Soviet Union and Russia The T-72 was designed and first built in the Soviet Union. • '''T-72 "Ural" (Ob'yekt 172M)''' (1973): :*
T-72K: Command version of the T-72 "Ural" with an additional R-130M radio. Company command versions were fitted with two additional R-123M/R-173 radios and also carried a 10 m telescopic mast. Battalion and regiment command versions were fitted with two additional R-123M/R-173 radios and the R-130M that used the 10 m mast when it was erected. In NATO code, the T-72K was represented by three different designations: T-72K1, T-72K2 and T-72K3 which represented the company command version, battalion command version and regiment command version. :*
T-72A obr.1982g: Additional glacis armour with thickness of 16 mm of high resistance steel. :*
T-72A obr.1984g: Late production with new turret, new gunner night sight 1K13-49, new engine. Smoke launchers on the turret side. :* '''T-72AK (Ob'yekt 176K)''': Command version of the T-72A. In NATO code T-72AK was represented by three different designations: T-72AK1, T-72AK2 and T-72AK3, which represented the respective command versions for companies, battalions and regiments. :*
T-72MK (T-72M(K)): Export version of T-72AK. It is a command vehicle for battalion commanders and has additional radio equipment, including the R-130M radio, AB-1-P/30-M1-U generator and a TNA-3 navigation system. The main external difference is a 10 m telescopic antenna stowed under the rear of the stowage box during travel. An additional antenna base for this telescopic antenna is mounted on the left side of the turret. Because of the additional equipment, the number of rounds for the 125 mm tank gun had to be lowered from 44 to 38. In NATO code, the T-72MK was represented by three different designations: T-72MK1, T-72MK2 and T-72MK3, which represented the respective command versions for companies, battalions and regiments. On early models, the smoke dischargers were mounted on the turret front (as on the T-72A), later they were grouped on the left side of the turret to prepare for the installation of ERA bricks. :* '''T-72BK (Ob'yekt 184K)''': Command version of the T-72B, recognisable by having multiple radio antennas and a radio mast stowage under the rear turret bin. While the upgraded tanks retained the original 2A46M main gun, more importantly, they received a much improved 2E42-4 stabilization system which significantly improved accuracy – especially during firing on the move. Approximately 750 tanks were upgraded to the T-72BA standard. :* '''T-72B1 (Ob'yekt 184-1)''': T-72B without the 9K120 missile system. :*
T-72B obr.1989g: T-72B equipped with advanced
Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour, composite armour in sides of turret as well. Often called T-72BM or T-72B(M) but this is not correct. NATO code: SMT M1990. The cost to upgrade a T-72 to the T-72B3 standard was around 52 million rubles in 2013. :*
T-72B3 obr.2014: a special version of the T-72B3, first seen during the 2014 edition of the
Tank Biathlon competition. The most notable upgrades are the stabilized, panoramic, independent PK-PAN commander sight with integrated thermal viewer and a V-92S2 1,000 hp engine. The purpose was to use the same gun, ammunition, ATGM, ERA etc. as the T-90 M tank to simplify supply lines. There is a new gun 2A46M-5 with new anti-tank ammunition Svinets-1 (tungsten) and Svinets-2 (depleted uranium). New 2E58 gun stabilizer is responsible for improved aiming time. 9K119M Refleks-M system is used to launch 9M119M Invar (also called Reflex-M) ATGM through gun barrel. New PK-PAN panoramic commander sight with thermal vision only seen on a limited number of vehicles while all the rest are using older TKN-3MK commander's sight. Retained Sosna-U gunner's sight and crosswind sensor. New Kalina fire control system, although in simplified form. There is new radio communication equipment as well as GLONASS satellite navigation. Driver is using older TVN-5 periscope with additional display from rear view camera. The automotive performance of the tank was improved with a more powerful V-92S2F engine rated at 1,130 hp (830 kW) coupled to an automatic transmission system and improved drivetrain. Protection is improved by Relikt new generation ERA mounted on sides of both hull and turret, while cage armor was added to the rear.
