Uzbekistan upgrades 60 year old T-64 tanks with new armor and engine for drone contested battlefields.

On May 29, 2025, Semey Engineering’s modernized T-64 main battle tank was presented at the Victory Park exhibition in Tashkent, marking the first public appearance of Uzbekistan’s ambitious tank upgrade program. The modernization of this Soviet-era platform reflects a significant leap in design and protection philosophy, particularly against the backdrop of today’s drone-saturated combat environments.
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One of the key advantages of the Uzbek modernization of T-64 lies in its clear emphasis on survivability in drone-threat environments (Picture source: Uzbek MoD)

The Uzbek modernized T-64 features a strikingly redesigned turret and hull, now fully encased in protective armor covers believed to include ceramic elements. The original Soviet-era optics and reactive armor blocks have been replaced or eliminated, while the turret’s profile has been streamlined and its rear extended to house electronics or auxiliary systems. The tank is powered by a modern South Korean Doosan DP222LC diesel engine delivering 950 horsepower, replacing the obsolete 5TDF powerplant. With this, the tank achieves a maximum speed of 65 km/h and an operational range of 500 km, driven through an automatic transmission. The armament remains the 125 mm 2A46 main gun, supported by a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, though without the legacy NSVT heavy machine gun. New headlights and probable night driving aids have been installed, aligning the platform with contemporary battlefield requirements.

Uzbekistan inherited a significant number of T-64B tanks in 1989-90 as Soviet forces withdrew from East Germany. For decades, these vehicles remained largely in storage or in their original configuration. The current modernization effort, reportedly conducted by Semey Engineering and possibly involving the Chirchik Armored Vehicle Repair Plant, reflects both the maturation of Uzbekistan’s defense industry and the influence of recent conflict-driven trends in armored warfare. Notably, the turret's full encasement and absence of external optics or ERA resemble trends seen in the Ukrainian T-64MV program, though Uzbekistan’s version appears to adopt a more futuristic aesthetic and potentially higher degree of electronic integration.

One of the key advantages of the Uzbek modernization lies in its clear emphasis on survivability in drone-threat environments. Compared to legacy T-64B variants or Iranian upgrades of T-55s and T-72s, such as the Safir-74 or T-72Z, which generally focus on reactive armor and conventional optics, the Uzbek tank pursues a more holistic protective concept. Where Iranian projects often upgrade lethality or mobility without addressing top-attack or drone-delivered threats, the Uzbek T-64’s covered turret and modular side panels directly address these modern concerns. Compared to other regional modernizations of Soviet tanks, Uzbekistan’s solution is more in line with trends seen in NATO’s Leopard 2A8 and Ukrainian wartime adaptations.

The strategic implications of this modernization are noteworthy. While the T-64 was not exported globally like the T-55 or T-72, it remains in service in Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, and some post-Soviet states such as Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan’s example may encourage these nations to pursue similar upgrades to extend the viability of their T-64 fleets, especially under current budget constraints. With the increasing role of unmanned systems in modern conflict, such protected and digitally-adapted platforms could find a new niche in both national defense and export markets.

This modernization signals that Uzbekistan’s defense industry is now positioning itself as a capable regional player in armored vehicle upgrades. By addressing vulnerabilities exposed in recent wars, particularly in Ukraine, the modernized T-64 offers an attractive template for post-Soviet operators of aging tank fleets looking to adapt to a new generation of battlefield threats.