MOSCOW, April 6. /TASS/. The Northern Fleet’s motor rifle brigade held company-level tactical drills during troops’ qualification checks after the winter training period, involving over 100 weapon systems, including the upgraded T-80BVM tanks, the Fleet’s press office reported on Monday.

"Company-level tactical drills were held in the Pechengsky district of the Murmansk Region. Aside from the personnel of motorized infantry units, the drills involved more than 100 items of combat hardware: MTLB multi-purpose light-armored prime movers and T-80BVM tanks," the press office said in a statement.

During the drills, the motor rifle troops practiced going on high alert and performed a march to the designated areas, repelling attacks by enemy subversive groups and overcoming notionally contaminated terrain, the statement says.

"Directly at the training ground, the troops practiced delivering fire from small arms, combat vehicles, guns, mortars and grenade launchers against the targets that simulated the enemy’s armored vehicles at distances of 100 to 3,000 meters and conducted fire against low-flying air targets," according to the statement.

The drills assessed the troops’ readiness to accomplish gunnery, tactical, engineering and special training exercises within the required time limits, and also the tactical skills of commanders in a battle. Special attention was paid to troops’ cohesion in defense and a counter-attack, camouflaging and terrain reconnaissance, the press office said.

Upgraded T-80 tank

The T-80BVM is the Russian upgraded version of the T-80BV tank. The upgraded tanks arrived for the Northern Fleet’s motor rifle brigade in 2019. The T-80BVM tank features a multi-channel gunner sight, a 125mm 2A46M1 gun, a 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft and a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine-gun. The ammunition load includes the 9K119 Refleks missile system. The tank is equipped with a weapon stabilizer and a vision device for the mechanic-driver.

The T-80BVM is outfitted with an upgraded GTD-1250TF gas turbine engine with a 1,250 horsepower capacity. The tank can develop a maximum speed of 70 km/h and has a fuel capacity of 500 km.

T-80BVM tanks feature improved maneuverability and mobility and are outfitted with new devices that enhance their combat efficiency, the level of protection and reliability in extreme conditions. The new engine improves the tank’s performance characteristics, especially in harsh Arctic conditions.