Kontakt-5 ERA is retained over the frontal arc and turret top. There is also increased protection against AT land mines. The Russian Defense Ministry ordered several hundred T-72B3M tanks, and received the first twenty in early 2017. The cost to upgrade a T-72 to the T-72B3 obr.2016 standard was around 78.9 million rubles in 2016. ::*Unmanned version of T-72B3M is (as of December 2018) under development. :*
T-72B3M obr.2022: It is the most recent upgrade of the T-72B3, based on combat experience gained during the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. New TKN-3TP commander`s sight with thermal vision (range 3000 m) is installed. New TVK-2 driver's dual channel sight (night vision 250 m). The tank is fitted with the same armament as the previous obr. 2016 model, however its protection has been enhanced. Previously, the back of the turret was without any additional protection and now there are metal boxes with Relikt
explosive reactive armour (ERA). Lower parts of the turret are covered by a metal net designed to improve protection against
rocket-propelled grenades, similar to that of the
T-90M. Additional Kontakt-5 blocks installed right and left of the gun mantlet as well as on the turret top. The void in ERA coverage caused by the smoke grenade dischargers on the turret is now protected by Kontakt-1 ERA. Lower frontal hull plate is now covered with Kontakt-1 ERA. Relikt ERA plates are covering entire length of the chassis, fender/idler area and also attached to cage armor over engine compartment. Mechanism to open the armored protection panel for the Sosna-U sighting system is added, replacing the previous configuration which used bolts that had to be unscrewed manually before combat. Due to shortages, some tanks received a simpler 1PN96MT-02 thermal imaging sight instead of the Sosna-U multichannel stabilized sight. :*
T-72B3M obr.2023: Modification to T-72B3M Obr. 2022, replacing side and rear slat armor with new
ERA arrays. It is fitted with a standard roof armor cage. By the fall of 2023, Sosna-U sight shortages were resolved and became standard issue. • ''''
(Boyevaya Mashina Ognemyochikov'') – A transport vehicle for flamethrower-squads armed with RPO launchers. • '''
BMPT (Ob'yekt 199)'
– Heavy convoy and close tank support vehicle (Boyevaya Mashina Podderzhki Tankov''). All new turret armed with 2 × 30 mm 2A42 autocannons (500 rounds), 4 × 9M1201 Ataka-T ATGM and 7.62 mm PKT MG (2,000 rounds). It can be also fitted with 2 × AGS-30 automatic grenade launchers. Features new fire control system with thermal sights and a ballistic computer. Reinforced with 3rd generation "Relikt" ERA on the frontal armor and both sides of hull and turret, slat (cage) armor in the rear. It is equipped with Agat-MR night vision devices, an NBC detection and protection system. There is 902A "Tucha" 81 mm smoke grenade launcher array on each side of the turret and "Shtora-1" active protection system. When the screening system warns the crew of laser tracking, a smoke screen is created by the launch of grenades. The vehicle can be fitted with either the KMT-8 or the EMT mine clearing system. •
IMR-2 (
Inzhenernaya Mashina Razgrashdeniya) –
Combat engineering vehicle (CEV). It has a telescoping crane arm which can lift between 5 and 11 metric tons and utilizes a pincers for uprooting trees. Pivoted at the front of the vehicle is a dozer blade that can be used in a V-configuration or as a straight dozer blade. When not required it is raised clear of the ground.
Azerbaijan •
T-72A Aslan - Modernizated option of the T-72 by
Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence Industry developed by the Israeli company
Elbit Systems. The tank is equipped with a computerized control system, a GPS-based navigation system, a “friend or foe” determination system, thermal imagers for the commander and gunner, and a mounted remote sensing system.
Belarus •
T-72BM2 - Modernization of the T-72B. Deliveries started in April 2026.
