The MT-LeBrams is a Main Battle Tank built on the MT-LB chassis, a light tracked vehicle originally designed in the Soviet Union as an artillery tractor and armoured personnel carrier. In this configuration the hull is fitted with a turret armed with a tank cannon, creating an unconventional, lightly protected MBT. The 12.3-tonne tracked vehicle is crewed by a driver, gunner, and loader with room for seven passengers, and is powered by a YaMZ 238 diesel producing 240 hp for 19.5 hp/t and a top speed of 62 km/h.
Main armament is the 115mm U-5TS smoothbore gun with a manual 8-second reload, carrying 12 ready and 18 hull rounds of APFSDS, HEAT, and HE. The gunner has a 3.5x and 7x sight with no rangefinder or stabilizer. An engine smoke system is fitted for defensive screening. The MT-LeBrams trades armour and conventional tank layout for low weight and a small crew footprint.
