Photo from UNIAN
The expert says it is necessary for own armed forces to also use Oplots.
Former CEO of Kharkiv-based Malyshev Plant Oleksandr Khlan has said the Ukrainian Oplot tanks have several advantages over the Russian models, while many foreign armies are interested in the Ukrainian MBT.
Thailand, where large-scale exercises have recently taken place with the participation of Oplots, are very pleased with the Ukrainian tanks, which boast of high fire accuracy, he told Apostrophe.
"Oplot is great for a hot and humid climate, for high mountains. Its engines are able operate amid smoke and sand dust. Do you remember how the U.S.-made Abrams battle tanks would stall during the Iraq campaign? Their turbines would fail due to sand getting into them. Meanwhile, our tank is able to operate in any conditions. I am sure it has a very large export potential," Khlan said.
At the same time, he didn't tell whether there were any new contracts like the Thai one, saying he wouldn't disclose a commercial secret. He added the countries of Southeast Asia, Africa, and more recently Latin America were interested in Ukrainian armored vehicles.
"But we also need to exploit the equipment like Oplot tank inside our own country. You know it is very difficult to sell armored vehicles that are not used by our own army," Khlan added.