T-72 ΜΒΤ modernisation and variants

"The Russian Defense Company UralVagonZavod (UVZ) company has developed an upgrade kit for T-72 main battle tanks (MBT), according to a source in the company. The kit is focused on increasing of the tank`s survivability. To this end, the new upgraded T-72 is equipped with the latest generation explosive reactive armour (ERA) over the frontal arc of the vehicle. It provides a good level of protection against high-expolsive anti-tank (HEAT) and armoured-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot (APFSDS) shells. Moreover, the upgraded T-72 has received.an automatic screening system, designed to detect the laser rangefinders or laser-guided anti-tank weapons. The tank can lay its own smoke screen either by injecting diesel fuel into exhausting outlet or by dischraging 902B Tucha smoke grenade launchers", the source said.

He also pointed out, that the upgraded T-72 got new V-12 V-92S2 diesel engine (1,000 h.p.) equipped with a turbocharger unit. The engine is coupled to an automatic transmission. The vehicle has gross weight of 46 tonnes, power-to-weight ratio of 21.73 hp/t. and maximum road speed of 65 km/h.



The upgraded T-72 tank has received 125mm 2A46M-5-01 gun as a main weapon. The gun can fire different types of shells and laser-guided projectiles. The upgraded tank also has 7,62mm coaxial PKTM and 12,7mm 6P50 Kord anti-aircraft machineguns. The gunner's sight includes day and thermal channels, a laser rangefinder and the missile guidance channel. The tank is also equipped with an automatic tracking device and computerised fire control system.

The kit includes GPS/GLONASS navigation system, nuclear/biological/chemical protection, digital communications equipment. Nevertheless, the upgraded T-72 is not equipped with air conditioning unit. The T-72 is a Soviet second-generation main battle tank that entered production in 1971. The T-72A is the most popular version of the tank which is in service in many countries all over the world."

Source: http://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2016_global_defense_security_news_industry/russian_company_uralvagonzavod_has_developed_a_new_upgrade_kit_for_t-72_main_battle_tanks_tass_12701161.html

It will use the 1130 hp V-92S2F and not the 1000 hp V-92S2. That's a pretty big difference.

I suspect the "auto screening system" might use the same sensors used in Shtora. In wouldn't be hard to apply them here.

Order placed for 154 of the latest T-72B3 or T-72B3M;

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1776063.html

Media: "Uralvagonzavod" will sign a 2.5 billion contract to upgrade the tanks

MOSCOW, March 10. / TASS /. "Uralvagonzavod" will sign a contract until the end of March with the Russian Defense Ministerstrom worth over 2.5 billion rubles for the modernization of 150 tanks T-72B to the level of the T-72B3, said Thursday "News" referring to the deputy general director of "Uralvagonzavod" Alexei Zharich .

According to the newspaper, in each tank are planning to invest up to 79 million rubles. This amount is to cover the cost of replacing tools, engine, sighting systems, as well as enhanced protection against armor-piercing shells and cumulative.

For example, the capacity of the new engine will be increased by almost 45%, to 1130 horsepower, which makes the tank very mobile and new digital ballistic computer allows several times to reduce the time made calculations and improve their performance.

"The proposed modernization of the T-72B to the level of the T-72B3" pulls "the tank is not easy to match" modern requirements ", but actually makes" 72 th "the latest T-90S, but for much less money," - note the "News ".

According to the publication, the decision on a large-scale upgrade of armored park was made on the basis of the annual sports and technical games "Tank biathlon 2015", where the experimental T-72B3 has bypassed its Chinese analogue of Type 96A.


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Armored Buildup: Russia to Turn T-72 Tank Into Advanced War Machine

While the world has kept its eyes on Russia’s military successes in Syria Moscow has continued modernization of its military forces with full force.

Russia is planning to modernize its 150 T-72 main battle tanks to the T-72B3M version. The upgraded vehicles will be comparable to the more advanced T-90, but with much lower costs.

Currently, there are 500 T-90A and T-90AM tanks in service with the Russian Armed Forces. But the bulk of the Ground Forces rely on the Soviet-era T-72 and its numerous modifications.

In order to upgrade its ground forces, especially during an economic crisis, Russia will modernize its ageing main battle tanks while working on the newest T-14 Armata.

