Soviet/Russian main battle tank
T-72 Type Main battle tank Place of origin Soviet Union In service 1973–present Used by See Operators Wars Designer Leonid Kartsev-Valeri Venediktov Designed 1967–1973 Manufacturer Uralvagonzavod , Heavy Vehicles Factory Unit cost US$0.5–1.2 million in 1994–1996,[ 1] 30,962,000–61,924,000 rubles (US$1–2 million) in 2009,[citation needed ] US$0.5 million in 2011[ 2] Produced 1971–present No. builtapprox. 25,000 [ 3] [ 4] Mass Length 9.73 m (31 ft 11 in) gun forward 7.05 m (23 ft 2 in) hull Width 3.89 m (12 ft 9 in) Height 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) Crew 3 (commander, gunner, driver) Armour Steel and composite armour with ERA Main armament
125 mm 2A46M /2A46M-5[ 6] smoothbore gun Secondary armament
Engine V12 diesel V-92S2F (T-72B3 & T-72B3M) 780 hp (580 kW) 1,130 hp (840 kW) for V-92S2F Power/weight 18.8 hp/tonne (14 kW/tonne) Transmission Synchromesh , hydraulically assisted, with 7 forward and 1 reverse gearsSuspension Torsion bar Ground clearance 0.49 m (19 in) Fuel capacity 1,200 L (320 U.S. gal; 260 imp gal) Operational range
460 km (290 mi), 700 km (430 mi) with fuel drums 60 to 75 km/h (37 to 47 mph)
4 km/h (2.5 mph) (reverse)
The T-72 is a family of Soviet main battle tanks that entered production in 1971.[ 9] The T-72 was a development based on the T-64 using thought and design of the previous Object 167M.[ 10] [ 11] About 25,000 T-72 tanks have been built, and refurbishment has enabled many to remain in service for decades.[ 12] [ 13] It has been widely exported and has seen service in 40 countries and in numerous conflicts. The Russian T-90 introduced in 1992 and the Chinese Type 99 are further developments of the T-72.[ 14] [ 15] Production and development of various modernized T-72 models continues today.
^ "Сравнение характеристик ЗРК С-300 ПМУ-1 и Пэтриот" [Comparison of the characteristics of the S-300 PMU-1 and Patriot air defense systems] (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2014-11-15 .
^ "Ethiopia signs deal to purchase 200 tanks from Ukraine: official" . Reuters. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 2020-11-30 .
^ "T-73" . Tankmuseum.org . Retrieved 2022-02-21 .
^ "T-72 main battle tank (1972)" . Tanks-encyclopedia.com . 23 November 2014. Retrieved 2022-02-21 .
^ "T-72B(M) Main Battle Tank" . Armor.kiev.ua . Archived from the original on 2016-05-23. Retrieved 2016-08-24 .
^ "05.10.14 -723" . Militaryparitet.com . Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-11-15 .
^ "Gary's Combat Vehicle Reference Guide" . Inetres.com . Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2014-11-15 .
^ Foss, Chris (2005). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2005–2006 . Jane's Information Group. p. 101. ISBN 0-7106-2686-X .
^ "T72 Tank" . Fas.org. Archived from the original on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2014-11-15 .
^ Suvorov Victorovich, Sergey (2001). 'Сергей Суворов - Танк Т-72 Вчера, Сегодня, Завтра' . Moscow, Russia: TankoMaster. OCLC 76960839 .
^ S.V., Ustyantsev; D.G., Kolmakov (2013). Т-72/Т-90. Опыт создания отечественных основных боевых танков [T-72/90 "Experience in the development of domestic main battle tanks" ] (in Russian). Nizhniy Tagil, Russia: Uralvagonzavod. ISBN 978-5-91356-210-4 .
^ Christopher Foss: Jane's Armour & Artillery 2009–2010. ISBN 978-0-7106-2882-4 p. 102.
^ Gady, Franz-Stefan (3 October 2018). "India to Procure 1,000 Engines for T-72 Main Battle Tank Force" . The Diplomat . Retrieved 2020-05-12 .
^ Szulc, Tomasz (September 2012). "Nowe Czołgi Naszych Wschodnich Sąsiadów: T-90MS I Opłot-M". Nowa Technika Wojskowa (9): 12–24.
^ Foss, Christopher F. , ed. (2011). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2011–2012 (32nd ed.). London: Janes Information Group. pp. 5–6. ISBN 978-0-71062960-9 .