Fire erupts at Omsk tank factory amid sabotage suspicions

Omsktransmasz is Russia's second most important tank factory, after Nizhny Tagil, and is owned by the Uralvagonzavod corporation. In Omsk, T-80 family tanks are repaired or upgraded, and heavy flamethrowers like the TOS-1A and 2S19 "Msta-S" self-propelled howitzers are also produced. Here, we present the capabilities of these machines.

A fire broke out on September 12 at the Omsktransmasz factory grounds. The cause was allegedly related to repair work conducted by an external company, according to Russian sources. The factory's statement indicated that the fire did not affect the production process, and there were no casualties. Whether this is true remains to be seen when photos from the site are released.

Due to losses suffered during the war in Ukraine, the Russian military is reclaiming whatever equipment they can from "strategic junkyards." The condition of post-Soviet equipment from the reserves varies, and in recent years, the Russians have resorted to pulling out T-80 tanks rather than the more theoretically abundant T-72 models. Additionally, Ukrainian forces capturing Russian tanks in the Kursk region have reported that the T-80BWM and T-90M are in much better condition than the T-72 models.

It can be assumed that the less popular family of machines worldwide was simply less looted over the past decades, making them more suitable for faster restoration to combat readiness. The group Covert Cabal, which analyzes Russian reserves using satellite images, estimated that out of about 1200-1600 T-80B/BW units existing before the war, Russia will have less than 300 visible units left by mid-2024.

The Russians are conducting extensive overhauls of these machines to the T-80BWM standard, which is one of the most dangerous tanks that the Ukrainians could encounter. An offensive without relatively modern tanks is impossible, something the Russians are well aware of.

T-80BWM tanks, produced since 2017, are modernized versions of older machines. In addition to general repairs, a new fire control system with a thermal sight is installed. The loader is adapted for longer projectiles, and heavy two-layer reactive Relikt armour is added to the tank's main armour, providing protection against tandem warhead-shaped charges.

Moreover, as of 2023, drone jammers and "roofs" have been added to protect against bomblets or PG-7VL grenades dropped by "Baba Yaga" type drones. Generally speaking, the T-80BWM tanks are robust machines capable of surviving several hits from FPV drones, as long as these do not strike critical points and cause the ammunition storage to explode.

Additionally, the Omsk factory produces heavy flamethrowers like the TOS-1A, rocket launchers containing 99 pounds of thermobaric explosive material. Unlike conventional explosives, thermobaric explosives are much more lethal, especially in built-up areas or fortifications. In addition to the classic effects of an explosion, they create a vacuum and pressure surges in the strike zone, tearing apart internal organs.