The Object 292 test vehicle was produced by the Kirov Special Machinery Plant (Special Machinery, Limited), and the scientists at VNIITransmash. On the chassis of the T-80U they installed a new turret, a 152mm cannon, and some other parts. The turret and cannon were installed and in 1991, experiments began at Rzhev Poligon. Positive results were achieved.
Ballistically, the smoothbore 152mm was far superior to the 125mm, though the chamber dimensions were not that much bigger. A new combat compartment was also developed, which could be installed on T-80 tanks without modifications to the main chassis structure.
Tank turret with poured base, reinforced roof and front arc.
Front View.
Rear View.
Niche to rear of turret with ejectable plates.
The final stage of development ended in the early 90′s, at which time financing of “Special Machinery” developments ended, and the CNII ‘Burevestnik” which worked on the rifled version of the 152mm annon, collapsed. On this we can read in the articles published by Yefremov and Larionov in “Military-Industrial Complex”, issue 2/2008, and Dzyavgo in the 13/2005 issue of the same magazine, as well as the “Military Mechanics” university paper, issue 6/2008/
By the late ’80s the Kirov plant’s also developed other weapons: a new battle tank equipped with computer-assisted fire control, an improved power-plant and transmission (Object 291).
In general, during the 1980s, in the USSR increased attempts were made to develop a new-generation tank based on the results of scientific-technical progress. During this period, as we can see in the book “75 years of tank weaponry and technology research and testing”, (page 415), the Russian tank industry began to lose its edge.
Translated by MicroBalrog.