T-72 | |
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![]() A T-72 upgraded by India featuring added ERA bricks, modern sights and more. | |
Type | Main battle tank |
Place of origin | Soviet Union |
Service history | |
In service | 1973–present |
Production history | |
Designer | Kartsev-Venediktov |
Designed | 1967–73 |
Manufacturer | Uralvagonzavod |
Produced | 1971–present |
No. built | approx. 25,000[1][2] |
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1971. It replaced the T-54/55 series as the workhorse of Soviet tank forces (while the T-64 and T-80 served as the Soviet high-technology tanks).[citation needed] In front-line Russian service, T-72s are being upgraded or augmented by the T-90, itself a modernized version of the T-72B. The T-72 has been exported and produced in many countries.