Bulgaria •
T-72M2 – New night vision and thermal devices, anti-radiation cladding, rubber side skirts,
C4I and IR suppression coating. •
T-72M1 Mod. 2022 – T-72M1 modernised with Elbit's Thermal Imaging Fire Control System, giving the gunner 3rd generation+ thermal imaging capabilities along with a new laser range finder capable of lasing up to 9 km away. The system also includes a
battlefield management system, four laser warning receives, a new fire control system with a metrological sensor, new thermal sleeve for the
2A46 125 mm gun, and thermal night time cameras for the driver. The T-72M1 Mod. 2022 is also one of the few T-72s to receive an
auxiliary power unit (APU) that allows the tank to have a "silent watch" capability, allowing it to operate all its system with the engine turned off to save fuel and reduce the tank's thermal emissions and acoustic signature. The tank was modernised locally at "Terem - Khan Krum" EOOD in Targovishte.
Croatia M-95 Degman •
M-84A – The M-84 is a Yugoslav third generation main battle tank, based on the Soviet T-72, produced in Croatian Đuro Đaković specijalna vozila. •
M-84D – Proposed upgrade of the M-84A4 with technology developed for M-95 Degman prototype. •
M-95 Degman – 3rd generation prototype tank based on the Yugoslav M-91 Vihor prototype.
Czechoslovakia • '''T-72M (Ob'yekt 172M-E3)
(1985) – This model was built under licence by ZŤS Martin (nowadays Slovakia). In Western sources it is often referred to as T-72G''' which might be the designator for the version exported to the Middle East. In the late 1980s the tanks produced for the Czechoslovak army and for export as well were fitted with some improvements from the Soviet T-72A programme, including rubber side skirts (instead of "gill armour") and 902B "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers. • '''T-72M1 (Ob'yekt 172M-E5)''' (1986) – This export version of the T-72A was also built by ZŤS. An external difference with the Soviet original is the reduced number of KMT mounts on the lower glacis plate. •
() (
vyprošťovací tank) – Czechoslovak
armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) based on T-72 chassis. :*
() – Czechoslovak ARV based on BREM-1 with dozer blade with prominent rams mounted on the front of the vehicle, hydraulic crane on the right side of vehicle and a large built-up superstructure at the front of the hull with a large tackle block in front of it. :* '''''' – Modernized VT-72 (BREM-72) ARV with T-72M4CZ upgrades including the power pack and communications upgrades. • '
, also known as ' (2022) – modernization of the T-72 (various versions) to 3rd-generation standard by which includes: • New opto-electronic devices and an upgraded night vision block for all three crew members from company Optics trade, which significantly improve night vision capabilities and resolution. It uses a laser rangefinder to increase the probability of a first round hit, an improved thermal sight with ballistic computer, an upgraded commander's sight and an upgraded driver's sight. The night vision systems operate fully in passive mode without the use of infrared lights. • Increased ballistic protection with most vulnerable parts covered with reactive armour, significantly increasing the tank's protection against RPGs and HEAT ammunition. The reactive armour added to the tank is the equivalent of 400 millimetres of rolled armour when hit by a warhead. In total, the tank is equipped with 196 boxes of reactive armour. • Significantly improved mobility due to an upgraded power pack with increased engine power to 840 hp and increased acceleration dynamics. • Complete modernization of driver's position with a new digital dashboard. New internal and external communication systems, digital radio enabling encrypted communication. New fire protection system. Periscopic sights with anti-laser protection.
East Germany •
T-72M – This designator was not only used for the standard T-72M, but also for 75 basic T-72s that were upgraded by RWN in 1986. These tanks (
Kampfpanzer) were fitted with rubber side skirts, smoke grenade launchers "Tucha" and the additional 16 mm steel plate on the upper glacis plate. •
T-72M "Übergangsversion" – East German army designator for 23 late-production T-72Ms from Poland, fitted with the additional hull armour. Delivered in 1986. •
T-72(K) and
T-72(K1) – East German army designators for command tanks (
Führungspanzer). •
T-72TK – East German designation for VT-72B (BRAM-72B). The vehicle was planned to enter service with
NVA in 1990, but only one was actually handed over to IB-9 (
Instandsetzungsbatallion 9) at Drögeheide (Torgelow). Two others were still in Grossenhain (Central tank workshop near Dresden) on 3 October 1990. At this place the tanks got fitted with relevant NVA kit and the cranes were tested/certified. •
FAB 172M or
FAP 172U (
Fahrausbildungspanzer) – Driver training vehicle. Three vehicles were made by using the chassis of the cancelled BLP 72 project.
