[3] The manufacturer was chosen by Josip Broz Tito to be the Đuro Đaković in Croatia, over other proposed manufacturers in Serbia: Goša FOM Smederevska Palanka and Mašinska Industrija Niš, at that time the biggest producers of locomotives and wagons in Yugoslavia.

It has a new fire control system, Kontakt-5 ERA armor, AT-11 Sniper anti-tank missiles, Agava-2 thermal sight, and the Shtora defensive suite.

The latest prototype version from Serbia, M-84AS1, unveiled in 2017, has a new fire control system with domestic laser and radar warning system, RCWS 12.7mm and soft active protection suite with a new version of domestic explosive reactive armor (ERA).

A later prototype of the same tank unveiled in 2020 has better-shaped ERA M19 reactive armour, some new situational awareness equipment, and new ammunition.

[2] Sales of the M84 including negotiations of contracts with foreign partners were done through Yugoimport SDPR, at that time acting as a Yugoslav state agency.

The lower hull beneath the turret is one of the least likely place to be hit and penetrated by antitank rounds or mines, but in the event of penetration and secondary detonation of the ammunition the crew and tank are unlikely to survive the resulting catastrophic explosion.

[citation needed] Side or rear hits often result in a catastrophic ammo explosion.

Before the Persian Gulf War, Kuwait ordered 170 M-84ABs, 15 M-84ABI ARVs and 15 M-84ABK command tanks, from Yugoslavia.

During the Ten-Day War, the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) attempted to regain control over border crossings, airports and other strategic positions in Slovenia.

The Slovenian Territorial Defence had no armoured units of its own and JNA M-84s were commonly used to break through barricades.

[citation needed] The M-84 saw action in the Battle of Vukovar, where the JNA employed tanks against Croatian National Guardsmen (ZNG).

Although the JNA ultimately prevailed, it's estimated they've lost around 100 tanks, including 20 M-84s to minefields and ambushes by ZNG anti-tank teams.