During the trials it became clear that the increased weight and dynamic characteristics required a complete redesign of the vehicle's suspension.
The construction of the turret was altered to use the same compartment, 125 mm 2A46 tank gun, autoloader and placement of ammunition as the T-64A.
In general, the offensive capabilities of the T-80 are similar to the T-64A, but it is faster thanks to the GTD-1000T 1,000 hp (746 kW) multi-fuel gas turbine engine.
Visual keys are large, die-cast, irregularly spaced, ribbed, rubber-tired road wheels with three support rollers,[2] a self-entrenching blade on the lower glacis, a Luna searchlight in the same position as the T-64.
Significant differences are a coincidence rangefinder, and probable enhanced armor on the glacis (an upper glacis of steel layers enclosing fiberglass layers and a cast steel turret enclosing nonmetallic materials).
[3] The ATGM may be launched while moving slowly and can be auto-loaded with the two-halves mated during ramming but the stub charge is manually loaded.
It has some features of the future T-80U including the new turret with stronger armour and equipped with a new fire control system with the 1G46 gunner's sight.
This version has a new 1,100 hp (820 kW) GTD-1000F multi-fuel gas turbine engine and new turret with improved composite armor.
[2] Also the 12.7 mm NSVT heavy machine gun received the ability to be fired from within the turret with a use of a remote-control which work in a similar manner to the one in T-64.
There are also rubber elements fitted beneath the front glacis which provide additional protection against mines with tilt-rod fuses and HEAT warheads.
The forward skirt elements are armored and a radiation absorption liner coat is mounted on the inside and on the outside of armour.
Two clusters of four 81 mm 902B Tucha electrically operated smoke dischargers are mounted on either side of the turret.
A special camouflage paint distorts the tank's appearance in the visible and IR wavebands.
Late production version had a more powerful GTD-1250D multi-fuel gas turbine engine and the "Brod-M" snorkel.
The idea was to make it compatible with T-90M tanks (same gun, ammunition, ATGM, ERA etc) in order to put less strain on supply lines.
New "Relikt" ERA on the turret and hull (front and sides), increased protection against land mines.