Russia will spend 2.5 billion rubles ($37 million) to upgrade 150 T-72Bs to the advanced B3M standard, Uralvagonzavod deputy director Alexey Zharich told the Russian newspaper Izvestia.

On average, 17 million rubles ($250,000) will be spent on each tank which means that the upgrade is a "relative bargain for the capability the vehicle is expected to deliver," analyst Dave Majumdar noted in his article for The National Interest.

According to Izvestia, the upgraded machine will be equipped with the 2A46M5 125-mm smoothbore gun as well as the new Sosna-U sighting system paired with the 1A40-4 fire-control system. The tank will also receive a new ballistic computer to increase accuracy.

What is more important, the T-72B3M will be equipped with an independent panoramic sight for the tank’s commander, with its own thermal imaging device.

The tanks will also get the new Relikt explosive reactive armor. It will replace the old Kontakt-5 system and is expected to be two times more effective.

"It’s not clear if the Russians are modifying the vehicle’s passive armor package — but it would make sense it they did. Further, while some sources suggest that the T-73B3M might be equipped with the Arena-E active protection system, it’s not clear that the production variant does," Majumdar wrote.

Furthermore, the upgraded version will be powered with the new V-92S2F engine and deliver 1,130 hp. It will replace the old 780-hp diesel engine. The new engine is paired with an automatic transmission system and improved drivetrain to improve the tank’s mobility.

According to the newspaper, the first shipment of 32 tanks will be delivered to the military in 2016. Currently, the ground forces have over 500 less capable T-72B3s in service.

"Potentially, the new upgrade could be exported to the numerous T-72 operators around the world," the analyst noted.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/military/20160319/1036592096/russia-t-72-upgrade.html#ixzz43SWUTazN

Some issues here with this article;
- have not seen any orders or deliveries for 90AM's yet.
- there are 500 T-90 and T-90A's
- Shoigu said there was 590 some T-72B3's by the end of 2014
- unknown how many were completed in 2015
- appears at least 25 tank battalions presently are 72B3 or 90A .This means in excess of 1,000 units.

There are already over 1200 T-72B3's in service. They had modernized like 300-400 per year with higher peaks in recent years.

Τhank you guys for info. I thought there were about 800 T-72B3s in service till now

I remember that Shoigu said that around 600 are to be in Service by 2015... and i belive i read somewhere that 220 were in quee to be modernised in 2015, which brings us to some 800 T72B3s. I dont think they ever went even near 400 modernised per year, at least i never saw such number being mentioned. Together with T90s it brings us to some 1200-1300 vehicles.

George1 wrote:Τhank you guys for info. I thought there were about 800 T-72B3s in service till now

I suspect that it would be 800 some to date.

Orenburg motorized infantry received a batch of 30 modern T-72B3

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I couldn't work out from articles I read: are the 'Biathlon' ones being upgraded from old stock or existing B3s getting a further upgrade?
Also are all these new orders for the 'Biathlon' version or some to the old B3 standard & others the new one?

It'd make life easier if they'd give the 'Biathlon' version a proper designation

hoom wrote:I couldn't work out from articles I read: are the 'Biathlon' ones being upgraded from old stock or existing B3s getting a further upgrade?
Also are all these new orders for the 'Biathlon' version or some to the old B3 standard & others the new one?

It'd make life easier if they'd give the 'Biathlon' version a proper designation

T72B3 = "Biathlon". Some call it that way as its used on Tank Biathlon international competition. And they are old T72B hulls being modernised.

I thought the Biathlon version has an even more powerful engine & new panoramic commander sight vs normal B3.


But the new Orenberg unit doesn't have the panoramic sight even though the article says they are 'Biathlon' version.

Possible they are using stock images of normal B3 though?

hoom wrote:I thought the Biathlon version has an even more powerful engine & new panoramic commander sight vs normal B3.


But the new Orenberg unit doesn't have the panoramic sight even though the article says they are 'Biathlon' version.

Possible they are using stock images of normal B3 though?

Emm...let me repeat myself, there is no T72 "Biathlon", its T72B3. Biathlon is just a nickname journalists use around...as that is the model used on International Tank Biathlon competition.

Further improvement over T72B3 is called T72B3M:

"The T-72B3M (T-72B4) will be upgraded with lot of new components including the new cannon 2A46M5 125-mm smoothbore gun as well as the new Sosna-U sighting system paired with the 1A40-4 fire-control system. The tank will also receive a new ballistic computer to increase accuracy.

