According to Jane's, and KMDB (the manufacturer of the Buran seriesTI systems, supposedly the first thermal sight installed on a Russian tank) the T-80UM was the first such equipped model (with the Buran), which entered service, in '91/92. Before that the TPN-4(e?) Image Intensification was in use. Of course, that is only MBTs....
A good "Definitive" starting point might be
this tool, which no bookshelf should be without.
