Following the upgrade program that was launched in 2017, the modernized T-54B (also known as T-54M) tanks of Vietnamese People’s Army (VPA) are now starting to be delivered to combat units. The 409th Tank Brigade will receive 31 modernized tanks this year.
The upgrade program was aimed to improve the combat capability and survivability of the old T-54B tanks that have been used by the Vietnamese People’s Army (VPA) since the Vietnam war. As many as 850 units are still in use today. It is known that the upgrades carried by “Factory Z153” facility include adding add-on armor, night vision equipment and replacing the old fire control system with a more advanced one. There are reports that the additional weight from the upgrades may also necessitate an engine upgrade.
The newly upgraded T-54M tanks still use the original D-10T2S 100 mm cannons despite earlier suggestions that they will be replaced with US-made M68 105 mm ones. Even though the guns are unchanged, Factory Z153 has also added new barrel insulation to increase the guns’ reliability.
Although the exact number of tanks that will be upgraded is still unknown, it seems unlikely that all of the T-54B tanks in VPA’’s inventory will be upgraded to T-54M standard. Aside from T-54Bs, PAVN is also operating T-62 and T-90 tanks from Russia as well as Chinese-made Type-59 and Type-62 tanks.
The T-54/55 series tanks are the first generation main battle tank from the Soviet Union that were produced between 1946 to 1983. With an estimated total production number of up to 100.000 units, the T-54/55 is also the world’s most-produced tank and still remains in active service in many of the world’s armed forces.
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