The T-72B3M will be equipped with an independent panoramic sight for the tank’s commander, with its own thermal imaging device."

"The T-72B3M also called T-72B4 is an upgraded version of the T-72B3 which is the latest modernized version of the Russian-made main battle tank T-72. The T-72B3M project was unveiled for the first time to the public during the Final of International Russian army Tank Biathlon competition in October 2014. According Russian military engineers, the T-72B3M will be comparable to the more advanced T-90, but with much lower costs. In March 2016, it was announced that Russia is planning to modernize its 150 T-72 main battle tanks to the T-72B3M version. Russia will spend 2.5 $37 million to upgrade 150 T-72Bs to the advanced B3M standard."



Panoramic sight is in center

In addition, T-72B3M will receive Relic ERA instead of Kontact 5 (photo above)...

Sorry if I'm coming across as a douche or a dunce

OK so did the new Orenberg unit get B3s as part of an older contract or are they on to B3Ms already?

Full upgrades from T72B is good
Also: are they upgrading in-service Bs or reactivating out of storage?
$37mil seems like a tiny amount to upgrade that many old T72Bs to the new standard especially if its also including reactivating out of storage so I had thought it might have been to upgrade existing B3s to B3M.

There were a lot of T-72B in service already. After T-80 being phased out, T-72B's are being reactivated for now till T-15 are out in numbers. This is a far cheaper and effective upgrade program over purchasing new T-90s.

@ hoom

Yes 37mil. is very low price but there is a reason for that. It's because every single new component, from engine to electronics is already in mass production and are readily available.

Overall a very fortunate arrangement.

hoom wrote:Sorry if I'm coming across as a douche or a dunce  

OK so did the new Orenberg unit get B3s as part of an older contract or are they on to B3Ms already?

Full upgrades from T72B is good
Also: are they upgrading in-service Bs or reactivating out of storage?
$37mil seems like a tiny amount to upgrade that many old T72Bs to the new standard especially if its also including reactivating out of storage so I had thought it might have been to upgrade existing B3s to B3M.

I would suspect they are T72B3's as the order for the T-72B3M's was just done. I believe they were to be 2017 deliveries.

As for in-service or storage units would expect a bit of both. These tanks being replaced in Orenberg were reported to be BA's or BM's so were from the last product versions. I would suspect they will now be sent off to be upgraded.

hoom wrote:Sorry if I'm coming across as a douche or a dunce  

OK so did the new Orenberg unit get B3s as part of an older contract or are they on to B3Ms already?

Full upgrades from T72B is good
Also: are they upgrading in-service Bs or reactivating out of storage?
$37mil seems like a tiny amount to upgrade that many old T72Bs to the new standard especially if its also including reactivating out of storage so I had thought it might have been to upgrade existing B3s to B3M.

B3s from already existing contract, T-72B3Ms are still to be fielded, maybe later this year if everything goes by plan. They are atm modernising units in service, some original Bs were pulled from storages to fill the hole made by T-80 being phased out and replaced some small number of T-72As that were in some units.

By existing contract T-72B3M upgrate will be done on T72Bs, i dont think B3s will be modernised to B3M, at least now now when there are still so many Bs in service without any updates.

A tank that can effectively conduct combat operations inside a city has been constructed by Russia’s Uralvagonzavod. The tank was constructed taking into consideration conflicts in Syria and the Middle East.


http://sputniknews.com/military/20160530/1040497967/syria-russian-tank.html

d_taddei2 wrote:A tank that can effectively conduct combat operations inside a city has been constructed by Russia’s Uralvagonzavod. The tank was constructed taking into consideration conflicts in Syria and the Middle East.


http://sputniknews.com/military/20160530/1040497967/syria-russian-tank.html

One troll in a comment section with 100% posts replying to herself dozen times.

Werewolf wrote:

d_taddei2 wrote:A tank that can effectively conduct combat operations inside a city has been constructed by Russia’s Uralvagonzavod. The tank was constructed taking into consideration conflicts in Syria and the Middle East.


http://sputniknews.com/military/20160530/1040497967/syria-russian-tank.html

One troll in a comment section with 100% posts replying to herself dozen times.

Hahah you saw that one too.

Jesus. Also why is Sputnik soo late...