Georgia •
T-72 SIM-1 – Increased implementation of K-1 reactive and K-5 passive armor. New FALCON command and control system, GPS navigation system and Polish SKO-1T DRAWA-T fire control system with thermal imager and laser rangefinder (from
PT-91 Twardy). It has also a
friend-or-foe recognition system.
India By the late 1970s,
Indian Army HQ had decided to acquire new-generation replacements for its UK-origin fleet of
Centurion and
Vijayanta MBTs (based on the
Vickers MBT), and consequently, paper evaluations concerning the firepower and mobility characteristics of the two principal contenders being offered for full in-country production— French-origin
AMX-40 and the British-origin
Chieftain 800 — were conducted by the Indian Army. By early 1980, the Army chose the 43-tonne AMX-40 MBT, which was still in its design-stage. It was to be powered by a 1,100 hp
Poyaud V12X 12-cylinder diesel engine coupled with a LSG-3000 automatic power shift transmission built by
RENK Aktiengesellschaft of Germany offering a
power-to-weight ratio of 25.6 hp/tonne, and armed with a 120 mm
smoothbore cannon. However, AMX-40 had only marginal protection by the standards of 1980's. After the
General elections in 1980,
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi requested additional evaluation, including MBTs from the USSR, following which the Soviet Union's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations (which after 1991 morphed into Oboronexport, then Rosoboronservice and ultimately
Rosoboronexport State Corp) made a formal offer to India's
Ministry of Defence (MoD) for supplying the 37-tonne T-72M Ob'yekt 172M-E4 MBT off-the-shelf, and according an approval for licensed-production of the 41.5-tonne T-72M-1982 Ob'yekt 172M-E6 to the MoD-owned
Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in
Avadi. By early 1981, two
T-72Ms—powered by a 780 hp diesel engine, armed with 125 mm
2A46M smoothbore gun and offering a power-to-weight ratio of 20 hp/tonne, were subjected to an exhaustive series of in-country firepower and mobility trials by the Army. After review of trial results, T-72M and T-72-1982 (powered by a Model V-84MS four-stroke 12-cylinder multi-fuel engine developing 840 hp and offering a power-to-weight ratio of 18.8 hp/tone) were selected as Army's future MBTs. Throughout the 1980s, India continued to induct T-72 tanks followed by a licensed production line in
Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) in
Avadi, India since 1984.
Request for information was issued in November 2023 to upgrade around 1,000 tanks with new engines,
fire control system & other modern systems at (US$270 million). A contract was signed with
Rosoboronexport to procure 1,000 bhp engines in March 2025 at a cost of $248 million. A total of 1,000 engines are to be procured under the contract of which 200 engines to be directly imported, 800 to be assembled by
Heavy Vehicles Factory from completely knocked down and semi knocked down kits. Procurement under 'Buy & Make' category. On 18 September, the Indian Army's 512 Army Base Workshop in Pune completed the Pilot Overhaul of the Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) VT-72B under its Project Lotus. The project is being undertaken by the
Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers in collaboration with an engineering team from the industry partner Airbornics Defence and Space (ADSL), a subsidiary of the JCBL Group. The procedure included the complete dismantling of the vehicle, replacing critical components, and repairing or substituting Major Unit Assemblies (MUAs). On 27 February 2026, it was reported that the Indian Army has fitted 96 tanks of its T-72 fleet with the Thermo Imaging Fire Control System (TIFCS), an Indo-Israeli technology. The system also cleared the firing validation trials between November and December 2025 before induction. The upgrade was executed by the Alpha-Exec Defence & Aerospace Systems Pvt Ltd, a
