Ukrainian FPV drones dismantle Russian T‑80 tanks in stunning attack
Ukrainian troops commonly use FPV drones, which are invaluable on the battlefield. A video appeared online, showing the 59th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade conducting a drone and artillery attack on Russian armoured forces.
FPV drones on the modern battlefield enable soldiers to carry out reconnaissance and strike missions precisely with minimal risk to operators. These drones can effectively neutralize targets, even in difficult terrain conditions, thanks to high-resolution cameras and advanced navigation systems.
Modern weaponry is often used in attacks on Russian forces, causing significant losses in armoured units. According to the latest data, Russians are losing tanks at a rate that prevents replenishing the losses.
Successful FPV drone attack
A video of the 59th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade's attack on Russian armoured forces appeared online.
Ukrainian troops launched an artillery and drone attack on Russian T-80BVM and T-80BV tanks and a BMP infantry fighting vehicle. Even the cages intended to protect the equipment from drone attacks proved ineffective.
Russians are losing T-80 tanks en masse
The T-80 is a third-generation main battle tank designed and produced in the former Soviet Union (its production was later continued in Russia). During the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Federation deployed a huge number of these machines, which are commonly destroyed by Ukrainians—according to the Oryx service, most of the destroyed vehicles are precisely the T-80BV and T-80BVM versions.
Modernizations introduced in the T-80BVM version included a range of upgrades. Among them were modifications to the main gun, significantly improving its effectiveness. The automatic loader was also changed, contributing to increased speed and precision of operation. Improvements were also made to the night vision devices, greatly enhancing observation capabilities at night. Additionally, attention was paid to the protection of the machine, introducing modern solutions that increased its resistance to attacks. Furthermore, efforts were made to reduce fuel consumption, contributing to increased tank range.
The tank, which can accommodate a 3-person crew, has impressive dimensions. Its mass is 45,800 kilograms, length is 10 meters, width is 4 meters, and height is 2 meters. The tank's range is estimated at 500 kilometres due to the introduced fuel consumption improvements. As for speed, the machine can reach even 76 kilometres per hour on paved roads. When moving in the terrain, this speed drops to 45 kilometres per hour.
The T-80BVM model uses the smoothbore gun 2A46M-4 calibre 125 mm. This gun can fire a wide range of ammunition, including 9M119M Refleks guided missiles, which can range from 100 meters to 5,000 meters. The tank's additional armament includes a PKT machine gun calibre 7.62 mm and an NSVT machine gun calibre 12.7 mm. The T-80BVM tank also has 8 smoke grenade launchers, increasing its defensive capabilities.
