T 72 modernized. Domestic weapons and military equipment

Many countries around the world are in service with a large number of obsolete T-72 tanks of various modifications. These tanks do not meet modern requirements in terms of protection, mobility and firepower. There are a large number of proposals for modernizing the T-72 from various developers in many countries, for example T-72M2 "Moderna" (Slovakia), T-72M4CZ (Czech Republic), T-72AG (Ukraine) and others. But most of the proposed modernization options are quite complex and expensive.

Modernization of the T-72AG involves replacing the standard engine with a power of 780 and 840 hp. 6TD series engine with a power of 1000-1200 hp. Such modernization requires quite serious alterations to the rear part of the tank hull and has a high cost due to the price of the new 6TD engine.

As a result, the most optimal and economically attractive option for upgrading the T-72 was the installation of a modernized 5TDFMA engine with a power of 1050 hp. while maintaining the standard cooling system and without significant modifications to the tank hull. The compact dimensions of the engine made it possible to place an auxiliary power unit in the MTO EA- 10-2 power 10 kW at hourly operation fuel flow 3.8 kg/h. This option was first manufactured at Kharkov BTRZ No. 115 together with KhKBD. Subsequently, serial modernization is carried out at the Kiev Mechanical Repair Plant (7 BTRZ). Along with the new MTO, the tank's protection was also significantly enhanced.

1,2, 3 - The photo shows a good covering of the tower with “Knife” dynamic protection units. The container closest to the driver's hatch is hinged to ensure ease of driving with the hatch open. However, retaining the old IR spotlight to the right of the gun did not allow for the creation of ideal cover for the turret with modern reactive armor.

The chassis of the T-72B tank remained unchanged, with the exception of the installation of a more advanced caterpillar track from the T-80UD/Oplot tank with a rubberized treadmill. The firepower of the tank has increased due to the possibility of using modern Kombat guided missiles.

1 - at the request of the customer, instead of the NSV-T anti-aircraft machine gun, a DShK-M machine gun was installed on the tank, for unification with the customer’s existing fleet of T-55 tanks; 2 - the external difference of the T-72UA1 is that the exhaust has been moved from the left side to the right; 3 - change in the rear part of the T-72UA1 compared to the T-72B

1- Diesel 5TDFMA-1 with a power of 1050 hp. with intermediate gearbox;2 - Modified fan housing with installation of specially profiled fins; 3 - APU; 4 - view of the MTO.

On the modernized TMNK, the fan housing was modified by installing specially profiled fins into it. This design solution made it possible to double the efficiency of the centrifugal fan, which ensured an increase in air flow by 20% at the same power consumption. Considering that the specific heat transfer into the coolant and oil of the 5TDFMA-1 two-stroke diesel engine is 30% less than that of the V46-6 four-stroke diesel engine, an increase in fan air flow made it possible, while maintaining the standard radiators of the T-72 tank, to ensure the operation of the diesel engine without reducing power to ambient temperature air +55 0 C. Thanks to the preservation of the standard fan cooling system, it was possible to significantly reduce the cost of modernization, despite its number of disadvantages compared to the ejection cooling system.

Layout of components and systems of the power plant with 5TDFMA-1

1 - main diesel (OD); 2 - gearbox; 3 - final drive; 4 - drive wheel; 5 - high pressure compressor; 6 - compressor; 7 - pipe; 8 - flame tubes; 9 - air cleaner; 10 - oil tank OD; 11 - starter-generator OD; 12 - oil tank for the hydraulic control and transmission lubrication system; 13 - APU starter-generator; 14 - APU; 15 - diesel APU; 16 - heater; 17,19,20 - pipes; 18 - ejection valve; 21 - exhaust pipe; 22 - turbine OD; 23 - cooling system; 24 - bevel gearbox; 25 - guide ribs; 26 - centrifugal fan; 27 - fan housing; 28 - spring; 29 - OD transfer

The tank's protection has also undergone significant modernization. Instead of the outdated DZ, modern highly effective dynamic protection was installed based on KhSChKV devices used in the Knife and Duplet complexes.
Although the Donetsk Chemical Products Plant produces 4S22 devices at the enterprise, more demanding customers choose modern KHSCHKV devices that are 1.5-2.5 times more efficient.

