October 17, 2005: Ukraine is updating it's armor force by modernizing two decade old T-64B tanks, and turning them into new models called the Bulat. This is a similar approach many nations have followed, to upgrade their warplanes without breaking the bank. It cost Ukraine about $670,000 per tank for the first batch of 30. But for that, each tank got a set of reactive armor, which provided all round protection from RPGs and missiles, as well as increased defense against tank shells. A new engine increased speed and reliability. A new fire control system, and the ability to fire missiles (guided weapon system) from the 125mm gun tube, makes the tank more lethal at night, as well as during the day. The Bulat weighs 45 tons, has a range of 385 kilometers and a Power-to-weight ratio 18.9 horsepower per ton of weight. The three man crew also has an anti-aircraft machine-gun equipped with a fire control system. New fire control equipment makes the main gun effective out to 2,500 meters in daylight, and 1,500 meters at night. The missile system can hit targets, with 80 percent accuracy, out to 5,000 meters. The new sensors can spot and identify vehicles out to 5,000 meters. Ukraine plans to produce 400 Bulats in the next five years, with the conversion price per tank going down to about $400,000. There are also plans to offer Bulats for export., probably for a bit less than a million dollars a tank. This is about half what it would cost to buy an equivalent tank brand new. Ukraine has over 2,000 T-64s it can upgrade.