it from other Soviet armor of the era.

    The T-80's history was shaped by two major Soviet figures: Andrei Grechko and Dmitry Ustinov. In 1974, Defense Minister Andrei Grechko blocked the tank from production due to high fuel consumption and a lack of immediate armor advantages. However, after Grechko's death in 1976, his successor Dmitry Ustinov, a proponent of gas turbine technology, resurrected the project. Under Ustinov's influence, the T-80 was officially accepted into service in August 1976.

    While the T-72 was considered the reliable and mass-produced workhorse of the Soviet military, the T-80 was viewed as a high-tech and high-risk experiment. The primary difference lies in the propulsion system; the T-80 was the first production tank in the world powered by a gas turbine engine rather than a standard diesel engine. This gave the T-80 a unique high-pitched whine and superior speed, though it faced initial criticism for its fuel efficiency.

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    Points clés

    1

    The Flying Tank and the Minister's Pet Project

    2

    Jet Engines on Tracks and the Triple Shaft Architecture

    2:11
    3:14
    3:20
    3:52
    3

    The Logistics of a Hungry Beast

    5:11
    5:57
    4

    Kontakt-5 and the Shield of the T-80U

    6:54
    7:40
    8:41
    8:49
    9:13
    5

    The Disaster in Grozny and the Blame Game

    10:07
    11:08
    11:30
    6

    Project Brown Bear and the T-80’s Second Life

    12:31
    12:39
    13:46
    14:21
    14:47
    7

    The 2023 Restart and the Future of the Turbine

    15:16
    16:34
    16:59
    8

    Tactical Lessons and the Armor Playbook

    17:50
    9

    Reflection on a Legacy Reborn

    20:17

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