The M-84 is a Yugoslav main battle tank based on the Soviet T-72. It is still in service with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Kuwait, and Ukraine.

Development and production

Development

The M-84 was designed and developed by the Military Technical Institute in Belgrade. It is based on the Soviet T-72M, the export variant of T-72A, brought to T-72M1 standard, with many improvements, including a domestic fire-control system that the T-72M lacked, improved composite armor, and a 1,000-hp engine. The manufacturer was chosen by Josip Broz Tito to be the Đuro Đaković in Croatia, over other proposed manufacturers in Serbia: IMK 14. oktobar Kruševac, Goša FOM Smederevska Palanka and Mašinska Industrija Niš, at that time the biggest producers of locomotives and wagons in Yugoslavia. The biggest manufacturers directly involved in production of the M-84 main battle tank in SFR Yugoslavia and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia among former republics were:

  • Đuro Đaković, Slavonski Brod, Croatia – integrator and assembler, tank hull, metalwork, maintenance, LCS
  • Bratstvo, Novi Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina – 125mm gun
  • Slovenske železarne, Ravne, Slovenia – steel, turret and armor
  • Iskra, Slovenia – laser designation
  • FAMOS, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – engine
  • PPT-Petoletka, Trstenik, Serbia – hydraulics and turret movement system
  • ATB Sever, Subotica, Serbia – automatic loading system
  • Rudi Čajavec, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina – electronics and communications systems
  • Zrak, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina – optics
  • Pretis, Vogošća, Bosnia and Herzegovina – ammunition
  • Sloboda, Čačak, Serbia – ammunition
  • Zastava Arms, Kragujevac, Serbia – coaxial 7.62mm and anti-aircraft 12.7mm machine gun
  • Metalski Zavod Tito, Skopje, North Macedonia – transmission parts
  • 14. oktobar, Kruševac, Serbia – engine and transmission parts

Production and development in Serbia

  • Technical Overhaul Institute "Čačak", Čačak – integrator and assembler, reactive armor and other armor
  • ATB Sever, Subotica – automatic loading system
  • Sloboda, Čačak – ammunition and smoke discharge units
  • PPT Namenska, Trstenik – hydraulics, transmission parts and turret movement system
  • Teleoptik-žiroskopi, Zemun – optics, gyroscopes and gyroscopic devices and Fire-control system with software, electronics and electronic elements of active protection system
  • Zastava kovačnica, Kragujevac – tank tracks
  • Yugoimport SDPR, Velika Plana – 125mm gun and barrels, welded turrets, RCWS, radiological-chemical subsystem, fire suppression subsystems
  • Imtel komunikacije, Belgrade – radar warning and direction finding system (part of protection system)
  • Zastava Arms, Kragujevac – machine-guns 12.7mm and coaxial 7.62mm

Exports

About 150 M-84 tanks were exported to Kuwait. The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the 1990s prevented further exports of the M-84. The M-84D is a second version of the upgraded tanks. It has also chains on the back of the tank to protect the engine and has SLAT armor around the ammunition to prevent an ATG or a shell from hitting it. M-84D received few additional upgrades, Turret basket was added to provide extra space for extra ammunition and to provide increased armor protection. Turret basket has additional slat armor, which adds additional armor to the exterior of the tank. M-84D and M-84A4 are to receive 12.7mm Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Stations which are to be integrated on to all M-84D and M-84A4 tanks. M-84D will also feature LIRD-4B – Laser irradiation detector and warner and LAHAT anti tank missiles. There is a potential for integration of Swiss 120 mm compact gun developed by RUAG. This option is being now seriously considered as this would allow Croatia to use NATO 120 m standard ammunition. 120 mm RUAG compact gun is a preferred option over German Rheinmetall L44 120 mm cannon which is more expensive and would require German support, whereas RUAG will provide technical know how and technology transfer to Đuro Đaković specijalna vozila d.d. Only two Croatian tanks have been upgraded to this standard due to budgetary restraints

  • M-84AS (Serbia) – upgraded variant of the M-84A, project failed to advance to serial production. New fire control system, new armor consisting of cylindrical pad, high-hardness steel, titanium, aluminum, and NERA as well as modular Kontakt-5 armor, new AT-11 Sniper and Agava-2 thermal sights, and the Shtora defense suite, were all added. The first public appearance of the M-84AS was in 2004 at the Nikinci testing ground. It was very similar to the Russian T-90S, both in appearance and in capability; the differences reportedly consisted of better armour on the T-90S, whereas the M-84AS has superior maneuverability. The M-84AS was also tested by the Kuwaiti Army as part of an international tender. New thermal imaging cameras were mounted for the commander and driver so that the tank can operate at night. It was fitted with the 125 mm 2A46M smooth-bore gun and a 1,200 hp diesel engine giving a maximum speed of 72 km/h.

thumb|right|M-84AS1

  • M-84AS1 (Serbia) – upgraded variant of the M-84AS, project failed to advance to serial production. Additional armour, including explosive reactive armour, integrated day-night sighting system with thermal imager, command information system, a soft-kill active protection system, new radio system, Remote-controlled weapons station with 12.7 mm machine gun, and CBRN protection equipment were all added.

