125mm 2A46

D-81TM

Overview

125mm 2A46M-1

Soviet 125mm 2A46M-1 smoothbore gun on display outside the Motovilikha plant in Perm where it was produced. Photographed in 2012.
Source: Smell U Later - © CC BY-SA 3.0

Origin

Soviet Union

Type

Cannon

Entered service

1974 for 2A46
1976 for 2A46-1
1982 for 2A46M-1
2005 for 2A46M-5

Status

In service

Development

Early 1970's

Developer

Soviet Union - OKB-9 Spetstekhnika

Production

1974 - present

Producer

Soviet Union - No. 9 plant in Ekaterinburg
Soviet Union - Motovilikha plant in Perm
Russia - No. 9 plant in Ekaterinburg
Ukraine - (unlicensed copy)
China - (unlicensed copy)

Number produced

Well over 20.000

Designations

D-81TM (factory index)
2A46 (GRAU index)

Variants

1st generation 2A46

2A46

First version of the 2A46 cannon. Developed for use with T-64 and T-80 type autoloader. Introduced in 1974 ion T-64A.

2A46-2

Similar to 2A46 but adds the ability for firing 9M112 Kobra ATGMs from the barrel. Introduced in 1976 on T-64B. Also used on T-80B obr 1978 and 1980.

2A46-1

Variant of the 2A46 for used on the T-72 with its different style of autoloader. First introduced in 1976 on the T-72 Ural-1 and also used on T-72A series.

2nd generation 2A46

2A46M

Modernized version of the 2A46. Allows for the barrel to be changed without removing the breech from the turret. Also introduces a chrome lined barrel. Designed or introduced in 1980. Used on T-72B and original T-90 with cast turret.

2A46M-1

Variant of the 2A46M for use with the T-80 style autoloader. Reportedly differs from 2A46M in being autofrettaged. Introduced in 1982 on T-80B obr 1982. Used on the T-80BV and early production models of T-80U.

3rd generation 2A46

2A46M-4

Updated model of the 2A46M-1 for use with the T-80 style autoloader. More rigid and precisely produced barrel has reduced dispersion. The breech allows for longer rod APFSDS to be used. Introduced in 1990 on the T-80U.

2A46M-5

Similar improvements as the 2A46M-4, but the breech design is suited for the T-72 style autoloader. Introduced in 2005 on T-90A. Used on T-72B3, T-72B3M, T-90A and T-90M tanks.

Foreign copies

KBA-3

Ukrainian copy of the 2A46 series. Believed to be akin to the 2A46M-1 or M-4 since it is used on the post-Soviet T-80UD and T-84 produced in Ukraine.

ZPT98

Chinese copy of the 2A46M for use with a T-72 style autoloader. Used in domestic designs such as the ZTZ96 and ZTZ99 families of main battle tanks.

Details

Facts 125mm 2A46

General

Origin

Soviet Union

Type

Cannon

Caliber

Caliber

125mm L/48

Feed system

T-64 style autoloader for 2A46, 2A46-2

T-72 style autoloader for 2A46-1

Ammunition type

Two part separate loading ammunition

Semi-combustible propellant case

Barrel

Barrel length

6.0 m

Rifling

Smoothbore

Fume extractor

Yes

Thermal sleeve

Yes

Muzzle brake

Barrel life

800 EFC for 2A46 and 2A46M

1.200 EFC with regular ammo for 2A46M-4/M-5

600 EFC with long rod ammo for 2A46M-4/M-5

Operation

Rate of fire

8 rpm for T-64 and T-80 style autoloader

7 rpm for T-72 and T-90 style autoloader

1 to 4 rpm for emergency manual loading

Chamber pressure

4.500 bar for 2A46-2

5.000 to 5.100 bar for 2A46M

6.000 to 6.500 bar for 2A46M-5

Recoil force

98.000 N

Recoil assembly

2 asymmetrical buffers for 2A46

2 symmetrical buffers for 2A46M and later

Recoil stroke

0.30 to 0.34 m

Dimensions

Weight

2.45 t

Length

6.68 m

Platforms

Note: incomplete list

T-72 Ural

The T-72 Ural-1 was introduced in 1976 and was the first T-72 to be fitted with the 2A46 type cannon, the 2A46-1 to be precise. The very first T-72's introduced earlier used the 2A26M2 cannon.

T-72A

The majority of T-72A were produced with 2A46-1 cannon. Late production vehicles might have been fitted with 2A46M.

T-72B3

Deep modernization of existing stocks of T-72 tanks. Both T-72B3 and T-72B3M are armed with the 2A46M-5 cannon.

T-80B

Early model T-80B's were armed with the 2A46-2, while since 1982 the 2A46M-1 was fitted.

T-80BV

The T-80BV is armed with the 2A46M-1 cannon.

T-80U

The T-80U was at first produced with the 2A46M-1 gun. From 1990 onward the 2A46M-4 was used.

T-80BVM

Deep modernization of existing T-80BV tanks. The upgrades include installation of the 2A46M-4 cannon.

125mm 2A26

The 2A26 is the predecessor to the 2A46. The 2A26 was the first Soviet 125mm smoothbore main gun, but was plagued by issues that were solved in the 2A46.

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