monkey model

plural monkey models

1. informalgovernmentA downgraded version of a weapon for export or war-time mass production, which lacks many advanced functions of the original version.

   1974 […] Development of initial export ("monkey model") version of T-72

   2013 February 28, “Military Vehicles Forecast: T-72”, in Forecast International

   2 more examples

   But as Suvorov observes, the Soviets manufacture two variants of equipment: the standard model and the stripped-down “monkey” model for export, which is sold abroad as “latest” equipment.

   1983, Terry B. O’Rourke, “The Soviet Threat”, in Claremont Review of Books, volume 11, number 4

   Even if the Russia continues the “monkey model” policy for export gear, a downgrade T-14 could still stack up well against Western tanks, like the Abrams, Leopard 2, and Challenger 2.

   2015 May 22, Christian Beekman, “Why Russia’s New Tanks Are A Wake-Up Call For The US”, in Task & Purpose

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see monkey, model.