M-95 Degman

M-95 Degman
M-95 Degman
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Croatia
Production history
Manufacturer	Đuro Đaković specijalna vozila d.d.
No. built	2 (prototypes)
Specifications
Weight	44.5 tonnes without reactive armour, 48.5 tonnes
Length	10.1 m (33 ft 2 in)
Width	3.6 m (11 ft 10 in)
Height	2.2 m (7 ft 3 in)
Crew	3 (commander, driver and gunner)
Armor	Composite armour plus Elbit Systems RRAK Reactive armour
Main armament	125 mm 2A46M5 smoothbore gun
Secondary armament	Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station or Kongsberg Protector (RWS)
Engine	12-cyl. diesel 1,200 hp (890 kW)
Power/weight	27 hp/tonne
Transmission	two gear-boxes with side transmission in gear-box axes
Suspension	independent, with torsion bars, 6 hydraulic dampers, 6 road wheels and 3 return rollers per side
Ground clearance	428 mm (16.9 in)
Operational range	700 km (430 mi), 780 km (480 mi) with extra fuel tanks
Speed	72 km/h (45 mph)
Steering system	hydraulic

The M-95 Degman is a prototype Croatian main battle tank, developed by the Đuro Đaković company. 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.

The principal improvement over its predecessor M-84 is the application of spaced composite/laminate armor on top of which explosive reactive armor was added, hull front and side skirts are covered giving that extra protection against HEAT shaped-charge munitions. A separate ammunition bustle compartment at the back of the turret adds protection for the crew if tank is hit from behind, and added protection is given by additional slat armor in form of wire mesh with chains, main purpose being to prevent any rocket propelled grenades that might be used to penetrate weakest points at the back of the tank.

Đuro Đaković thermal imaging allows enhanced night activity and optional 1,200 hp (890 kW) engine, which increases the power-to-weight ratio to approximately 27 hp/t. There are numerous smaller changes in fire control, communications equipment, track etc. The Degman's autoloader is 15% faster meaning 9 shells can be fired in a single minute instead of 8 shells, which is M84 norm.

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.

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.