Also Known As:
Ajeya (Indian T-72s), M84, T-72-120 (version fitted with a NATO 120mm smoothbore gun), T-72A, T-72AG (version utilizing T-84 and T-80UD components), T-72B, T-72BK, T-72BM, T-72BV, T-72M, T-72M1, T-72MP (version fitted with SAVAN 15 fire control system), T-72S
Origin:Russia
Contractor/s:
KMDB, Uralvagonzavod production association
Description:
T-72 is a three-man crew main battle tank (MBT) developed for the Red Army to counter M60, AMX-30, Chieftain and Leopard 1 MBTs. It was widely exported to the Warsaw Pact and non-Soviet countries being built under license in Poland, Czechoslovakia, India and the former Yugoslavia (M84). T-72 features a 2A46M/D-81TM 125mm smoothbore gun fed by a turret-mounted automatic ammunition load system. T-72's main gun is also capable of firing anti-tank missiles which gives an outstanding superiority over western MBTs such as the M-60 and Leopard 1 outfitted with 105mm cannons.
Its survivability is based on its low silhouette and its steel armor which results compact and lighter than the one provided to western tanks. Moreover, some T-72 variants may be equipped with explosive reactive armor (ERA) to better withstand impacts of larger caliber guns. Externally it is very similar to Soviet T-64 and is powered by an 840-hp diesel engine. In addition to its 125mm main gun a roof-mounted 12.7mm gun was provided to engage airborne threats. Its fire control system can be equipped with infrared sensors and laser designator enhancing T-72's main gun accuracy.
Approximately 8,000 T-72s were produced for the Soviet Union and export customers all over the world starting in 1971. It was used against the M1 Abrams by the Iraqis during the Gulf War in 1991 and 12 years later during operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. In both cases it performed poorly in front of sophisticated heavy-armor M1A1/A2 Abrams.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 3
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 125 mm
Dimensions: Height 2.2 m, Length 6.9 m, Width 3.6 m
Weights: Max Weight 44,000 kg (97,002 lb)
Performance: Cross Country Speed 10 mps (19 kt), Main Gun Max Range 3,000 m (9,843 ft), Max Range 500 km (270 nm), Top Speed 17 mps (32 kt)
Algeria
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Burma
Croatia
Czech Republic
Finland
Georgia
Hungary
India
Iran
Iraq
Kazakhstan
Kenya / 77 
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Libya
Macedonia
Morocco / 100 
Poland
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Slovakia
Syria
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
United States of America
Uzbekistan
Yemen