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Further Reading

Morozov Design Bureau (KhKBM)

The Kharkov Morozov Design Bureau (KhKBM) has developed the T-84 MBT (all its component parts are manufactured in Ukraine) which is one of the best tanks of the third generation. The tank features an engine developing 1,200 hp, thermal image sight, rolled steel turret of all-welded construction, and improved transmission. Side by side with developing new tank designs, the Kharkov Morozov Design Bureau has developed, manufactured and tested upgraded versions of the T-72 (designated the T-72AG and T72 MP) and T-55AG tanks.

In 1927, a team of designers at the Kharkov Locomotive Building Plant began to develop documentation for an agile battle tank. In the following decades, the design bureau grew to become a state-of-the-art enterprise with the capacity to develop, test and upgrade main battle tanks and their engineer-support derivatives. In the Soviet era, KhKBM was one of the principal developers of battle tanks. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, KhKBM became the leading organization in Ukraine and coordinated the overall effort aimed to build an entire range of armored combat vehicles.

The BT, T-34, T-54, T-64 and T-80 battle tanks and their numerous modifications were developed by this design bureau, headed for 36 years by the outstanding battle tank designer A. Morozov. KhKBM is a diversified organization equipped to design, manufacture, and test prototypes of armored combat materiel. It has a staff of highly qualified design engineers, modern production facilities, and a proving range where newly manufactured vehicles can be tested in the field. The bureau's research base, which includes a comprehensive set of test benches, allows it to perform timely and reliable tests on design innovations of battle tanks and their tracked derivatives, thus considerably reducing their testing and updating.

KhKBM supervises the series production of its developments at the state-run Malyshev Plant. Currently, the Malyshev Plant manufactures the T-80UD battle tank developed by KhKBM in the mid-1980s for the Soviet Army and produced since 1985. Disruption of the long-lasting cooperation links and absence of state defense orders in the early 1990s required that the enterprise wholly restructure its operations and establish new business links within Ukraine in order to sustain production lines. A focused effort was undertaken to engage a number of manufacturers that used to turn out components for aircraft, spacecraft, shipbuilding, automotive, and other industries.