BVP M-80
BVP M-80 ICV/IFV | |
---|---|
![]() Serbian M-80A in 2011 | |
Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
Place of origin | Yugoslavia |
Service history | |
In service | 1979–present |
Wars | |
Production history | |
Designer | Military Technical Institute |
Designed | 1971, M-80 first version introduced in 1979 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 13,850 kg |
Length | 6.42 meters |
Width | 2.90 meters |
Height | 2.20 meters |
Crew | 3+7 |
Armor | Aluminum/Aluminum oxide[citation needed]/Titanium boride[citation needed] |
Main armament | 20 mm M-55 (HS 804) cannon400 rounds9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 Sagger) ATGM2 Missiles or ATGM launcher |
Secondary armament | coaxial 7.62 machine-gun 2,000 rounds |
Engine | Daimler Benz OM-403 320 hp |
Power/weight | 22.6 hp/tonne |
Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 500 km |
Maximum speed | 65 km/h on land8 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.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/UA_M-80_03.jpg/220px-UA_M-80_03.jpg)
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]
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]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/M80_interior.jpg/220px-M80_interior.jpg)
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 M80A1 with Vidra turret
-
Sava M-90 with Strela 10 launcher
-
BVP M80AB1
-
Croatian BVP M-80A
Operators
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/M-80_operators_in_June_2022.png/400px-M-80_operators_in_June_2022.png)
Current operators
[edit]Croatia– 128, 104 IFV + 24 various support versions, to be replaced byM2 Bradleyby 2025.
Serbia– 320; Serbian Army plans to upgrade 220 vehicles to BVP М-80АB1 standard.[12][citation needed]
Ukraine– 35 M-80As donated by Slovenia during theRusso-Ukrainian War.[13][14][15]
Former operators
[edit]Yugoslavia– Passed on to successor states.[9]
Bosnia and Herzegovina:30+ in 1998[2]
North Macedonia:2 in 1998[2]
Slovenia:62 in 1998,[2]52 in 2002,[3]35 vehicles were donated in 2022 as war aid to Ukraine.[16]
Serbia and Montenegro:568 in 1998.[2]
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.
- ^Foss 2000,p. 228.
- ^abcdefgFoss, Christopher F. (15 June 1998). "M-80 mechanised infantry combat vehicle".Jane's Armour and Artillery 1998-99.
- ^abcdefghijFoss, Christopher F. (27 November 2001). "BVP M80A mechanised infantry combat vehicle".Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002-2003.
- ^abcdFoss 2000,p. 226.
- ^"The BVP M80 IFV".Tanknutdave. 2010-04-14. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-28.Retrieved2010-09-07.
- ^ab"1970-1992: From M70 to Sanctions".zastava-arms.rs.2013. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-01-05.Retrieved2018-01-05.
- ^ARG (2006)."M-80A at".Military-today.Retrieved2010-09-07.
- ^"BVP M-80".vojska.net.
- ^abcFoss 2000,p. 227.
- ^"Borbeno vozilo pesadije M-80/98A".srpskioklop.paluba.info(in Serbian).
- ^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.
- ^The Military Balance 2022,p. 134.
- ^"Old Slovenian tanks en route to Ukraine, report says".STA.si.21 June 2022.Retrieved21 June2022.
- ^"Šarec: Zaveze Natu ostajajo, zmanjševanja sredstev za obrambo ne bo".RTV Slovenia.16 June 2022.Retrieved21 June2022.
- ^Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost."Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine".Oryx Blog.Retrieved26 June2022.
- ^"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.
External links
[edit]Media related toBVP M80at Wikimedia Commons