Immediately following the T-54/55 series of tanks, the same design board took that had developed them took on the task of a new main battle tank for the soviet union. The result was the T-64A, at the time the most technologically advanced tank mass produced by any nation. It was the first to combine leaping advancements in armor, armament, and mobility in a tank that weighed as much as a light tank, had the protection of a heavy tank, and fielded one of the most powerful guns in the red army's arsenal.
Later, the T-64 was modernized in 1985 to the T-64B standard, with improved armor and a new fire control system, as well as attempting to address some of the many teething reliability issues that plagued the initial design. Additionally, the T-64BV was introduced as an export variant of the T-64B, which included "Kontakt-1" ERA and smoke grenade launchers.
A key note about all models of the T-64 is that they were produced in what is now modern-day Ukraine, which allowed a large amount of T-64s to be incorporated into the newly created Ukrainian army following the collapse of the USSR and the creation of the independent state of Ukraine. The Ukrainian army sought to carry these tanks with them into the 21st century and modernized their fleet of T-64s over the years, culminating in the T-64BV mod. 2017, the tank recreated in Lego here. The T-64BV mod. 2017 variant included much needed upgrades to bring these 40 year old tanks into the modern era, including thermal imaging for the whole crew, a new engine, and an improved "Nizh" (Knife) reactive armor package. Aesthetically, this tank can appear almost identical to the original BV variant it is based on, as almost all of the upgrades are internal, except for the removal of the IR searchlight due to the upgraded NVG package. Even the new "Nizh" ERA looks incredibly similar to the "Kontact-1" it replaced.
Later, the T-64 was modernized in 1985 to the T-64B standard, with improved armor and a new fire control system, as well as attempting to address some of the many teething reliability issues that plagued the initial design. Additionally, the T-64BV was introduced as an export variant of the T-64B, which included "Kontakt-1" ERA and smoke grenade launchers.
A key note about all models of the T-64 is that they were produced in what is now modern-day Ukraine, which allowed a large amount of T-64s to be incorporated into the newly created Ukrainian army following the collapse of the USSR and the creation of the independent state of Ukraine. The Ukrainian army sought to carry these tanks with them into the 21st century and modernized their fleet of T-64s over the years, culminating in the T-64BV mod. 2017, the tank recreated in Lego here. The T-64BV mod. 2017 variant included much needed upgrades to bring these 40 year old tanks into the modern era, including thermal imaging for the whole crew, a new engine, and an improved "Nizh" (Knife) reactive armor package. Aesthetically, this tank can appear almost identical to the original BV variant it is based on, as almost all of the upgrades are internal, except for the removal of the IR searchlight due to the upgraded NVG package. Even the new "Nizh" ERA looks incredibly similar to the "Kontact-1" it replaced.