Russia is considering resuming production of T-80 tanks, state-owned television channel Zvezda, which the defence ministry operates, reported on Monday.

Alexander Potapov, the boss of tank-maker Uralvagonzavod, said that his company was tasked with resuming production of T-80 tanks.

“This is the task, or at least the military has set it for us,” Mr Potapov said in an interview with Zvezda.

Mr Potapov added that the tank maker was working with the Russian ministry of industry and trade on the plan.

The T-80 has proved particularly useful during Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Zvezda report said.

Zvezda’s report used the Kremlin’s term for the Russian invasion of its neighbour.

The T-80 was built in the Soviet Union starting in 1976 but in much smaller numbers than the T-72, which was developed before it but still manufactured in parallel.

About 10,000 T-80s are said to have rolled off the assembly line before series production was largely halted in favour of the T-90.

There are no details on the possible restart of production.

According to Mr Potapov, there are talks with the Industry Ministry about setting up new production facilities.

Russia had suffered heavy losses during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has now lasted more than 18 months, losing more than 2,000 tanks, according to the investigative group Oryx. 

(dpa/NAN)