T-72 operators and variants
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1973. It replaced the T-54/55 series as the workhorse of Soviet tank forces. In front-line Russian service, T-72s are being upgraded or augmented by the T-90, itself a modernized version of the T-72B. The T-72 has been exported and produced in many countries.
Operators
Current operators
- – 325 T-72M1/M1M as of 2023.
- – 50 T-72M1 as of 2023.
- – 390 T-72A, T-72B as of 2023.
- – ~404 T-72A, T-72AV, T-72B, and T-72SIM2 as of 2023.
- – 477 T-72B and 20 T-72B3 mod. 2016 as of 2023. Various T-72 modifications in reserve.
- – 90 T-72M1/M in service as of 2025.
- – 45 M-84A4 Sniper, which is an improved variant of the T-72M, as of 2025 awaiting replacement with the Leopard 2A8. 30 M-84A4 were be donated to Ukraine in 2025.
- – 30 T-72M4CZ in service as of 2025. 50 T-72M1s were donated to Ukraine between 2022 and 2023. Later all usable T-72M1 tanks were donated to Ukraine.
- – 100 T-72AV delivered by Ukraine in 2010.
- – At least 1 captured in Eritrean-Ethiopian War. Current status unknown.
- – 50 bought from Yemen, 171 T-72UA1 vehicles reportedly ordered from Ukraine in 2011.
- –143 T-72B/SIM1 in 2018. Upgraded T-72 SIMs were upgraded in Georgia with assistance of Israel.
- – 44 T-72M1 in service as of 2025.
- – 2,418 T-72M1 as of 2025.
- – 480 T-72S as of 2023.
- - Only 125 T-72M1 are in service as of 2009 with the new Iraqi Army. Some T-72S MBTs in service with the PMF. Some T-72s have been upgraded and modernized by Iran with Rakhsh kits.
- * − < 63. Entered service for the Peshmerga after 1991.
- – 350 T-72BA as of 2023.
- – 33 T-72M1 possibly ordered by South Sudan from Ukraine, but seized by Kenya after being held ransom en route by Somali pirates in 2008.
- – 150 as of 2023.
- – T-72B1
- – 48 PT-91M delivered by Poland.
- – 40 T-72B, ~60 in storage as of 2023.
- – 100 delivered. 50 T-72A in service as of 2023
- – 300 T-72S. Received from Ukraine between 2000 and 2008
- – 50 T-72B1MS tanks in 2023
- – 10 T-72AV and 31 T-72M1 as of 2023., 20 in 2025.
- – 201 PT-91 Twardy, which is an improved variant of the T-72M1, as of 2025. 382 T-72 and 232 PT-91 as of 2019. 2008 – 586 T-72M1 and T-72M1D, 135 T-72M1Z, and 98 PT-91 in service 2006, 2007 – 597, 2005 – 644, 2004 – 649
- – 700 T-72A/B/BA and 470 T-72B3 in active service. 457 T-72A and 196 T-72B/BA in store as of 2025. 1100 T-72B3, 550 T-72B3M, and more than 1000 T-72B in operation in 2022, 4800 variants of the T-72B in total. As of February 2023, the Russian Army operates 400 T-72B/BA, 500 T-72B3, and 250 T-72B3M tanks; the Russian Naval Infantry operates 170 T-72B/B3/B3Ms; the Russian Airborne Forces operates 50 T-72B3/B3M; while the 1st Army Corps and 2nd Army Corps operates some T-72A and T-72B tanks. 10,000 T-72 tanks of all variants in different conditions in storage. Many of the T-72 tanks have been left exposed and stored since the early 1990s, and they are likely to be in poor condition.
- – 30 T-72B1MS and 195 M-84, which is an improved variant of the T-72M, as of 2025.
- – 30 T-72M1, still in service in 2025.
- – 96-101 units delivered in two shipments from Ukraine: first, 32 T-72 on the MV Faina in 2009, and second, 67 T-72 in 20XX. 2 T-72 tanks were destroyed during the Heglig Crisis. 80 T-72AV in service as of 2023
- – 70 T-72AV as of 2023.
- — 10
- Syrian Democratic Forces − Reported.