In addition to modernizing its mobility, the T-72UA1 tank received a deep modernization of protection with the replacement of the outdated “Contact” mounted dynamic protection system with the modern “Knife” developed by BCKT Microtek. On the tower, the KHSCHKV devices are placed in new modules developed by BCKT Microtek. On the frontal and side sections of the hull, KHSCHKV devices are installed in modified standard containers of the mounted DZ complex. On the sides of the hull, the old configuration for installing containers, used on the T-72B, with fastening directly to rubber-metal screens, has been preserved. This decision is explained by the limited financial capabilities of the customer.

In general, the modernization of the T-72B with the installation of a new MTO with a two-stroke 5TDFMA-1 engine and modern dynamic protection "Knife" provides great prospects for further improvement of the extensive fleet of obsolete tanks of this type in many countries around the world. Modernization is especially relevant for countries with warm climates, where the standard engines of T-72 tanks and its modifications such as B-46, B-84, B-92 experience a significant reduction in power.

Additional sources for installing 5TDFA-1 on T-72 and T-55 tanks:

1. S.A. Alekhin, Ph.D. tech. Sciences, V.V. Saltovsky, engineer, V.I. Prokopovich, engineer POWER PLANT FOR ARMORED VEHICLES
2. Vakulenko V.V., Zaryanov V.A., Gorozhanin Yu.G., Zhmenko R.V., Kuzminsky V.A., Chuchmar I.D. METHODS FOR INCREASING THE MOBILITY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE T-72 TANK DURING ITS MODERNIZATION
3. S.A. Alekhin, Ph.D. tech. Sciences, G.K. Popov, engineer, V.V. Saltovsky, engineer PROMISING AUXILIARY POWER UNIT VEHICLE

T-72B3- Russian main battle tank of the T-72 family. The modification was developed as a cheap alternative to the T-90A until the Russian army receives a new generation of tanks. It is a relatively simple modernization of the T-72B tank.

Surveillance and communications equipment

The tank is equipped with a Sosna-U multi-channel sight developed by the Belarusian enterprise Peleng. VSUO left the TPD-K1 sight of the 1A40 complex from the T-72B tank. The tank commander's sight is the TKN-3MK, which is a modernization of the Soviet TKN-3 sight with the "Double" system and a 2nd generation image intensifier. The communication system consists of a VHF radio station R-168-25U-2 “Akveduk”. It includes 2 transceivers. Provides open, masked or classified radio communications. Produced by the Ryazan Radio Plant since 2005.

Chassis and engine

Track tracks, traditional for the T-72 family, have been replaced with new ones with a parallel hinge to improve performance characteristics and increase service life. The tank is equipped with four-stroke V-shaped 12-cylinder multi-fuel liquid-cooled diesel engines V-84-1 with a power of 840 hp. With. with a specific power of 18.88 hp. s./t., undergone major repairs.

Armament

The gun is a 125 mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun. The gun received improved sub-caliber projectiles of the “Lead” type. The anti-aircraft machine gun mount lost its remote control and was switched to manual mode.

Project evaluation

In total, the only innovations are the Belarusian Sosna-U sight and modern digital communication systems, everything else is 30 years old from the base model. There are no GLONASS receivers for the crew to determine the location of the tank. Instead of the new V-92S2 engines (1000 hp), there are V-84-1 engines with a power of 840 hp. With. after major renovation. According to GABTU, the installation of old engines in tanks occurred due to the late conclusion of a contract with Uralvagonzavod. Instead of the modern Relikt dynamic protection, there is the old Kontakt-5. The T-72M1, destined for Algeria at the same price, is much better equipped. In the Russian version of modernization, electronics lag far behind modern tanks.

In the future, it is possible to equip the Kalina control system, which is installed on the T-90SM tank and the V-93 engine with a power of 1130 hp

Specifications

Video

Even in overseas ratings, Leopard-2 is often ahead of the American Abrams M1A2. Military experts, of course, have reason to put the German car in first place. But the title of “best tank in the world” should be treated with a dose of healthy skepticism. Take a look at the Leopard-2 turret, doesn’t the anti-aircraft machine gun remind you of anything? That's right, this is the MG3A1 - a direct descendant, more precisely adapted for the modern MG-42 cartridge from the Second World War. I understand, a very successful “machine”, but not for the third millennium! Only very recently, on Bundeswehr tanks, the legendary machine gun began to be replaced with a modern Heckler & Koch MG5 or a remote-controlled module with a 12.7 mm “barrel.”

