Russia plans to return 800 Т-62 tanks to service

Russia is trying to retrofit outdated armored vehicles. The 103rd Armored Plant near Chita received a contract to repair and improve about 800 Т-62 tanks for a period of three years.

This was announced by Andrei Gurulev, Zabaykalsky Krai Duma deputy.

“Returned to Zabaykalsky Krai, where I inspected the 103rd Armored Repair Plant in Atamanovka, near Chita. The plant is fully assured with contracts for the next 3 years; [they will be making] 800 tanks during this time — it’s a very large order. The plant works in two shifts, is ready to work in three, and we must help with this,” said Andrei Gurulev.

According to the deputy, tanks are not just undergoing major repairs, they are being modernized. Planned modernization includes equipping Т-62 with modern thermal imagers and night sights, strengthening protection, reactive armor, protection against missile systems, and split armor against grenade launchers.

The Т-62 tank was adopted back in 1961. In the 1980s, it was considered finally obsolete and was withdrawn from service in the Russian Federation in the 2000s. The modernized version of the Т-62 tank with a SACLOS anti-tank missile system and additional armor protection was designated Т-62М. Since 2018, it has been returned to service and is getting an update.

For the first time in the combat actions in Ukraine, these tanks were noticed in May 2022. Mil.in.ua wrote about the transfer of Russian tanks Т-62М and Т-62МV to the Ukrainian border.

The increasingly frequent appearance of such frankly outdated vehicles may indicate significant losses of Russians in armored vehicles and problems with the reactivation of more modern vehicles such as Т-72 and Т80 tanks.

Presumably, the upcoming modernization package for the Т-62 will include a new 1PN-96МТ-02 gunner’s sight with a thermal imager and laser rangefinder, which was worked out earlier at 103rd Plant as part of the modernization of the Т-62М model 2021.

The modernization also involves the installation of on-board screens of the Kontact-1 reactive armor and welding split armor screens (the so-called “barbecues”).

Additionally, given the chronic problems of the Soviet versions of the Т-62М with insufficient engine power due to the installation of heavy still-composite armor protection, additional reactive armor and steel grilles will further exacerbate mobility problems.

Another update of the Soviet BRDM-2 is the BRDM-2MS version, which was developed in 2016 by B-Arms LLC. The 103rd Armored Repair Plant specializes in the modernization of these vehicles.

During this modernization, two pairs of pneumatic wheels (designed to overcome trenches) and four hydraulic lifts were removed from the BRDM-2, and two additional hatches were built into the sides of the vehicle.

The BPU-1 turret was equipped with a new fire control system — a stabilized three-channel panoramic sight of the commander capable of seeing the enemy at a distance of up to 5 km during the day and up to 3.5 km at night. Six cameras were mounted on the hull for circular viewing. The cameras display images on four LCD displays in the combat compartment. The GAZ-41 petrol engine was replaced by a modern diesel engine. A runduk for the transportation of the crew’s personal property was installed on the stern of the hull.

To strengthen anti-mine protection, the bottom is reinforced with an additional armor plate, and anti-mine seats with foot protection are also installed. On the side of the hull, a set of mounted armor of 6 mm steel sheets is mounted on the outside, which, together with the armored hull, provides protection against hitting 12.7 mm bullets at a distance of 300 meters.

The cost of upgrading the BRDM-2 to the level of the BRDM-2MS at 2021 prices is 7 million rubles (approximately $110 thousand).