T-Rex (tank)
| T-Rex | |
|---|---|
| Type | Project MBT |
| Place of origin | Ukraine |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Arey Engineering Group[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 39 ton[2] |
| Length | 6.57 m 9.23 m gun forward[3] |
| Width | 3.56 m[3] |
| Height | 2.50 m[3] |
| Crew | 3[1] |
Main armament | 125mm gun[2] |
| Engine | Diesel |
The T-Rex (Ukrainian: Тірекс) was a Ukrainian main battle tank announced in 2016. However, after the design was patented in 2017, the project never advanced from the initial prototype stage.[4]
Development
The T-Rex, named after Tyrannosaurus rex, was announced in 2016[5] and was developed by the Arey Engineering Group,[1] which falls under the Azov Battalion.[5] Its main competitor was the Russian MBT T-14 Armata. Sergei Stepanov, the chief designer for Arey, claimed that the tank would have a "conceptually new system of fire control and a high level of personnel protection", along with features including "high maneuverability, 360-degree vision, and a high-bandwidth counteraction analytics system".[1]
The vehicle would be based on the T-64,[2] and hulls of the T-64 and T-72, inherited by the thousands from the Soviet Union, would be reused in its production.[1] The Azov Battalion estimated that up to 20 tanks could be upgraded every month.[5]
Design
The T-Rex would feature an unmannedturret.[2] The three crew members would be seated in an armored capsule at the front of the hull, where they could remotely control the cannon, the automatic loader, and the machine guns.[1] The tank would weigh 39 tons and be equipped with a 125 millimetres (4.9 in) main gun with "high-power projectiles". The armor would utilize both Nizh and Duplet (Ukrainian: Дуплет) explosive reactive armor.[2] The combat capability was said by the Ukrainian press to exceed those of the Oplot and the Bulat,[1][2] while at the same time being more cost-effective than the Bulat.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kapnik, Olena (18 January 2017). "New Ukrainian main battle tank to give new life to old Soviet T-64 and T-72 tank hulls". Euromaidan Press. Translated by N., A. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sovershit li Ukraina tankovuyu revolyutsiyu?" Совершит ли Украина танковую революцию? [Will Ukraine make a tank revolution?]. Naked Science (in Russian). 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- 1 2 3 Zgurets, Sergey (2016). "Vremya «Tirexa»" Время «Тирекса» [T-Rex Time]. Defense Express (in Ukrainian). No. 3–4. Kyiv: Defense Express. pp. 16–27.
- ↑ "Украина запатентовала новый танк «Тирекс»" [Ukraine has patented the new "T-Rex" tank]. azertag.az (in Russian). 14 January 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 Shudrya, Albiy (22 April 2016). "Ukrainskiy tank "Tireks": khishchnik na bumage" Украинский танк "Тирекс": хищник на бумаге [Ukrainian tank "Tirex": a predator on paper]. BBC News (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 May 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2021.