{
  "id": "t-72",
  "name": "T-72",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "RUS",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1973,
  "operators": [
    "AGO",
    "ARM",
    "AZE",
    "BGR",
    "BLR",
    "CAN",
    "CHN",
    "COG",
    "CZE",
    "DZA",
    "ETH",
    "FIN",
    "GBR",
    "GEO",
    "HRV",
    "HUN",
    "IND",
    "IRN",
    "IRQ",
    "KAZ",
    "KEN",
    "KGZ",
    "LAO",
    "LBY",
    "MAR",
    "MKD",
    "MMR",
    "MNE",
    "MNG",
    "MYS",
    "NGA",
    "NIC",
    "POL",
    "PRK",
    "RUS",
    "SDN",
    "SLE",
    "SRB",
    "SSD",
    "SVK",
    "SWE",
    "SYR",
    "TJK",
    "TKM",
    "UGA",
    "UKR",
    "UZB",
    "VEN",
    "YEM"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 50,
  "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.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Uralvagonzavod",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.59,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.23,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 44.5,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "V-92S2F",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 780,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 500,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 60,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 45,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.2 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording (with Preparation)",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "5.0 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmission",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Synchromesh, hydraulically assisted, with 7 forward and 1 reverse gears",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Torsion bar",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of fire (max)",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "8 rds/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Minimum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "-6 deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Maximum elevation",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "+14 deg",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1A40-1",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Tank Commander",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, Type INA",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal Sight Gunner",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1K13-49",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Main Gun Stabilization",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "2Eh42-2, 2-plane",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Range, Thermal Sight",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "1,000 m",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The 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 a",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The turret casting comprises approximately 110 millimeters of homogeneous steel in baseline configurations, with additional laminar plating integrated in modernized variants.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available, Turret top and track skirts",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Explosive reactive armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Originally 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 aft",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Active Protection System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, Arena available",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, Grenade launcher 8x; VESS",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "1 x 2A46M/2A46M-5 Smoothbore Gun, 125 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "1 x PK (Kalashnikov's Machine Gun) 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun; 1 x Type 54 DShK 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 5,
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range",
      "note": "Longest-range ammunition listed"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot",
      "role": "125 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "2,050 m/s",
        "Armor penetration": "1,000 mm",
        "Projectile weight": "11 kg"
      },
      "qty": "39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "High Explosives (HE)",
      "role": "125 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "850 m/s",
        "Projectile weight": "23 kg"
      },
      "range_km": 5,
      "qty": "39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles"
    },
    {
      "name": "High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)",
      "role": "125 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "915 m/s",
        "Projectile weight": "18.4 kg",
        "Armor penetration": "Estimated at 800 mm triple charge HEAT"
      },
      "range_km": 3,
      "qty": "39 Total Rounds of any 125mm Russian Projectiles"
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "T-72A",
      "text": "The T-72A entered production in 1978 and was first seen by NATO forces in 1980.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "T-72B",
      "text": "The T-72B is an upgrade of the T-72A.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "T-72AK",
      "text": "The T-72AK is the regimental and battalion command variant of the T-72A.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "T-72AK1",
      "text": "The T-72AK1 is a T-72 equipped and modified for local command of a company-sized formation.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "T-72AV",
      "text": "The T-72AV was introduced in 1985 and it incorporated the improvements developed for the T-72B.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "T-72B1",
      "text": "The T-72B1 is a T-72B upgrade without the ability to fire the Svir 9K120 guided munition from the main gun.",
      "src": [
        "weg-t-72"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": {
    "file": "t-72.jpg",
    "thumb": "t-72-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "Kerri-Jo Stewart from Vancouver, Canada",
    "license": "CC BY 2.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Independence_Day_Parade_-_Flickr_-_Kerri-Jo_(68).jpg",
    "title": "File:Independence Day Parade - Flickr - Kerri-Jo (68).jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY 2.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/t-72.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-t-72": {
      "title": "T-72 Russian Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/T-72_Russian_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}