joint venture of Alpha Defence and
Elbit Systems. The contract was signed in 2023. The Indian Army has operated and tested several variants of the T-72, including: •
Ajeya MK1 () – Indian version of the T-72M1. In parallel with buying various T-72M off-the-shelf from the Soviet Union, India also launched its domestic production at
Heavy Vehicles Factory. •
Ajeya MK2 – Indian version of the T-72M1 with ERA and banks of 6 smoke grenade-launchers on each side. •
Combat Improved Ajeya (Not to be confused with Ajeya MK2) - For a rather long time the Indian Army did not intend to modernize its T-72 tanks since it was relying on their own tank project, the Arjun. However, the Arjun program had been undergoing difficulties. As a result, they adopted the Operation Rhino plan aimed at re-equipping 1,500 T-72M1 tanks. The upgrade program provides for installation of a Polish SKO-1T DRAWA-T fire control system/thermal imager supplied by the Polish PCO/Cenzin (from
PT-91 Twardy),
DRDO explosive reactive armour, a navigation system from Israel's Tamam, German Litef or South African RDI, a locally developed laser illumination warning system, new radios manufactured by Tadiran or GES Marconi and an improved NBC protection system will be fitted. The tank is planned to be powered by a S-1000 engine made by the Polish firm PZL-Wola (also from
PT-91 Twardy). It is also upgraded with new fire detection and suppression systems and laser warning systems on either side of the turret. Indian sources often say that 1,800–2,000 T-72M1 tanks will be upgraded top to bottom while the rest will undergo only partial improvement. •
T-72M Rakhsh - Iranian T-72M upgrade, equipped with a variant of
Kontakt-5 ERA among many upgrades.
Iraq •
T-72 Saddam – T-72M modified by Iraq to suit local conditions. Some of the suspension shock absorbers were removed and a searchlight on the right-hand-side of the main armament was added. :*
T-72M1R – Modification of T-72M1. :*
Jaguar: When Polish production of the T-72 started in 1982, the Poles considered upgrading them and the first domestic T-72 upgrade program was launched by the Institute of Armament and Equipment of the Polish Army. The project was code-named
Jaguar since that was the designation under which the Soviet Union transferred the technical data package for the T-72. The
Jaguar was never more than a concept.
Syria •
T-72A/M1 - Syrian unmarked modernization. Instead of the TPN-3-49, the T-72 tanks are equipped with thermal imaging sights designated as "Viper-72", locally produced. The maximum range of the sight is up to 4 kilometers. The sight is made of foreign components since 2018. •
T-72 Adra – Syrian upgrade featuring slat and spaced armour as extra protection against HEAT. •
T-72 Shafrah – Syrian upgrade featuring brackets placed on the tank's turret, which have a number of angled plates welded onto them. Some tanks have sideskirts (most appear to at least have sideskirt mounts consisting of two metal beams above road-wheels), which follow a similar pattern, but the welded plates are not angled. Armor plates are made of RHA (1.5 mm – 2 mm). •
T-72M1S – Syrian-Italian upgrade with the addition of the Galileo Avionica TURMS-T computerised FCS, including infrared cameras, improved gun stabilisation, stabilised sights for the gunner and the commander, and capability to launch
9M119 Refleks ATGMs. 124 T-72M1s and T-72AVs were upgraded to this standard between 2015 and 2018. Very few of the upgraded T-72AVs retained their explosive reactive armour after being upgraded. •
Golan-1000 – A rocket system which carries three massive 500 mm rounds, each packed with 500 kg of high-explosive fragmentation ammunition. Built on a T-72 tank chassis, the rocket system has been in use with the Syrian Army since May 2018.