thumb|right|M-84AS2

  • M-84AS2 (Serbia) – upgraded variant of the M-84AS1, officially unveiled in 2020 and in serial production since 2024. The M-84AS2, tailored for platoon commanders, builds on the earlier AS1 prototype with refined subsystems. Its 125mm smoothbore gun, a Zastava-made evolution of the 2A46M, uses an autoloader to maintain an eight-round-per-minute firing rate, with ammunition including APFSDS rounds penetrating 500mm of armor at 2 km, programmable airburst munitions for infantry, and Refleks ATGMs for targets up to 5 km. A thermal sleeve improves barrel durability during sustained fire. The AS2's protection suite features the domestically developed M19 explosive reactive armor (ERA), with enhanced coverage on the turret roof to counter top-attack threats like drones. Slat armor guards against RPGs, while a soft-kill active protection system, inspired by Russia's Shtora-1, uses multispectral smoke and laser jammers to disrupt incoming missiles. A 360-degree laser and radar warning system alerts the crew to threats, complemented by automatic fire suppression and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection. The fire-control system includes a GEN III cooled thermal imager, short-wave infrared camera, and laser rangefinder, enabling target detection at 18 km. The commander's stabilized panoramic sight supports hunter-killer operations, while a battlefield management system links the tank to broader networks. A stabilized 12.7mm remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) engages drones and infantry safely. Powered by a 1,000 hp V-46-TK diesel engine (upgradable to 1,200 hp), the 46-ton tank hits 60 km/h on roads and 45 km/h off-road, with a 600 km range. Upgraded tracks and suspension extend component life to 8,000 km.
  • M-84AS3 (Serbia) – upgraded variant of the M-84AS2, officially unveiled in 2025. It features an active protection system (likely of Israeli origin) similar to the Iron Fist system by Elbit Systems, designed to intercept incoming projectiles. The armor has been significantly enhanced with extended explosive reactive armour modules covering the entire length of the hull, replacing the previous lattice protection around the engine compartment. The turret includes a new niche whose function may be related to an upgraded autoloader or integration of additional subsystems. The fire control system has been modernized with an integrated day/night sighting system including thermal imager, laser warning receivers, and new sensors for improved situational awareness and targeting accuracy. The tank retains the 125 mm main gun with a thermal sleeve and supports a range of ammunition including programmable high-explosive and armor-piercing rounds. It is also equipped with a remote-controlled weapons station armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Additional features include upgraded communications radios and CBRN protection systems. Though a proposal for a domestic-developed 1200 HP engine upgrade exists, the current powerplant remains close to previous versions, estimated around 1000 HP diesel engines.

Operational history

Desert Storm

thumb|right|A Kuwaiti M-84 during [[Persian Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]]

Before the Persian Gulf War, Kuwait ordered 170 M-84ABs, 15 M-84ABI ARVs and 15 M-84ABK command tanks, from Yugoslavia. Four M-84A tanks were delivered; however, the Iraqi Army soon captured them after the occupation. Further deliveries were stopped for the duration of the war. The Kuwaiti 35th Al-Shaheed Armored Brigade was equipped with 70 M-84s.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

During the Bosnian War, M-84s were used by Croatian forces in the Krajina region, and in the Siege of Sarajevo by both the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) and (in smaller numbers) the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Operators

thumb|Map with M-84 operators in blue with former operators in red

thumb|right|[[Croatian Army M-84A4]]

thumb|right|Kuwaiti M-84AB

thumb|right|Slovenian M-84

Current

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  • The Croatian Army has 74 M-84A4 Sniper MBTs awaiting replacement with the Leopard 2A8 in 2024. 30 were donated to Ukraine in the same year

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  • The Kuwait Land Forces has 75 M-84ABs in active service and 75 in storage as of 2024.

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thumb|Serbian M-84AS2

  • The Serbian Army operates 212 M-84 of which 26 M-84AS2 as of 2025.

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  • The Slovenian Army had 40 M-84 tanks in 2011. As of 2024, 14 remain operational for training-only while 32 remain in storage. All tanks were upgraded to the M-84A4 Sniper variant. A German offer of sending German-made vehicles in exchange of M-84A4s for Ukraine fell through.

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  • 30 M-84A4 Sniper donated by Croatia in 2024.
  • 3rd Corps, operated 2 M-84
  • 5th Corps, operated 1 M-84

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  • The Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) operated about 65 M-84s. After the VRS was integrated into the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSBiH), they were used by the OSBiH as late as 2011
  • 101st Armored Brigade at Banja Luka operated about 65 M-84s

;23px|border Republic of Serbian Krajina

  • Serbian Army of Krajina operated an unknown number of M-84 tanks in 1995

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  • Operated 71 M-84 tanks, replaced with M60A3 TTS tanks.

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  • Captured M-84 tanks during the invasion of Kuwait.