The M-95 Degman is a main battle tank (MBT) developed by the Đuro Đaković specijalna vozila, a Croatian manufacturer of armoured combat vehicles. It is a modernization of the Yugoslav M-84 tank, which is, in turn, a variant of the Soviet T-72. The Đuro Đaković factory is best known for its principal role in the production of M-84 in the Yugoslav era.Those M-84 tanks that are upgraded to M-95 are designated as M-84D.
The M-95 was developed in 2003 to meet the requirements of the Croatian Army. It was expected to enter production after completion of M-84 production cycle.
Although the prototype is currently being used by the Croatian Army, as of February 2008 it had not yet entered serial production.
The tank will be built as per customer requirements and according to their operational needs, such as climatic conditions and compatibility with other devices.
The M-95 Degman tank was largely based on the older M-90 Vihor tank. A full working prototype of the Vihor tank completed basic testing at the Đuro Đaković factory but due the hostilities in mid-1991 this tank was never delivered to JNA. Đuro Đaković was already working on a second prototype (at this point the hull had been completed) but due to the hostilities work on the second Vihor prototype stalled until 1994 when it was completed with the new turret.
Meanwhile, the first prototype was upgraded and modernized, a more powerful 1200 hp engine was installed which provided a higher power-to-weight ratio. A storage basket and slat armor at the back of the turret were added, increasing armour protection. A Racal communication suite was installed to improve communications range and digital battlefield compatibility and a new CBRN suite was also added, the SZ 2000 CBRN suite giving substantially superior performance over the older NBC suite used on M-84 tank; for example, in nuclear or chemical/biological warfare situations, SZ-2000 shuts the engines down and automatically filters fresh air into the tank.
M-95 MBT design / features
The M-95 MBT weighs 44,500kg. It has top forward length of 10,140mm, width of 3,590mm and a height of 2,190mm. It can accommodate three crew including the driver, gunner and commander.
The upgraded tank continues to maintain all the positive features of M-84, such as its low silhouette, light weight, high specific power and powerful weapons while also adding new features like the improved fire control system, thermal imaging devices, laser detectors, armour protection systems and communications equipment.
The new turret is made of welded steel and has flat sides that can be fixed easily with additional armour.
The tracks are of German Diehl 840 series with replaceable pads. Other improvements include a self-entrenching blade and a radio communications package with a PR4-G frequency.
Fire control
The new computerised fire control system, known as OMEGA-D, helps the gunner to get stable day / image intensification (II) sight with the help of a laser range-finder that is integrated with the system. The system also has an optional camera, the TSGS-D.
Defence / self protection
The new MBT features an explosive reactive armour (ERA) package called RRAK, which is supplied by Israel-based Elbit Systems. It is placed on the turret, hull front and side skirts to protect the tank from high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shaped-charge weapons. At the back of the turret is a separate compartment to protect the crew when the tank is hit from behind.
The battle tank also features a nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) reconnaissance system, a fire detection and suppression system, and a computer based driver control panel. The laser IR radiation detector and warner system (LIRD) is used along with the grenade launchers mounted on either side. The warning system was supplied by Slovenia-based Fotona.
Armament
The armament includes an improved 125mm smoothbore gun with an automatic loader which first loads the projectile and then the charge.
The gun can fire armour piercing fin stabilised discarding sabot (AP-FSDS) cartridges, HEAT and HE types of ammunition at a rate of eight rounds a minute.
The autoloader can load 15% faster at a rate of nine shells a minute and can hold 22 rounds and charges. In addition, it can carry 20 more projectiles and charges in the storage compartment.
The secondary armament consists of a coaxially mounted 7.62mm gun along with a roof mounted 12.7mm machine gun on the right side, which can be aimed by remote control. All the remote controlled weapons were supplied by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems.
Observation
The Fotona COMTOS commander takeover system day / night sight with DNKS-2 integration and hydraulic gun control equipment is fixed at the commander's seat with the option for an all-electric system.
The combined day / night driver's periscope, CODRIS-E has 40o and 125o field view in the night and day channel respectively. It has a vertical field view of 30o at night and 24o at day. The driver and commander are provided with two standard TNPA-65 auxiliary periscopes.
The SGS-D stabilised gunner sight and the day channel have a 10x magnification. The night channel is the second generation image-intensification type which includes the Nd-Yag range-finder with a range of 200m-10,000m.
Engine
The first prototype of the M-95 MBT is powered by a turbocharged V-12 diesel engine of 1,000hp. It has the option to include a 1,200hp (890KW) engine to increase the power to weight ratio to 27hp/t.
With a fuel capacity of 1,450l the tank can run at maximum speed of 70km/h on road.
The Degman M-95 has not entered serial production yet, however two prototypes were ordered by the Croatian Government, a M-95 model and the other M-84D sample (for export). Đuro Đaković is going to be producing the export version the M-84D (essentially an M-84A4 with significant upgrades) for Kuwait and other potential buyers. The Kuwaiti Army has confirmed interest in modernizing its 149 dated M-84 to the new M-84D standard, as well as the procurement of an additional 66 new M-84D's.