T-99 Main Battle Tank

Crew: 3
Country: Russian Federation
Designer/Builder: KBTM

Armament: 1x 152mm 3A55 (Smoothbore)
1x 7.62mm PKT coaxial MG
1x 12.7mm NVST MG

The ‘Black Eagle’ had a long development history. A mock up of the tank first appeared in 1997 at an arms show. Then an early prototype was shown in 1999 in Siberia. Financial problems with KBTM and the Russian Army’s acceptance of the T-90 as its new MBT slowed development of the Black Eagle throughout the first decade of the 21st Century. The tank remained alive due to KBTM’s efforts to market it as an export tank. No countries ended up ordering the Black Eagle however the tank would be saved in 2021.

New western tank designs such as the American M7 Buford, the Fuller in Britain, and Chinese Type 110 far exceeded the Russian Army’s tanks. Made with new armor, equipped with electro-thermal guns, and even more electronics they were the latest in battlefield AFVs and the new standard. If the Red Army wished to keep up with its possible enemies, it needed a new tank.

The Black Eagle was the design chosen. Many of the initial design problems were solved and as a result the Russians could rapidly put the tank into production. Electronics and armor were upgraded. New ERA and sheets of ballistic armor were added. Next generation thermal sites and laser targeting devices along with a new ballistic computer system gave the T-99 an excellent fire control and targeting system.

At the heart of the T-99 was a brand new 152mm gun. Unable to create an effective electro-thermal gun Russian designers choose to go for a larger cannon. The belief was the increased gun size would mean even more velocity for the tank’s rounds. Tests showed the new gun delivered some increased penetration power but still not equal to an electro-thermal weapon. However Russian officers and tankers enjoy the larger gun since it allows for even more powerful HE, FRAG, SHOT, and THEM rounds. The Black Eagle is also able to fire new AT-20 Slasher anti-tank missile.

A third of all Russian tank divisions have been equipped with T-99. Black Eagles have seen combat in Kazakhstan, Georgia, Chechnya, and rumored clashes have occurred on the Chinese border. Although the Black Eagle has been criticized for its lack of success in urban combat, the T-99 certainly is a threat to be contended with.

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Hey there my fake history of the Black Eagle if it went into Russian service sometime in the mid 21st Century. Hope to have the other tanks I mentioned up as well in the future. Enjoy!