The Kharkiv Morozov Machine-building Design Bureau (KMDB) is one of the leading enterprises engaged in developing main battle tanks. Side by side with development of new tank designs, the KMDB carries out modernization of the tanks that were manufactured earlier, viz. T-72, T-62, T-55 and T-54 tanks.

The modernization is performed in three main directions:

• modernization of the power pack compartment envisaging installation of the 5TDF diesel engine developing 700 hp, and side gearboxes;
• modernization of the protection envisaging installation of additional armour plates on the frontal part of hull and turret as well as installation of explosive reactive armour;
• modernization of the tank armament and fire control system.

Modernization can be carried out either in any of the above directions separately or in any of their combinations.

Additional measures are taken to decrease the probability of being detected by the enemy, to increase crew survivability, etc.

Modernization of the power pack compartment

Modernization of the power pack compartment of the T-62 tank envisages installation of the 5TDF diesel engine developing 700 hp, side gearboxes, and efficient engine systems.

Characteristics of the twin-stroke 5TDF diesel engine

Modernization of the power pack compartment can be carried out at small enterprises in the shops equipped with lifting equipment with capacity of up to 15 t, metal-cutting equipment (plasma cutting or gas cutting)and welding equipment (up to 600 A).

Technological scheme of modernization of the T-62 tank:

• Disassembly of the tank
• Marking and cutting the tank hull
• Preparation of the hull for welding (preparation of the cut edges)
• Power pack compartment frame (to be supplied by Ukraine)
• Assembling

Modernization of protection

In order increase the level of armor protection, the following is installed on the T-62 tank:

• on the hull glacis plate and nose: armor module consisting of an armor plate and explosive reactive armor;
• on the turret frontal arc: add-on armor plates and explosive reactive armor;
• on the hull sides: armored skirt screens with explosive reactive armor.

Efficiency of increase of armor protection of the upgraded T-62 tank:

• kinetic energy attack (APFSDS) – 1.8;
• chemical energy attack (HEAT) – 2.5-3.

The modular design of armoring the frontal part of the hull and turret has the following advantages:

• possibility of re-equipping the tank armor protection later on as the armor materials are improved and new types of protection are designed;
• possibility of replacement of a damaged armor module (instead of restoration work) under field conditions;
• possibility of using the tanks with the armor modules removed under peace conditions during crew training.

The time required for installation of the removable armor module does not exceed 1 hour.

Modernization of the T-62 tank protection can be carried out at small enterprises in the shops equipped with lifting equipment with capacity of at least 1.5 t, metal-cutting equipment (plasma cutting or gas cutting) and welding equipment (up to 600A).

The tank can be equipped with the additional armor protection array within 20 days by 6 person.

Delivery set for modernization
of protection

Hull:

• armor plate to be installed on the tank glacis plate and nose;
• armored skirt screens with explosive reactive armor;
• rubber shields (for protection against HEAT projectiles) and fasteners.

Turret:

• add-on armor plates to be installed on the frontal arc;
• explosive armor package to be installed on the frontal arc;
• set of explosive reactive armor panels to be installed on the turret roof;
• fasteners.

Modernization of the fighting compartment

Modernization of the fighting compartment consists in installation of 120-mm main gun with gun driver’s combined main sight, computer with various sensors, and electric units of stabilizer. This results in increasing the target detection distance by 1.7 times as well as in improving capability from a stationary position and on the move both by day and at night.

Optical/electronic counter-measure system
(Installation is possible)

In order to increase of the tank against anti-tank guided weapons (that have either semi-automatic tracer-guided control system or semi-active laser-guided homing heads), the tank can be equipped with the optical/electronic counter-measure system.

The system in question includes an optical/electronic suppression equipment and aerosol screen laying system.

The optical/electronic counter-measure ensures the following:

decoying away incoming anti-tank guided missiles by means of setting light interference within a sector of ±20° relative to the main gun bore in the horizontal plane and ±2° in the vertical plane;

suppression of control systems of laser beam riding anti-tank guided missiles equipped with laser semi-active homing heads by means of setting quickly-generated aerosol screens a sector of ±45° relative to main gun bore.

NBC protection

In order to increase protection of the tank crew against mass destruction weapons, the upgraded T-62 tank is equipped with an NBC protection system intended to ensure air-tightness of the crew compartment, fire/explosion suppression, filtration of the air that comes into the crew compartment. The system comes into action automatically with simultaneous audible and light signaling. When the tank operates under condition of radioactive contamination of terrain, the NBC system enables the crew to carry out measurements of gamma radiation within the range of 0.9 to 150 r/h.

Comparative characteristics of T-62 and T-62M tanks

Modernization of T-62 tank