Croatia to Supply Ukraine with €145M Worth of M-84 Tanks and M-80 IFVs
18 November, 2024 M-84 tanks of the Croatian army on parade. Source: www.telegram.hr The Croatian Ministry of Defense has estimated the batch of M-84 tanks and M-80 infantry fighting vehicles to be received by Ukraine at almost EUR145 million.
The ministry stated that this book value includes relevant spare parts and ammunition. Croatia will provide 30 M-84 tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles. "The total book value is EUR144,800,000," detailed Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic.
M-84 tanks will be transferred to Ukraine for the first time. These tanks are a localized version of the exported Soviet T-72M1 tanks, which were manufactured under license in Yugoslavia.
Croatian M-84A4 Sniper. Photo credits: fire2.hr
After the breakup of the country, the newly formed Croatia inherited a fleet of 84 tanks.
By 2008, all of them had been modernized to the M-84A4 Snajper level, and as of 2023, most of them had undergone major repairs and updated communication systems. Compared to the original T-72M, the Croatian M-84A4s have greater firepower due to the modern DBR-84 ballistic computer, which works in conjunction with the all-weather day/night infrared sight of the SCS-84 gunner. The vehicle's propulsion system was also improved: the tank received a new 1,000-horsepower V46-TK diesel engine, as well as improved turret rotation and vertical gun guidance drives.
At the same time, the level of protection has not changed: during the modernization, the vehicle did not receive any hinged armor or dynamic protection packages. The armor corresponds to the level of the T-72M1/T-72A. On the other hand, the M-80 IFV, developed in Yugoslavia in the late 1970s, is often mistakenly believed to be a variant of the Soviet BMP-2, but it's not.
Transportation of M80A IFV from Slovenia, June 2022. Photo credits: 24ur.com
The Yugoslavian vehicle is equipped with a German licensed Daimler-Benz engine with a capacity of 320 hp. The M-80 is armed with a HS.804 (M-55) 20mm rapid-fire automatic gun from Hispano-Suiza with a rate of fire of 1000 rounds per minute.
In return for the assistance provided by Ukraine, the Croatian Defense Ministry will receive funding from Germany to purchase German Leopard 2A8 modern tanks.