Page "T-80" Paragraph 41

In 1992, the United Kingdom bought a number of T-80U MBTs for defence research and development.

They were not bought officially but through a specially created trading company which was supposed to deliver them to Morocco.

The price of five million USD offered for each tank ensured a lack of suspicion on the part of the Russians.

By the time the Russians realised who the purchaser was, the tanks were already in British hands.

Britain evaluated the tanks on their proving grounds and transferred one to the US where the Americans evaluated it on the Aberdeen Proving Ground.

While evaluating the vehicle, the US and UK are alleged to have noted any weak spots and flaws of the T-80U.

In January 1994, British Minister of State for Defence Procurement Jonathan Aitken ( answering a Question to the Secretary of State for Defence ) confirmed in parliamentary debates that a Russian T-80U tank was imported for " defence research and development purposes ".