Jump to content

BVP M-80

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BVP M-80 ICV/IFV
Serbian M-80A in 2011
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Place of originYugoslavia
Service history
In service1979–present
Wars
Production history
DesignerMilitary Technical Institute
Designed1971, M-80 first version introduced in 1979
Specifications
Mass13,850 kg
Length6.42 meters
Width2.90 meters
Height2.20 meters
Crew3+7
ArmorAluminum/Aluminum oxide[citation needed]/Titanium boride[citation needed]
Main
armament
20 mm M-55 (HS 804) cannon
400 rounds
9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) ATGM
2 Missiles or ATGM launcher
Secondary
armament
coaxial 7.62 machine-gun 2,000 rounds
EngineDaimler Benz OM-403
320 hp
Power/weight22.6 hp/tonne
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
500 km
Maximum speed65 km/h on land
8 km/h in water

TheBVP M-80(Serbo-Croatian:Борбено возило пешадије М-80 [БВП М-80]), is a tracked Yugoslav-madeinfantry fighting vehicle,produced from the 1980s until the country's collapse in the 1990s.

Ukrainian M-80 IFVs of the24th Mechanized Brigade,donated by Slovenia during the 2022 Russian invasion in Ukraine.

Development

[edit]

Early research and development of the M-80 began in 1969, with testing of the first completed prototype in 1974. It was first presented publicly in 1975.[1]First examples of the BVP M-80 rolled out in 1979 but full entry to service happened in 1982.[citation needed]

The first production variant was the M-80 which was only made in small numbers. The vehicle used a French-built engine with an output of 260 hp, the same engine as used inAMX-10P.[2]After only a year,Yugoslaviastarted license production ofDaimler-Benz's 315 hp engine in domestic FAMOS factories. This variant received a new designation as M-80A. Around 1000 vehicles were produced before the breakup of the country.[3]

At the time it was produced, M-80A had similar characteristics with existing IFVs like RussianBMP-1or French AMX 10P. Although many foreign experts compare M-80A with Russian BMP-1, the Yugoslav IFV is a true original design. Unlike the BMP-1 which had 6 road wheels and was armed with 73 mm gun, M-80A had 5 road wheels and had 20 mm gun. M-80A incorporates numerous elements from the FrenchAMX-10Pgiving it more power and better protection over its counterpart.[2]All M-80s are amphibious and are equipped with twinAT-3launchers.[4]

It was used extensively during theYugoslav Wars.[5]

Turret

[edit]

The standard versions (BVP M-80 and M-80A) mounted aHispano-Suiza HS.80420mm autocannon that has an effective range of about 1500 meters and, depending on ammunition type, is able to penetrate around 20mm of RHAe (Rolled Homogeneous Armour equivalency).[2]

In 1978 the technical-military council ofYugoslav People's Armydecided that a larger caliber gun would be necessary to counter the increasingly heavy armor of possible enemy armored fighting vehicles and began development of a new turret to house the larger weapon. This requirement led to the development of the Zastava 30mm autocannon M86 in 1985[6]and a new turret "Vidra"– later designated: M91. In addition to the new gyro stabilized 30mm auto-cannon, the new turret was equipped with smoke grenade launchers,[3]improved day/night sights,[citation needed]and the ability to fire SACLOS9M14 MalyutkaATGMs.[3]The turret is rotated by servo-hydraulics and the main gun is elevated and depressed by electric motor.

Incremental improvements were made to the design of the Vidra turret throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. These improvements would eventually be standardized and incorporated into a thoroughly updated turret and designated M91E. Besides being able to mount the original M86 30mmautocannon,the M91E-I and MM91E-II turrets able to accommodate the dual feed Zastava M89 30mm autocannon.[citation needed]

Development is ongoing on a further modernized turret incorporating more effective ATGM armament. Besides BVP M-80 versions, the Vidra turret is offered for modernization or production with other vehicles such asBTR-50.[citation needed]

M-91E turret

Characteristics

[edit]

The M-80A is armed with one 20 mm gun, co-axial machine gun 7.62 mm and twin launcher for wire-guided anti-tank missiles. It isNBCprotected, fire suppression system, inside heating and water ejecting system. It is fully amphibious and can perform crossing of any water barrier without previous preparations. Max. speed at water is 7 km/h. Crew consist of three, driver, commander and gun operator and in the after compartment, there is space for six fully equipped infantrymen who can engage the enemy with personal armament through six gun slits on both vehicle sides and back doors and one squad leader who commands infantry upon exiting the vehicle. Infantry leaves IFV through two doors at the back of the vehicle.[7]

