Object 292 (Объект 292) is a vehicle based on the chassis of a T-80B with a modified turret from a T-80BV capable of housing the powerful 152.4 mm LP-83 cannon. It can fire two types of ammunition: APFSDS and HE. This vehicle emerged as one of the last efforts of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to develop main battle tanks (MBTs) with greater firepower, capable of disabling any Western MBT of its era with a single shot.
The Object 292 was an experimental prototype designed to test less conventional calibers in main battle tanks. Developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, the prototype aimed to demonstrate the destructive power of a 152.4 mm cannon in response to the most modern Western main battle tanks, such as the United States' M1 Abrams and Germany’s Leopard 2, which featured several innovations, including advanced armor, compared to Soviet MBTs.
The tests were successful, and the vehicle advanced to further testing stages. However, despite its impressive firepower, the cannon’s recoil presented a significant drawback. The immense force negatively impacted the tank’s structure and threatened the cannon’s integrity. Although the concept showed promise, it was introduced too late to have a significant effect on Soviet MBT development. In 1991, the collapse of the Soviet Union ended further progress. Along with countless hours of research and development, the Object 292 project was abandoned.
Nevertheless, the ideas and achievements of the Object 292 played a key role in shaping future developments, including contributing to the design of the Object 148 (T-14 'Armata') in conjunction with lessons learned from the Object 195 (T-95) project.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High firepower, with exceptional penetration values. It uses the most powerful APFSDS ammunition in the game, delivering excellent post-penetration effects in a single shot. | The Fire Control System is subpar, with slow turret traverse and gun elevation and depression angles, making the vehicle inefficient on uneven terrain, such as hills and mountains. |
| High mobility compared to other Soviet designs (e.g., the Soviet T-72 and the Chinese ZTZ-96) and in relation to some Western MBTs (e.g., the Israeli Merkava and the British Challenger 2). | Limited transmission, with a maximum speed of 11 km/h (13 km/h in arcade mode), inferior to Western counterparts such as the German Leopard 2 and the American M1 Abrams. This limitation makes the vehicle vulnerable to retaliation after the first shot due to a reload time of 10.0 seconds. |
| A gas turbine engine, which is relatively quiet at mid-range distances and offers comparable but slightly lower power than the American M1 Abrams, for instance, makes the vehicle ideal for ambushes that require rapid repositioning. | A distinctive firing sound makes the vehicle easily identifiable on the battlefield, increasing the likelihood of being detected and prioritized by enemies, compromising its effectiveness in stealth ambushes. |
Armament
The 152.4 mm LP-83 cannon mounted on the Object 292 is undoubtedly the crown jewel, capable of firing the most powerful APFSDS ammunition available in War Thunder. This makes the vehicle capable of eliminating any target with a single shot, compensating for its slower reload compared to other MBTs. The reload process takes a total of 10.0 seconds and involves loading the projectile in two segments — one stored in the carousel and the other in the turret’s rear compartment including its Fire Control System, which limits the vehicle to a maximum gun depression of -5°. This value is further restricted due to the presence of the driver's optics, which prevent the gun from depressing fully, reducing it to approximately -4° or -3°. Additionally, the vehicle has a relatively slow turret traverse speed of 24.0°/s (with Ace crew).
Protection
The vehicle features relatively inferior protection compared to other members of the T-80 family. While it could equip explosive reactive armor on the front segments of the upper glacis plate, its absence, compared to other vehicles from the T-80 family, elsewhere leaves vulnerabilities. Its armor is still capable of withstanding shots from cannons up to 120 mm, requiring ammunition at least powerful as the M829 to be pierced at point blank, but it can be easily countered by shots aimed at the lower glacis or the cannon’s base. The vehicle also has a unique weak spot: the rear turret ammunition compartment, an uncommon feature among Soviet tank designs and only found on the Russian T-90M.
Mobility
The Object 292's chassis houses the powerful and modern Klimov GTD-1000TF engine, enabling this beast to reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h (78 km/h in arcade mode) and a reverse speed of 11 km/h (13 km/h in arcade mode). This allows the tank to quickly retreat and reposition depending on the situation, which is unusual for Russian-Soviet MBTs and can prove life-saving in close-quarters combat or advantageous for securing key positions in long-range maps. This mobility grants the Object 292 a considerable edge over some of the vehicles it may encounter, in these aspects, its main opponents will generally be the German Leopard 2 and the American M1 Abrams. At close ranges, on maps such as Abandoned Town, these vehicles can gain more advantageous positions compared to the Object 292. At long ranges, on maps like Sands of Sinai, wheeled vehicles such as the American MGS M1128 Stryker and the German MGS Boxer 3105 tend to outperform the Object 292, also securing more favorable positions. This is due to the vehicle's slower acceleration; however, this does not mean its top speed is inferior when compared to other tracked vehicles.
In Battle
With the impressive firepower of the Object 292, it is hard not to stand out among the vehicles in a match. However, despite its extremely powerful shot, the vehicle is limited to a 10.0-second reload interval between shots. Vehicles such as the American M1 Abrams, with a 5.0-second reload time (with Ace crew), and the German Leopard 2, with a 6.0-second reload time (with Ace crew), can exploit this disadvantage. Depending on the situation, these vehicles have the ability to respond with a salvo of two consecutive shots.
Considering its slower rate of fire compared to other MBTs in its battle rating, the best tactic for operating the Object 292 is a more conservative gameplay style, depending on the map. The Object 292 performs exceptionally well on long-range maps such as Pradesh and Sinai, where its cannon fires a fast projectile with minimal correction required from the operator. On urban maps like Sweden, leverage the chaos and the Object 292's mobility to your advantage. Try to flank as much as possible, avoiding direct engagement due to its weaker armor. However, thanks to its monstrous mobility and powerful cannon, the Object 292 functions effectively as both a sniper in long-range engagements and a brawler in the chaos of close quarters. Be cautious, though: knowing which target to focus on is crucial, especially given the 10.0-second reload time between shots.
On maps like Maginot Line, a mixed-type map with both long and short-range positions, opt for sniping or ambush positions, depending on the area of the map you are operating in. In the open fields, both teams have access to good sniping positions with minimal effort. Given the high-velocity ammunition of the Object 292, it will not be difficult to detect and destroy targets attempting the same tactic. In urban areas, use your mobility to your advantage, but try to position yourself to exploit enemy mistakes and inattentiveness. Advance, attack, and retreat using the Emergency Smoke Screen. While ineffective against thermal optics, it can hinder enemy engagement by limiting their vision, providing an excellent opportunity for repositioning.
