The story of the lesser-known but controversial T-80 and its subsequent variants.

The Soviet T-80 was the last of the tanks developed before the collapse of the Soviet Union and is the most controversial. Despite featuring the most advanced fire control systems and multilayered armor ever used in a Soviet tank, its turbine engine (instead of a conventional diesel) remained a significant source of problems throughout its service life.

Steven Z. Zalogka documents the lesser-known history of the T-80, covering its initial construction, development, and subsequent variants, including the T-84 and the enigmatic “Black Egg” of Russia.

Along with detailed analytical illustrations, the unusual design features that make the T-80 so controversial are depicted.