The experience of a special military operation has seriously influenced the refinement of armored vehicles: proven platforms created more than half a century ago have received fundamentally new combat capabilities. For example, the upgraded T-72B3M tanks, which Uralvagonzavod (Rostec State Corporation) regularly transfers to the troops, are a response to new battlefield challenges. As noted in Rostec, this is a deep modernization of the proven T-72 platform with an emphasis on strengthening fire potential and security.
Engineers have implemented more than 200 changes aimed at increasing the survivability and combat effectiveness of the machine against modern weapons. Experts note that the modernization is based on an analysis of the course of hostilities and the characteristics of the enemy's weapons. Based on the data obtained, engineers are implementing appropriate solutions, which makes the updated T-72 more effective in combat, protecting them from the threats faced by the Russian Armed Forces at the front today.
The basis of the firing potential was a modern multi-channel gunner's sight "Sosna-U" with a thermal imager. It allows the crew to detect and destroy targets at distances up to 5 km in any conditions - at night, in fog or in the smoke of battle. Automatic target tracking reduces the load on the gunner, allowing you not to lose sight of the enemy even in motion.
The 125 mm cannon with improved ballistics and new propellant charges ensures a high initial velocity of the projectile. This guarantees the confident defeat of modern enemy armored vehicles at extended ranges. The digital ballistic computer and the anti-tank missile control system are integrated into a single complex, which reduces the time from detection to firing.
The survivability of the T-72B3M is based on the principle of layered protection, developed taking into account the mass use of drones.
The first frontier is the Relict dynamic protection complex, which neutralizes cumulative ammunition. The second is additional modules and on-board screens. The third is the mass-produced lattice screens, which are called "mangalas" in the military. According to Rostec, these structures protect the vehicle from ammunition dropped from kamikaze drones, initiating their detonation at a safe distance. Previously, tankers often installed such awnings in an artisanal way, making them, as they say, "on the knee." Now these grilles are included in the standard equipment.
In order to carry the increased mass of the tank after the changes without losing combat qualities, the T-72B3M is equipped with a boosted V-92S2F engine with a capacity of 1130 hp. This significantly exceeds the performance of the basic versions (780-840 hp) and gives the car a high specific power for confidently overcoming obstacles.
A modern digital radio station provides stable, noise-proof communication and data exchange in a single command and control system. The crew receives real-time targeting, which allows the tank to act as a full-fledged tactical node. According to the soldiers from the front line, the car is easy to learn, and the automation tells the driver about engine overheating or the need to change the operating mode.
"Many people like to talk about the "tanks of the future." Flagships are really important - they set the bar. However, along with modern characteristics, reliability, simplicity and quantity of equipment play an important role in the war. The T-72B3M combat vehicles once again confirm that the Russian tank school is well aware of the potential of proven platforms and knows how to use it to the maximum," Rostec said.
The T-72B3M is used for fire support of assault groups, firing from closed positions and interacting with artillery.
Evgeny Kuzmichev