In the animal world, the large cat leopard belongs to the panther genus, just like the tiger. It's funny - these animalistic generic traits are easily visible in German armored vehicles. Leopard-2, like the Wehrmacht tanks of World War II, is distinguished by the vertical installation of armor plates. Rational angles of armor on the hull and turret are minimal, especially on early modifications. Moreover, the huge Leopard is oversized in width and quite heavy - typical “tiger” problems that make transportation by rail difficult.

It turns out that the Germans are stepping on the same rake with enviable tenacity? Not in everything. During the war with the USSR, the vehicles of the cat tribe had problems with service life, engine power, and, most importantly, the Germans were unable to repair their complex tanks in the field. So, the mileage of Leopard-2 before major repairs is 10 thousand kilometers. The power plant is a 1,500 hp turbodiesel, combined into a single unit with a hydromechanical transmission. In addition to high power supply, this technical solution also provides good maintainability - the assembled power plant can be changed in 35 minutes even in field conditions. Excellent indicator!

The tank also has other advantages. Leopard-2 has acceptable mobility. The armament is powerful: a 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun with modern ammunition and two machine guns. The gun is stabilized in two planes. But there is no automatic loader. Therefore, in the manned turret of the tank there are 3 people: the commander, the gunner and the loader. And that's not all - part of the ammunition is located in the rear of the turret. The niche where the shells are stored is equipped with ejection panels. It is believed that if a projectile hits a “powder magazine” of this design, people have a higher chance of surviving (by the way, the rest of the ammunition and fuel are well isolated from the crew). The only downside is the incredible size of the tower and the accompanying weight.

And after the flat gun mantlet (starting with the 2A5 modification) gave way to a modernized version with rational armor angles, the electro-hydraulic turret drive had to be replaced with an electric one. And all the same, the speed of rotation of the tower does not appear among the main virtues of Leopard-2. But the tank is equipped with an excellent Zeiss sight, an effective fire control system, thermal imaging cameras that provide all-round visibility to all crew members, a fire extinguishing system, and multi-layer armor lined with anti-fragmentation mats on the inside.

Leopard-2 has been in service since 1979 and is a third generation tank. Over the years of operation, it has been improved, re-equipped and even undergone a “facelift” more than once. The most recent and relevant modifications are 2A5, 2A6, 2A7+. The latter was announced in 2010 and, most likely, there will be no radical improvements in the future - the modernization potential of the tank has been exhausted.

Heir to the thirty-four

Our T-72 is smaller, lower and significantly lighter than the Leopard-2. It was put into service in 1973 and is an almost perfect example of a simple and, most importantly, mass-produced tank. Over the years of production it has been modernized several times. The latest version, designated T-72B3, was put into service in 2011 and has now received a number of additional improvements in 2014 and 2016. Why are they bothering with an old-style tank? Saturating the army with fourth-generation combat vehicles is not a matter of one day or even a year. The best way to maintain the combat effectiveness of armored forces during the transition period is to bring a vehicle with good modernization potential up to modern requirements.

Compared to the “German”, the domestic tank is the embodiment of a completely different concept: a low silhouette, powerful weapons on a compact and maneuverable chassis. The Russian 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun with a caliber of 125 millimeters will probably give a head start to the Leopard gun. This is the latest modernization of the 2A46M gun with accuracy improved by 20 percent and dispersion reduced by 1.7 times when firing on the move. The automatic loader has been modified to accommodate the new Svinets 1.2 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles.

This is where a retreat is required. Thanks to the automatic loader, there are only two people in the turret - the commander and the gunner. This means that the turret is smaller and lighter than in a German combat vehicle. Add to this a rounded shape, optimal for ricocheting enemy shells, good armor, dynamic protection (on early modifications Kontakt-5, on later modifications - Relikt) and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. Thus, in terms of the “top”, the T-72BZ is at least no worse than the Leopard. And this despite the fact that in order to achieve decent firepower on our tank, we did not have to build a huge “attic” with an electric drive.

