3BM8 APFSDS

Original first-generation Soviet 125 mm APFSDS round introduced with the T-64/T-72 in the early 1970s.

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-05

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

National export licensing

Subject to Soviet Union export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.

Channel: Direct commercial / G2G

Fielded & proven

Operator data not public

Status: legacy.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters.: 125 mm

Munition

Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.

Round type APFSDS (kinetic sabot), HEAT / multipurpose, HE-FRAG, canister or gun-launched ATGM.: APFSDS
Caliber Bore diameter the round is fired from.: 125 mm
Penetration Published/estimated rolled-homogeneous-armour-equivalent penetration. Values are open-source estimates; real figures are classified.: 245 mm RHA

Bottom 1% of munitions
Muzzle velocity Speed as the projectile leaves the barrel. Higher flattens trajectory and shortens time-to-target.: 1,800 m/s

Top 3% of munitions

Specifications compiled from public KBP Instrument Design Bureau and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-05.

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