Ukraine of the
Ukrainian Army. During the
Russo-Ukrainian War's
invasion by Russia phase from 2022 onward Ukrainian forces have used captured Russian tanks, including T-72s. •
T-72AM "Banan"– unveiled in 1992, the first Ukrainian T-72A upgrade covered extensively with early-generation Kontakt-1 ERA tiles (V-shaped array around the sides of the turret and an array on side skirts). It is powered by the 6TD-1 or 6TD-2 diesel engine (1,250 hp) from the T-84 and features additional smoke grenade launchers. • '''''' – This modernization package was unveiled in 1997 by KMDB and includes an improved 6TD-1 engine, Kontakt-5 or
Nizh ERA, a modern fire suppression system and an advanced
Sagem SAVAN 15MP fire-control system with the multi-channel thermal SAVAN 15MP (gunner) and panoramic SFIM VS580 (commander) sights. But the capabilities of the FCS were not fully utilized since the tank retained the obsolete 2E42-2 stabilization system and 2A46M main gun. The upgrade is offered jointly with Sagem of France, and PSP Bohemia of the Czech Republic. • '''''' – KMDB main armament package first offered in 1999 with the T-72AG and T-72MP upgrades, which includes an auto-loaded KBM-2 120 mm main gun, developed with the French-based
GIAT Industries and capable of firing NATO-standard ammunition or
ATGMs. This upgrade includes a new 2E42-M stabilizer and a new auto-loader system housed in the redesigned turret bustle and similar to that used in the
Leclerc main battle tank with a capacity of 20 single fixed rounds and further 20 stored in the hull in place of the legacy AZ auto-loading mechanism. The high costs involved with such an extensive modification have thus far driven away potential buyers. • '''''' – A relatively simple upgrade developed for smaller defense budgets of the nations of the developing world, but one that has seen commercial success. The original V-46 engine was replaced with a newer 5TDFMA two-stroke diesel making 1,050 hp (775 kW) and fitted with an enhanced cooling system for use in tropical environments, which allows the tank to be operated for extended periods at temperatures exceeding 55 °C. The tank was also equipped with an EA-10-2
APU with an output of 10 kW, allowing the vehicle's systems to be fully powered when stationary without running the main engine, thus drastically reducing fuel consumption. An air conditioner remains optional. Protection is enhanced with the use of Nizh ERA tiles on the turret while retaining the Kontakt-1 tiles on the hull (however Nizh tiles are compatible with Kontakt-1 mounting points and can be retrofitted). The main gun, stabilizer and FCS remain unchanged compared to the T-72B. Ethiopia purchased the T-72UA1 with 72 tanks delivered in 2011 and 99 in 2012. The
Ukrainian army became a customer in 2014 in response to an immediate need following the eruption of the
War in Donbass. It is believed that less than 30 vehicles were ordered. • '''''' – Upgraded version of the T-72B ("E" stands for "Export") showed at IDEX 2011 and developed together with the T-64E. The hull front and sides are protected by Kontakt-1 ERA tiles, while the turret front, sides (sides' frontal part) and top are homogeneously protected by Nizh armor. The engine is upgraded, it is a 5TDFMA-1 multi-fuel diesel engine, developing 1050 hp. The tank features also air conditioning, day-and-night sighting system with integrated laser rangefinder and ATGM capability. The weight is 42.7 t, giving the tank a power/weight ratio of 24,6 hp/t. • '''''' – Ukrainian T-72 upgrade. The unique compact design of the Ukrainian-developed BMT-72 power pack, based on that of the T-84, made it possible not only to considerably increase the power capabilities of the vehicle, but also to introduce into the vehicle design a troop compartment. The troop compartment is located between the fighting compartment and the power pack compartment. In the troop compartment roof there is a set of three hatches in slightly raised portion of the hull roof behind turret that allow the troops to get in or dismount the vehicle. There are also steps on the end of each catwalk at rear of vehicle. The main visual difference between BMT-72 and T-72 is a seventh pair of roadwheels. :*
T-72AMT Obr.2022 Mobilization Model with new TPN1-49-23UM night sight and no "Luna" infrared searchlight. Standard T-72 open-type machine gun mount installation and standard T-72 tracks with a sequential hinges system. •
BTS-5B – Ukrainian version of the BREM-1.
Yugoslavia •
M-84 – Indigenous main battle tank based on the T-72M but with several upgrades. •
M-84A – Improved version based on the T-72M1, with new SUV-M-84 computerized
fire-control system, including the DNNS-2 gunner's day/night sight, with independent stabilization in two planes and integral
Laser rangefinder. Other upgrades include a stronger 1,000 hp engine. :*
M-84AK – Command version of M-84A fitted with land navigation equipment. •
M-84AB – Export version of M-84A. About 150 were exported to Kuwait. :*
M-84ABK – Command version of M-84AB fitted with land navigation equipment. :*
M-84ABN – Navigation version of M-84AB fitted with extensive communication equipments, land navigation equipment, and a generator for the command role. ==Notes==