Of course, it’s difficult to compete with Zeiss sights and foreign electronics. But modernization has significantly improved the equipment of our tank. It received a new Sosna-U gunner's sight with a thermal imaging channel, automatic target tracking, a modern digital ballistic computer, and a driver display complex with a rear-view camera. The latest modifications also feature a panoramic stabilized commander's sight.

Unfortunately, the introduction of new equipment was not without some annoying blunders related to ergonomics and ease of use. But in general, shooting accuracy both from a standstill and on the move has become better; guidance devices work reliably in any weather and at any time of the day. And the firing range is at the level of the world's best models. We will assume that in terms of optics and electronics, the T-72B3's latest modifications have achieved parity with the Leopard.

The protection of our car is in many ways even better than that of the German one. The lower weight of the T-72B3 does not mean “thinner” armor, but an overall smaller volume of protected space (the tank itself is not so elephant-like). Our tank also has a fire extinguishing system. Until recently, the situation with dynamic protection was worse - the Kontakt-5 complex was frankly outdated. The situation was corrected by the Relikt protection, which is installed on the latest modifications of the T-72B3. Particularly good are the side panels with integrated dynamic protection modules and lattice screens covering the engine and transmission compartment. Moreover, the tank’s standard accessories include additional modules and screens for installation on the turret instead of spare parts boxes.

And finally... Let's do some fun math. The specific power of Leopard-2 with a 1500-horsepower engine is 23.8 hp. per ton. The T-72B3 of early models with the good old V-84-1 diesel engine with a power of 840 horses had an indicator of 18.3. Noticeable lag! The latest modifications of the vehicle are equipped with a new V-92S2F engine with a power of 1130 hp, which gives a specific power of 24.5 hp/t. In such cases, it is customary to say that we have caught up and overtaken.

And now the big picture. In general, Leopard-2 and T-72B3 are equal rivals, despite their different concepts and not yet infancy design. It is difficult to predict who will be stronger in a face-to-face meeting - each has its own advantages and disadvantages. But, as usual, with equal forces, the success of combat use depends more on the ability of large commanders and specific crews to intelligently manage the available materiel.

As for commercial success, both tanks are in service with many countries. But the price-quality ratio is clearly behind our car. Over the entire production period of Leopard-2 of various modifications, slightly less than 3.5 thousand copies were made. The circulation of T-72 is about 30 thousand!

Characteristics of Russian and German tanks

The presence of about ten thousand T-72 type tanks in more than thirty countries around the world, as well as the huge modernization potential of the vehicle, is pushing many design bureaus to develop modernization programs for this tank. In Russia, such programs were developed in Nizhny Tagil UKBTM. Companies from Ukraine and Israel are also highly active in the development and implementation of T-72 modernization programs. Many programs have been developed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and even South Africa.

The implementation of comprehensive modernization programs agreed upon with the developer company provides a significant increase in the combat characteristics of the vehicles, bringing the modernized T-72 to the same level as tanks of the latest Western designs. Other programs, which involve the replacement of individual aiming devices on tanks, power plant units, and the installation of navigation systems, as a rule, make it possible to slightly increase only certain indicators of combat effectiveness, and even then not always. There are known cases when, after installing the latest Italian-developed automated fire control systems (AFCS) on the T-72, the shooting accuracy indicators became lower than on the basic version of the vehicle. This is due to the fact that often the developers of such automatic control systems do not have a complete set of technical documentation to ensure the interface of the control system with the guidance and stabilization drives of the weapons of the tank’s armament complex. As a result, shooting errors that occur when aiming a weapon at a target do not decrease, but only increase.

The Republic of Belarus has currently approved a new look for the Belarusian tank, which was the result of the T-72B tank modernization program developed by specialists from the 140th BTRZ together with engineers from Peleng OJSC. Since Soviet times, these enterprises have been engaged in the overhaul of T-72 type vehicles and the development of fire control systems for all tanks of Soviet and Russian design.

