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Land ForcesRussia

T-72

Main battle tankFielded 1973Pending verification
Land ForcesRUS
T-72
Photo: Kerri-Jo Stewart from Vancouver, Canada · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeMain battle tank
Date of introduction1973
ProliferationAt least 50 countries
ManufacturerUralvagonzavodMed[1]
Crew3Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Width3.59 m12 ftMed[1]
Height2.23 m7 ftMed[1]
Combat weight44.5 tMed[1]
Automotive performance
EngineV-92S2FMed[1]
Engine power780 hpMed[1]
Cruising range500 km311 mi · 270 nmiMed[1]
Max road speed60 km/h37 mph · 32 ktMed[1]
Cross-country speed45 km/h28 mph · 24 ktMed[1]
Fording depth1.2 mMed[1]
Fording (with Preparation)5.0 mMed[1]
TransmissionSynchromesh, hydraulically assisted, with 7 forward and 1 reverse gearsMed[1]
SuspensionTorsion barMed[1]
Protection
Hull ArmorThe baseline T-72 features a laminated glacis plate incorporating 60 millimeters of RHA steel, 105 millimeters of texolite (Soviet composite material), and 50 millimeters of RHA backing plate. This configuration provides robust protection aMed[1]
Turret ArmorThe turret casting comprises approximately 110 millimeters of homogeneous steel in baseline configurations, with additional laminar plating integrated in modernized variants.Med[1]
Applique ArmorAvailable, Turret top and track skirtsMed[1]
Explosive reactive armorOriginally produced without ERA, T-72 modernization systematized reactive armor integration: Kontakt-5 ERA (T-72B3): Provides superior protection against shaped charges and conventional anti-tank projectiles, standard on T-72B3 variants aftMed[1]
Active Protection SystemYes, Arena availableMed[1]
NBC ProtectionYesMed[1]
Smoke EquipmentYes, Grenade launcher 8x; VESSMed[1]
Armament
Rate of fire (max)8 rds/minMed[1]
Minimum elevation-6 degMed[1]
Maximum elevation+14 degMed[1]
Main armament1 x 2A46M/2A46M-5 Smoothbore Gun, 125 mmMed[1]
Secondary armament1 x PK (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun) 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun; 1 x Type 54 DShK 12.7mm Heavy Machine GunMed[1]
Maximum firing range5 km3 mi · 3 nmiLongest-range ammunition listedMed[1]
Fire control
Fire control system1A40-1Med[1]
Computerized FCSYesMed[1]
Thermal Sight Tank CommanderYes, Type INAMed[1]
Thermal Sight Gunner1K13-49Med[1]
Main Gun Stabilization2Eh42-2, 2-planeMed[1]
Range, Thermal Sight1,000 mMed[1]
Variants
T-72AThe T-72A entered production in 1978 and was first seen by NATO forces in 1980.[1]
T-72BThe T-72B is an upgrade of the T-72A.[1]
T-72AKThe T-72AK is the regimental and battalion command variant of the T-72A.[1]
T-72AK1The T-72AK1 is a T-72 equipped and modified for local command of a company-sized formation.[1]
T-72AVThe T-72AV was introduced in 1985 and it incorporated the improvements developed for the T-72B.[1]
T-72B1The T-72B1 is a T-72B upgrade without the ability to fire the Svir 9K120 guided munition from the main gun.[1]
Weapons and payload options · 3Confidence · Source
Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot125 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Quantity
39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles
Muzzle velocity
2,050 m/s
Armor penetration
1,000 mm
Projectile weight
11 kg
High Explosives (HE)125 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Range
5 km3 mi · 3 nmi
Quantity
39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles
Muzzle velocity
850 m/s
Projectile weight
23 kg
High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)125 mm ammunition
Med[1]
Range
3 km2 mi · 2 nmi
Quantity
39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles
Muzzle velocity
915 m/s
Projectile weight
18.4 kg
Armor penetration
Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT
Summary

The T-72 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a landmark in post-Cold War armored vehicle design, developed to meet the Soviet Union's demand for an affordable, easily mass-produced main battle tank.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
AngolaArmeniaAzerbaijanBulgariaBelarusCanadaChinaRepublic of the CongoCzech RepublicAlgeriaEthiopiaFinlandUnited KingdomGeorgiaCroatiaHungaryIndiaIranIraqKazakhstanKenyaKyrgyzstanLaosLibyaMoroccoNorth MacedoniaMyanmarMontenegroMongoliaMalaysiaNigeriaNicaraguaPolandNorth KoreaRussiaSudanSierra LeoneSerbiaSouth SudanSlovakiaSwedenSyriaTajikistanTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUzbekistanVenezuelaYemen
Sources
  1. T-72 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import
  • 2026-10-10 Added photo (CC BY 2.0)