What does the Romanian tank Bizonul look like, modernized in Romania and equipped with an anti-drone cage: “Now we are in tests, in the firing phase”
The BSDA 2026 military exhibition, which took place these days at Romaero Băneasa, brought numerous military manufacturers from the country and abroad who they presented the latest and most modern weapons and military systems. But one of the exhibits that attracted the most attention is an old tank, produced in Romania under communism, and only modernized after the Revolution.
In front of one of the Romaero halls where many foreign manufacturers exhibited their latest generation drones, armored vehicles and missiles, Uzina Mecanică Bucharest presented a more special exhibit: A TR-85 M1 “Bison” battle tank “revitalized with modernized equipment”.
tank TR-85 (Romanian Tank Model 1985) is a main battle tank designed in Romania, based on the chassis of the Soviet TR-77-580 tank, and built in the country in the 1980s-1990s. . The modernized version of this tank, the TR-85M1 “Bison” – a modernization of the original tank that was made in the 2000s – is the Romanian version of the tank compatible with NATO standards.
The Romanian Army has 54 such tanks in inventory, the most modern tank battalion currently in operation by the Land Forces.
A revitalization plan with 12 new systems
Now, the UMB and the MApN Research Academy have presented a new version of this tank.
“The revitalization program assumes that there are 12 new systems that are installed and replaced on the tank. There are 12 systems, 12 upgrades,” says in a dialogue with HotNews colonel (r) Emilian Pîsu, director of research and development at Uzinii Mecanice Bucharest, a defense company in the Romarm portfolio.
“This is the second level of modernization, compared to what it was until now (no. the first modernization of the TR-85 M1 Bizonul tank). What it had until now, the similar equipment, has exceeded its useful life. It needs an update if you want to use it effectively”, details Pîsu.
The revitalization project of the TR-85 M1 Bizonul tank was carried out jointly by the Bucharest Mechanical Plant and the Research Agency for Military Techniques and Technologies (ACTTM), with systems also from other Romanian companies such as Pro Optica, Stimpex, Electro Optic Systems, IOR SA or Interactive Systems.
2 million euros per tank
Currently, the prototype of the revitalized tank is in the testing period.
“Now we are in the firing phase. We have tested it in operation, on several types of roads. So far it has passed all the tests. We still have about 350 real shots to fire, with all types of shots. Once we have passed the tests, it will enter an approval commission that includes the Ministry of Defense and the manufacturer. After approval, we can proceed to series production,” says the UMB director.
Pîsu also says how much such modernization costs for each individual tank: “It's not a secret job. Over 2 million euros for everything new put on the tank.”
What was replaced on the current TR-85 M1 Bizonul tank?
“The track was replaced, we came up with a better performing track, with a rubber cushion and monoblock spur. We also put another, better braking system in the rear part in the transmission”, details the director of UMB.
The observation and aiming systems were modified, installing two identical systems for both the observer and the commander.
“The systems are based on thermal cameras, they shoot up to 5,000 meters in any visibility conditions,” says Colonel (r) Pîsu.
Protection systems like on Piranha 5
Inside, the designers changed the panel that oversees the operation of the engine, a fire-fighting installation with non-toxic gas was installed, as well as the pre-heater that generates heat for the crew.
UMB also put an electrically actuated stabilizer and a new fire control system (SCF) on the tank.
“The SCF that works with the stabilizer is also brought from analog to digital,” says Pîsu.
Further, on the outside, modern laser and radar warning and protection systems were mounted on the new tank. Basically, detection sensors and automatic smoke curtain launchers were installed.
“We replaced it with systems like those on the Piranha 5 transporter. What's on the Piranha 5 is also on our tank now, for uniformity. On the old tank we had a radio station called Panther, now we put Harris like all armored equipment from the Land Forces. We also changed the generator, it was a French one that was difficult to replace and cost a lot”, Pîsu elaborates.
The first Romanian tank with an anti-drone cage
The tank presented by UMB has always stood in a central area of the BSDA military exhibition on the Romaero platform. One distinctive element, however, attracted all eyes. The Romanian tank was equipped, as from the factory, with an anti-drone net, a wire mesh cage designed to protect the tank's turret – usually the weakest point – from kamikaze drone attack.
Colonel (r) Pîsu of the UMB admits that this element was not an MApN requirement, but was a unilateral initiative.
“It's an idea of ours. It's an idea of ours because at this time, probably, the Ministry of Defense is establishing the concept of how it will conduct the anti-drone fight and how it will protect its troops and tanks from drone attacks. It's a system that is cheap to produce, to install. It's a passive, mechanical protection that basically, when there is a kamikaze drone attack, initiates the drone's ammunition before the actual contact with the tank. The system covers about 60-66% of the surface of the tank”, explains the UMB representative.