It is expected that during the modernization of the T-72B tank in service, firepower, security and command control will be improved and brought to a higher level. For this purpose, modern fire control systems, communications and navigation equipment are installed on the vehicle. In particular, instead of the PPN 1K13-49, the T-72B tank is equipped with the Sosna-U sighting system developed by Peleng OJSC, which is also successfully used in the modernization of Russian T-72B and T-90 tanks. The Sosna-U multi-channel sighting system combines a sighting optical channel, a thermal imaging channel, a laser rangefinder channel and a laser control channel for a guided weapon complex. In addition, the new highly automated control system of the T-72B tank modernized in Belarus includes a ballistic computer and a target tracking machine. The standard 1A40-1 sighting system now serves as a backup sighting device.

A modern fire control system with a multi-channel sight installed on the tank during modernization allows both the gunner-operator and the tank commander to detect a target and fire at it from the main weapon with all types of ammunition. Including a guided missile from the spot and on the move, day and night, at a range of up to five kilometers. And the presence of a target tracking machine significantly increases the probability of a hit when shooting at moving targets and on the move.

To increase the tank's security, a set of measures is being implemented, including the installation of new armor modules and an automatic system for setting up aerosol curtains.

At the event held in the capital of Kazakhstan in May 2012, two more modernizations of the T-72 tank were demonstrated - one developed by Ukrainian engineers from the Kyiv tank repair plant, the second by Israeli and Kazakh specialists.

The Ukrainian modernization of the tank was presented under the name T-72UA4. The vehicle has an improved commander's sighting and observation system with a closed-type anti-aircraft machine gun mount, borrowed from the T-80UD tank, produced in the mid-80s. at the plant named after Malysheva in Kharkov. The commander received at his disposal a TKN-4S combined sight with stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane, with the help of which he has the ability to conduct aimed fire from an anti-aircraft machine gun at ground targets on the move. Judging by the fact that only the night sight has changed in the control system of the modernized T-72UA4 (TPN4 was installed instead of TPN1-49), there is no possibility of firing from the tank’s main weapon from the commander’s position. The gunner's main aiming device remained the 1A40-1 TPD-K1 sighting system. There is no guided missile system.

The main feature of this tank is the modernized power plant with a 5TDFMA-1 turbo-piston two-stroke diesel engine with a power of 1050 hp. while maintaining the original fan cooling system, which significantly improves the mobility characteristics of the modernized tank.

Also on the T-72UA4, the vehicle’s security indicators have been increased due to the installation of the Varta optical-electronic countermeasures system, which includes a curtain installation system and an optical-electronic jamming station, which are analogues of the Russian optical-electronic suppression system Shtora-1. Elements of the mounted dynamic protection of the Kontakt-1 hull remained unchanged.

Actually, it’s strange why Ukrainian developers brought this particular modernization of the T-72 – T-72UA4 – to Kazakhstan? It is unlikely that it can be a worthy competitor to the Kazakh modernization of the T-72, not to mention the Russian one. The vehicle has practically worse firepower compared to the standard T-72B, which is in service with the Kazakh army. It’s strange, especially since Ukraine a year earlier in Nizhny Tagil demonstrated a more advanced version of the T-72 modernization - T-72AG.

On the T-72AG, the control system is identical to that installed on the T-90 tank (gunner's sighting system 1G46, night sighting system TPN4-49, commander's sighting system PNK-4G, the possibility of duplicate fire control from the tank commander's position, ballistic computer, weapon stabilizer 2E42M ), there is a 9K119 guided missile weapon system with a Kombat guided missile.

The power plant is the same as on the T-72UA4 - with a 5TDFMA-1 turbopiston two-stroke diesel engine with a power of 1050 hp. However, the T-72AG is also equipped with an auxiliary power unit EA-10 with a power of 10 kW.

The complex of protective equipment for the T-72AG tank includes the same as on the T-72UA4 optical-electronic countermeasures complex “Varta”, a new complex of built-in dynamic protection “Knife”, a napalm protection system, and a new high-speed fire protection system.

To increase the efficiency of the crew, especially in combat conditions, the vehicle is equipped with an air conditioning system.

The modernization project for the T-72 tank - T-72KZ "Shygys" (East), developed by Kazakh, Israeli and Turkish engineers, is interesting in its own way.

According to the modernization scheme, the T-72KZ is close to the notorious Georgian version of the T-72 SIM-I, which were never able to show any advantages over the standard Russian T-72A and T-72B during the war in South Ossetia in 2008. but externally distinguished by the installation of new dynamic protection elements on the turret and the frontal part of the hull. The sides of the hull are covered with rubber fabric and reinforced with additional lattice screens. However, the anti-cumulative grilles on the sides will not work properly in any way, since they are installed close to the rubber-fabric screen.

