The decision was taken on May 28, 2009 after the tank had undergone in 2008-2009 extensive army-conducted trials of its firing, mobility, , protection capabilities and other characteristics of the tank.

The upgraded Oplot MBT differs from the basic Oplot version in having a commander's combined panoramic sight with independent day and thermal channels, which make it possible to accurately fire the remote-controlled anti-aircraft machine gun at air targets at elevation angles of up to +60°; separate (independent from the gunner) thermal imager and laser range-finder for the tank commander; new-generation Nozh-2 built-in explosive reactive armour array, which is capable of defeating tandem-warhead high-explosive anti-tank ammunition; new radio equipment; complex movement control system, which provides automatic gear shifting and smooth turning during tank movement; upgraded digital instrumentation panel for the tank driver; improved driver's steering wheel; more environment-friendly 1200 hp 6TD-2E diesel engine; more powerful auxiliary power unit (10 kW rather than the previous 8 kW).

The new tank is planned to enter production at the Malyshev Plant, which is now involved in upgrading T-64 MBTs for the Ukrainian Army to the BM Bulat configuration.

The Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) is a state-owned enterprise, which is now Ukraine's leading design authority for armoured fighting vehicles and used to play a key role in the development of armoured tracked vehicles in the former Soviet Union.

The contemporary activities of the KMDB are distinguished by three main factors:

• the ability to offer customers a wide range of armoured vehicles and other products for both military and civil use, as well as obsolete vehicle upgrade packages

• the provision of equipment closely tailored to customer's individual requirements

• the availability of long-term support for the end user