T-80U M-2

Injection molding kit to build a T-80U M-2

• 1:35 scale
• workable single track links and suspension
• including PE and 3D printed parts
• not built/not painted
• Paint and glue not included

Pre-order price valid until 23rd June 2025

The T-80UM2, also known as "Object 219AS-M," was an experimental Russian main battle tank designed in the 1990s as a further development of the T-80U. It was a single prototype that never entered series production. The goal was to update the T-80 platform with state-of-the-art protection systems, an improved fire control system, and stronger armor protection.

One of the most distinctive features of the T-80UM2 was the Drozd-2 active protection system. This so-called hard-kill system uses radar to detect incoming anti-tank weapons and automatically engages them with fragmentation grenades before they can hit the tank. This protection was complemented by the newly developed "Cactus" reactive armor, which provided additional protection against shaped charges and kinetic energy. The tank's main armament consisted of an improved 125 mm 2A46M-6 smoothbore gun with an automatic loading system. Unlike previous T-80 models, the T-80UM2's ammunition was stored in a separate ammunition compartment in the turret for safety reasons, significantly improving crew survivability in the event of a hit.

The tank was powered by a 1,250 hp GTD-1250G gas turbine engine, which provided it with high mobility over diverse terrain. The interior layout was also modified: the gunner was positioned on the right side of the turret, while the commander was on the left – a first for this model series.

Despite its prototype status, the T-80UM2 actually saw action in the Russo-Ukrainian War in 2022. On March 17, 2022, it was destroyed by Ukrainian forces near the town of Trostyanets in the Sumy Oblast. Images show the burned-out wreck with its turret completely torn off. The exact circumstances of the destruction are not fully documented.

Its short operational history and experimental nature make the T-80UM2 one of the most unusual chapters in Russian tank development. It has also gained notoriety in the gaming community, where it is available as a rare, playable event vehicle in the game War Thunder, prized for its combination of firepower, mobility, and protection systems.