Object 187 (Объект 187), was a Soviet experimental main battle tank developed between the late 1980s and middle 1990s.
The same solution made it possible to arrange armouring at more rational angles of inclination as a countermeasure to modern sub-caliber armour-piercing rounds.
The tank was fitted with a new welded turret, unlike traditional cast ones, fabricated using steel rolled homogeneous armour (RHA).
The 902A "Tucha" grenade launcher was fitted to deploy smoke and aerosol screens, and vehicle snorkel equipment was also installed.
Several types of power plants and transmissions were tested on the different modifications, including a gas turbine engine.
Together with the tank gun, new depleted uranium-cored sub-caliber armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds were developed named Anker-1 and Anker-2, and new HEAT shells, and gun-launched anti-tank missiles.
A muzzle brake was installed primarily to keep a clear line-of-sight for the missile guidance system, while also decreasing effective recoil from the more powerful new gun.
The barrel was strengthened, with chamber volume increased to accommodate the larger round and incremented charge.
Enhancement was limited largely to armament in these programs, however, while the Obiekt 187 was focused on an extreme level of protection, surpassing all third generation tanks even today.
The Chinese Type 99KM is an example of possible superiority, armed with a powerful 125 mm gun firing next generation kinetic rounds or precision guided missiles, and using a more effective active protection system.
It possibly consisted of special materials including ceramic or high density uranium alloys.
[1][3] Work on the tank was conducted by the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Machine-Building under a T-72B improvement program with an order dated June 19, 1986.
Conceived as a next-generation development, it was designed to fulfil operational requirements not then met by the rest of the main battle tanks built by Uralvagonzavod.
The third modification was intended originally for diverse experiments testing for possible structural failure; it was never fully equipped.
[1] Uralvagonzavod undertook enormous efforts for this tank to be adopted, but in the end after successful trials proving high combat and technical potential, the tank was not accepted in part due to old ammunition of 2A46 not being reusable by 2A66, making costs prohibitively high.
This model was built by employees and there is a possibility it could be transferred to the armor museum of Uralvagonzavod for storage and exhibition.
Persistent requests by the armor museum of Uralvagonzavod for transfer of at least one Obiekt 187 for restoration and display have been rebuffed.