During the modernization, the T-72KZ "Shygys" tank retained its standard 840-horsepower V-84 engine of the T-72B tank, which is quite enough to ensure sufficient mobility of a vehicle of this weight category (initially it was planned to install Finnish Wartsila diesel engines on the T-72 tanks being modernized in Kazakhstan ). Mobility indicators at night are increased due to the installation of a thermal imaging device for the driver (similar to that used on the modernization version of the Leopard 2 tank developed in Turkey), which provides vision range at night, as well as in difficult visibility conditions (fog, snow, dust, smoke, etc.). ) up to 400 m. Installation of asphalt shoes on the standard T-72 caterpillar with sequential RMS reduces the already low cross-country ability of the old track.

To increase fire capabilities, the tank is equipped with a new fire control system using new aiming and surveillance devices produced by the Turkish company Aselsan. The control system includes a combined 24-hour gunner's sight with a thermal imaging channel with duplication of the “picture” from it in the place of the tank commander, as well as a ballistic computer. This made it possible to conduct targeted fire from the tank commander’s position in the “Double” mode. However, the T-72 version modernized in Kazakhstan lost such a fire advantage as the ability to fire a guided missile. The weapon stabilizer remained the same - 2E28M.

What has been significantly improved in the Kazakh-Israeli-Turkish version of the T-72 modernization are the command control indicators. They have been enhanced by installing a navigation system on the vehicle, new digital communications, and a unit control system in combat based on the BMS on-board computer, capable of being integrated into an automated tactical-level troop control system.

The navigation system on the T-72KZ "Shygys" uses the Israeli Azimuth Comet navigation system with a characteristic elongated GPS receiver antenna on the rear of the turret (as on the Georgian T-72 SIM-I tanks), supplemented by a GLONASS receiver. Radio communication systems include the Israeli two-unit VHF radio CNR-990 and the VIC-500 digital intercom system developed by Tadiran.

To ensure the operation of the increased number of electricity consumers, the machine is equipped with an Israeli-made auxiliary power unit with a capacity of 7.5 kW.

Officially, five companies took part in the modernization of the T-72KZ "Shygys", all Kazakh or joint: "Unified center for the implementation of weapons control systems" (development of the concept, development of technical specifications), "Semey Engineering" (repair, installation of remote control), "Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering" (MSO, driver's night vision device), "Kazakh-Israeli joint venture "Delta IT" (communication systems, navigation, control of units in combat, power supply), "811 Automotive Repair Plant KI" (production and installation of tracks with asphalt vehicles ).

No matter how attractive the T-72 tank modernization programs developed by foreign colleagues were, the most modern option for modernizing this tank was the version developed at the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (UKBTM) - the cradle of the T-72. This design bureau approached the modernization of the machine in a comprehensive manner.

The modernized tank managed to significantly increase: firepower (accuracy and actual firing range), security, mobility and command control. In addition, the performance characteristics of the modernized machine have been significantly improved.

Increased firepower was achieved through the introduction of a new fire control system, the installation of a new 125-mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun, the use of new, more powerful ammunition and a closed-type launcher with remote control.

The improved 125-mm smoothbore gun 2A46M-5, together with a modified automatic loader for the use of a new armor-piercing sub-caliber shot, ensures the firing of all the latest models of 125-mm shots of increased power.

The control system of the modernized T-72 tank has become automated with a digital ballistic computer and a barrel bending control system. Even in comparison with the 2A46M cannon, the firing accuracy of the 2A46M-5 cannon increased by 15-20%, and the total dispersion during firing immediately decreased by 1.7 times.

The control system of the modernized T-72 includes a multi-channel (optical, thermal imaging, laser rangefinder and missile control channels) Sosna-U gunner's sight with independent stabilization of the field of view in two planes. The new sight ensures effective engagement of targets at ranges over 3000 m day and night, as well as in poor visibility conditions (dust, fog, snow, etc.). It became possible to fire a guided missile at night and immediately.

