Russian manufacturer of armored armored Uralvagonzavod has published a commemorative video celebrating the 52 years of service of the T -72 tank, one of the most emblematic shots in modern military history.
In the video, Russian military describes the T -72 as “an excellent friend and companion who never disappoints”, highlighting his “reliability and power” to fulfill combat missions with confidence.
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OT -72 was officially adopted by the Soviet Army on August 7, 1973, and completely complete a total of 52 years of continuous service.
According to the Guinness Book, this is the most produced tank today, with about 25,000 units manufactured and exported to over 40 countries. He participated in several armed conflicts around the world and remains in active use.
Since its launch, the designers of the Russian city of Nizhny Tagil They developed more than 45 experimental prototypes and about 30 serial production versions, each incorporating advances in protection, weapons and mobility.
Currently, the most modern version – the T‑72B3M – continues in production and evolution. It has a new generation reactive shielding, FPV drone protection systems, as well as improvements based on the lessons learned from the latest combat, especially in the Ukraine conflict.
T -72 on the Ukraine battlefield
The war in Ukraine rekindled the central role of the T -72 in modern conflicts. Both sides continue to use the model – although with different approaches of modernization.
The Ukrainian forces captured more than 540 Russian tanks, of which 103 were T -72B3M. Many of these vehicles were reconditioned and reused by the Ukrainian troops on the battlefield itself. In various situations, Russian armored columns with T -72B3M have been destroyed by suicidal drones or coordinated attacks, with up to 11 vehicles eliminated in a single offensive.
In response to the growing threats, Russia introduced a new version of the T-72B3M equipped with the Arena-M active protection system, capable of detecting and intercepts anti-tanker projectiles before impact. However, experts still question the actual effectiveness of the system in the massive use of drones and guided ammunition.
Meanwhile, Ukraine modernized the T -72 received from Western Allies, including variants such as the T -72m1r (Poland) and T -72ea (Czech Republic), with improvements in night vision systems, digital communication and thermal sensors.
A living legend – but with challenges
Despite its long history and continuous modernization, the T -72 today faces significant technical limitations, especially with regard to the protection of crew, lateral shield and internal disposition of ammunition – which make it vulnerable to modern attacks.
Still, the armored remains relevant in the theater of operations. For Russia, it is a symbol of mass production and resistance. For Ukraine, a reusable platform with western modernization potential.
OT -72 is a legend that resists time, but now it operates in a scenario marked by drones, mines, urban destruction and friction war, where each technical advance is immediately put to the test.
Source and Images: Telegram @uvznews | nationalsecurityjournal | This content was created with the help of AI and revised by the editorial team.
