The Russian Defence Ministry has published specifications for the latest model of Russia's T-80 tank (named T-80BVM) developed in 2017. It turned out that the tank has received a new auto-loader, allowing it to use new anti-tank ammo: Svinets-1 and Svinets-2 740 mm rounds. Although little is known about these rounds, reports suggest that one of them is made of an alloy, based on depleted uranium.
READ MORE: Indestructible Armata: the Russian Tank That Can Survive Any Hit
Depleted uranium is generally used in kinetic energy penetrator anti-tank rounds to make them sturdier and give them more armour-piercing capability due to increased density of the material. Such rounds are not forbidden by any international convention, and their usage has been deemed relatively harmless since radioactive emissions from such rounds is minimal due to depleted uranium's significant half-life.
READ MORE: Russian Army to Adopt Terminator-2 Tank Support Vehicle
T-80BVM is the latest modification of the T-80 tank, which was initially developed in 1976. This version of the Russian light tank received top-tier "Relikt" explosive reactive armour, improved Sosna-U gunner sight (which is also used in Russian T-90s) and upgrades to various systems, including the engine.