In order to ensure high efficiency of firing from a tank on the move, a new weapon stabilizer 2E42-4 with an electric machine amplifier was installed on the vehicle. In addition to increasing shooting accuracy, such a stabilizer also reduces the fire hazard due to the absence of hydraulic drives with high pressure of flammable working fluid.

The new ZPU allows the tank commander to conduct targeted fire from an anti-aircraft 12.7-mm machine gun "KORD" (NSVT-12.7) using remote control drives at air targets, and in a stabilized mode - at ground targets, while remaining under reliable armor protection. This also increases the survivability of the tank on the battlefield, especially in difficult battle conditions (in the city, in the forest, in the mountains) due to the timely suppression or destruction of tank-dangerous manpower.

At the request of the customer, it is possible to place an open type ZPU with manual guidance on the modernized T-72 tank.

The tank's protection has been significantly increased due to the installation of a new modular-type DZ "Relic". It has a number of advantages in countering modern anti-tank ammunition compared to remote sensing systems used previously. To protect the side and rear projections, the tank is equipped with special screens with remote sensing elements and lattice screens. Lattice screens ensure the destruction of warheads of cumulative ammunition falling into them, reducing the likelihood of them penetrating armor by 70-100%.

To protect against anti-tank mines with magnetic fuses, the modernized T-72 tank is equipped with an electromagnetic protection system (EMZ), which ensures the premature detonation of such mines.

The “Cape” camouflage kit, another “know-how” of Russian developers, makes the tank practically invulnerable when it is attempted to be hit by modern Western-made precision weapons. The probability and detection range of a tank equipped with the “Cape” means of detecting modern high-precision weapons in the radar detection range will be reduced by 6 or more times. In the IR range, the probability of detection and capture of a tank in the “Cape” by infrared seekers is reduced by 2-3 times.

The modernized T-72 is equipped with an automated system for setting up curtains of the Shtora-1 optical-electronic suppression complex. It provides protection for the combat vehicle from high-precision weapons with a semi-active laser seeker, warning the crew about laser irradiation of the tank (when measuring the range with laser rangefinders and illumination with laser designators). The system deploys multispectral aerosol curtains that hide the position of the tank and blind the control systems of anti-tank systems and other high-precision weapons.

In order to increase the mobility of the vehicle, a multi-fuel diesel engine V-92S2 with a power of 1000 hp was installed on the tank. and an improved cooling system.

The chassis components have been improved. The vehicle received new tracks with tracks with a parallel rubber-metal joint, providing it with better traction and good handling. The shock absorbers have been strengthened and the rigidity has been increased, and the onboard gearboxes have been strengthened.

Command control has been increased by equipping the tank with a new VHF radio station R-168-25UE-2, internal communication and switching equipment R-168 AVSK-U and combined (satellite and odometric) navigation equipment.

Thus, the T-72 tank modernization program developed in Russia is the most developed and balanced option for increasing the combat properties of T-72 tanks. At the same time, depending on the wishes of customers, not all modifications can be made to the machine at once, but only a part of them, optionally, which can expand the circle of potential customers. It is necessary to take into account that the T-72 modernization program developed by Russian designers takes into account all the nuances of the machine’s design and is not limited to half-measures proposed by many foreign developers.

Another modernization of the T-72B tank was presented at the event held in June - July 2012 in Zhukovsky near Moscow by specialists from the Oboronservice company. As a result of the modernization carried out by the company, the firepower and command control of the tank have been increased.

Firepower has been increased due to the installation of a new sighting system for the gunner and a panoramic multi-channel sighting system for the commander. Apparently, other elements of the fire control system (FCS) have also been improved. One thing is clear - the commander was able to effectively detect targets day and night, as well as conduct targeted fire from the main and secondary weapons with all types of ammunition, including guided missiles, day and night, from a place and on the move.

Command control was increased due to the installation of a new set of communications equipment and the Trona topographical orientation system using GPS/GLONASS and inertial subsystems developed at the Kovrov electromechanical plant "KEMZ", the installation of new digital communications equipment, and an automated tactical-level troop control system.

In general, if we consider the T-72 tank modernization programs currently offered on the world market, only Russian engineers have developed and implemented the most balanced, comprehensive programs that meet modern combat requirements.

Comparative performance characteristics of the T-72B tanks and the modernized T-72