From the History of the T-64B and the "Cobra" Guided Weapon System

 

Tactical and technical requirements for the T-64A tank with the "Cobra" guided artillery projectile (https://t.me/btvt2019/14522) were issued in 1967. Development was lengthy and challenging, entirely shouldered by the Kharkiv Design Bureau (HKBM) and Nudelman’s Design Bureau. Initially, the "Cobra" guided projectile was significantly different from the final version—it was designed without a propulsion engine, and its speed was twice that of the final variant. This configuration offered many advantages, but the issues outlined (https://t.me/btvt2019/17136) were never resolved. It is known that the T-64B was adopted into service in 1976 (https://t.me/btvt2019/22121).

However, analysis of data on the experimental design work (https://t.me/btvt2019/22159) and documents related to topic NV7-159-74 (https://t.me/btvt2019/22150), titled "Complex of Experimental Design Work Aimed at Creating Advanced Fire Control Systems Codenamed 'Ob'," reveals an unusual situation. Despite the tank being adopted and entering serial production in 1976, work on the "Ob" complex and the tank’s experimental design was not completed until 1978. Moreover, the Soviet Ministry of Defense’s technical specifications for the T-64B list two different start dates for serial production—1976 and 1978. The explanation is as follows: in 1976, the tank was adopted with the 1G21M sight-rangefinder and the 9K112 weapon system. As noted, the combat use of this system in real conditions was problematic. 

 

The hit probability during initial tests (https://t.me/btvt2019/17764) was 0.73 without accounting for failures, and only 0.57 when failures were included. The T-64B, as understood today, equipped with the automated 1A33 "Ob" fire control system and the 9K112-1 guided weapon system, began production only in 1978. Only the 1978 model met the original requirements. Regarding the T-80B, the same NV7-159-74 document refers to it unusually as the "T-64B on the T-80 chassis," with all related work carried out by the Kharkiv Design Bureau. In total, 6,668 T-64B and T-64B1 tanks (the latter a modification without "Cobra") were produced. All T-80B and T-80BV tanks were equipped with the "Cobra" system. The result was an outstanding tank capable of hitting targets at 3–4 km with 100% probability at a speed of 30 km/h.

However, such results were achieved only by experienced factory crews during tests of Object 219A with a similar system. In reality, the situation was quite different—launching a missile from the gun, costing as much as a "Zhiguli" car (https://t.me/btvt2019/5477), was a feat only the best crews could accomplish a few times during their service, compounded by issues with training facilities. In 1982, an upgraded "Cobra" based on the new "Agona" element base was tested. State trials concluded in 1984, and it was adopted in 1985 but never entered serial production. One might assume that Shipunov’s laser-guided concept displaced the radio-command guidance scheme of TsNII Tochmash. However, why then did the prospective "Molot" tank and T-95 use Nudelman’s guided weapon system?

By 1991, spare parts for maintaining the 9K112 guided weapon system in constant combat readiness ceased production, leading to its gradual obsolescence, and the tanks lost one of their key advantages. Ten years of development, thirteen years of production, and then discarded… See also:
Summary of key remarks and suggestions on the T-64B with the "Cobra" system, expressed by KKVO specialists during a meeting with industry representatives, 1979 (https://t.me/btvt2019/20540).