Interior of the M-80 IFV

Variants

[edit]
  • M-80– First production model with 260 hp engine, replaced after 1 year.[8]
  • M-80A– Improved version with 320 hp engine, full production.[4]
  • M-80A1orSPAT 30/2– Improved version with a dual 30mm gun system called "Foka".[6]Prototype only.[4]
  • M-80A/98– Further improvements of M-80A1 with new turret called "Vidra" first designated as M-96 later changed to M80A/98. Publicly presented in 2004;
  • M-80A KC– Company commander's vehicle.[4]
  • M-80A KB– Battalion commander's vehicle.[9]
  • M-80A VK- Turretless commander's vehicle.[3]
  • M-80A Sn– Medical, no turret.[9]Single oblong hatch in the roof and single rear door. Carries 4 stretcher patients or 8 seated patients.[3]
  • M-80A LT–Tank hunterversion with sixAT-3launchers.[3]
  • Sava M-90–SA-13SAM version, designated Strela-10MJ, prototype.[3]
  • MOS– Self-propelled mine layer.
  • M-80AK/M-98A– Newgun turretwith 30 mm M86 cannon[3]or 30 mm dual feed M89 cannon.[10]
  • M-80AB1– Latest upgraded variant including more advanced armour, turret gun control equipment, optronics package, smoke grenade launchers and the ability to mount and launch the most recent9M14 Malyutkamissile variants.[11]
  • SPAT 30/2– Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.[3]New turret model called "Foka" with two Zastava 30 mm autocannons with elevation from -5 to +85 degrees. The aim-scan gear is J-171 or Motorola 6800. Included receiver of radar data gathered from external Air Force observations radar. Three crew members and 4 soldiers could be transported. Planned to be used as successor and replacement forM-53/59 Praga– 4 models produced.
  • BVP M80 SPAT 30/2 with Foka turret
    BVP M80 SPAT 30/2 with Foka turret
  • BVP M80A1 with Vidra turret
    BVP M80A1 with Vidra turret
  • Sava M-90 with Strela 10 launcher
    Sava M-90 with Strela 10 launcher
  • BVP M80AB1
    BVP M80AB1
  • Croatian BVP M-80A
    Croatian BVP M-80A

Operators

[edit]
Map of M-80 operators in blue with former operators in red

Current operators

[edit]

Former operators

[edit]

References

[edit]
  • Foss, Christopher F. (2000).Jane's Tanks and Combat Vehicles Recognition Guide.Harper Collins Publishers.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies(February 2016).The Military Balance 2016.Vol. 116. Routlegde.ISBN9781857438352.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (14 February 2022).The Military Balance 2022.Routledge.ISBN978-1-000-62003-0.
  1. ^Foss 2000,p. 228.
  2. ^abcdefgFoss, Christopher F. (15 June 1998). "M-80 mechanised infantry combat vehicle".Jane's Armour and Artillery 1998-99.
  3. ^abcdefghijFoss, Christopher F. (27 November 2001). "BVP M80A mechanised infantry combat vehicle".Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002-2003.
  4. ^abcdFoss 2000,p. 226.
  5. ^"The BVP M80 IFV".Tanknutdave. 2010-04-14. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-28.Retrieved2010-09-07.
  6. ^ab"1970-1992: From M70 to Sanctions".zastava-arms.rs.2013. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-01-05.Retrieved2018-01-05.
  7. ^ARG (2006)."M-80A at".Military-today.Retrieved2010-09-07.
  8. ^"BVP M-80".vojska.net.
  9. ^abcFoss 2000,p. 227.
  10. ^"Borbeno vozilo pesadije M-80/98A".srpskioklop.paluba.info(in Serbian).
  11. ^Foss, Christopher F. (5 July 2017)."Serbia showcases upgraded BVP M-80AB1 IFV".IHS Jane's 360.Belgrade, Serbia. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2017.Retrieved5 July2017.
  12. ^The Military Balance 2022,p. 134.
  13. ^"Old Slovenian tanks en route to Ukraine, report says".STA.si.21 June 2022.Retrieved21 June2022.
  14. ^"Šarec: Zaveze Natu ostajajo, zmanjševanja sredstev za obrambo ne bo".RTV Slovenia.16 June 2022.Retrieved21 June2022.
  15. ^Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost."Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine".Oryx Blog.Retrieved26 June2022.
  16. ^"Slovenija je Ukrajini predala serijo bojnih vozil pehote M-80A | Spletni portal obramba Slovenija je Ukrajini predala serijo bojnih vozil pehote M-80A".obramba.Retrieved2022-06-22.
[edit]
  • Media related toBVP M80at Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=BVP_M-80&oldid=1242008458"