- – 28 T-72 Ural/A/AV/B and 3 T-72B1 as of 2023.
- – 650 T-72 and T-72UMG as of 2023.
- – 40 T-72A and 10 T-72B1 as of 2023.
- – 500+ T-72 and PT-91 Twardy as of 2023. In January 2014, Ukraine had 600 T-72 tanks all in storage. They were returned to active service since the War in Donbas, and several were captured and pressed into service during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, while others were donated by NATO members such as Poland and Czech Republic.
- *Russian separatist forces in Donbas
- – 70 as of 2023.
- – 92 T-72B1, delivered in 2009–2012 from Russia. In June 2012, Russia and Venezuela agreed on deal for 100 more T-72.
- – 39 in 2003.
- *
Evaluation / aggressor training
- – 1 donated by Germany to Australian Army for evaluation.
- – Former East German tanks received at the end of the Cold War for OPFOR training. Out of service by 2000.
- – 1 obtained from the exchange of industrial machinery in Romania for scientific research, which is called "Type 64". And as of 2023, a domestically modernized variant equipped with a new turret—reportedly intended for export to third countries—has also been spotted in China.
- – Used for aggressor training. Its presence was considered classified but released into public after army's invitation events.
- – 1 received from Iran in 1980s.
- – Acquired 8 former East German T-72s in 1991 primarily to evaluate Soviet armour. One has been preserved, while others are used as targets.
- – 90
Former operators
- − ~20 T-72AV/B and 1 T-72SIM2 as of February 2023, seized by Azerbaijan following the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh.
- – About 1,700 T-72/T-72M/T-72M1s were produced between 1981 and 1990. The Czechoslovak army had 815 T-72s in 1991. All were passed on to the successor states in 1993:
- – 35 T-72s, 219 T-72s, 31 T-72Ms, 162 T-72Ms and 136 T-72M1s. 135 T-72S were ordered but none delivered before reunification. 75 T-72s were fitted with additional hull armour. Passed on to the unified German state
- – Some 160–170 T-72M1s. About 70 T-72M1s were bought from the Soviet Union and were delivered in 1984, 1985–1988 and 1990. A further 97 T-72M1s were bought from German surplus stocks in 1992–1994. All withdrawn from service in 2006. Scrapped in Jyväskylä or sold as spares to the Czech Republic. At least two Finnish T-72s are still in working order and have been used in showcases.
- – Several were captured from the Syrian army.
- – 150 in 2003.
- – 30 T-72A and 1 T-72AK delivered from Ukraine in 1999. All tanks were donated to Ukraine in June 2022.
- – 31 T-72Ms were bought from the USSR, and received between 1978 and 1979. Withdrawn from service, 28 tanks are for sale.
- – In 1994 Sierra Leone acquired two T-72s from Poland via Ukraine. Another unspecified number of ex-Polish tanks was delivered to Sierra Leone in 1997 also via Ukraine.
- – 1991 – 650 T-72A, T-72AV, T-72AVS, T-72S, T-72M, T-72M1, T-72M1M, T-72M1S, T-72B obr. 1989, T-72B3, T-72 Adra and T-72 Shafrah
- – Passed on to successor states:
- Tigray Defense Forces − Surrendered to the Ethiopian forces in the aftermath of the Tigray War.
- – Bought approximately 18 T-72Ms from the USSR and 72 from Czechoslovakia, later developed the improved M-84.
Failed Bid
- - Indonesian National Armed Forces There was interest in the T-72, especially with the offer from the Czech Republic for the T-72 Scarab, but Indonesia ended up choosing the Leopard 2 as its first MBT, It was reported in 2024 that Indonesia might become a buyer of the Indian T-72, but other reports said that the T-72 was bought by Russia for the war in Ukraine, which make Indonesia lose its chances to buy it.
Variants
Soviet Union and Russia
The T-72 was designed and first built in the Soviet Union.T-72 "Ural" : Original version, armed with the 125 mm D-81TM smoothbore tank gun. Unlike the later versions it had the searchlight mounted on left. It also had flipper-type armour panels. It had the TPD-2-49 coincidence rangefinder optical sight protruding from its turret.T-72A : An improved version of the basic T-72 "Ural". Large numbers of early-production T-72 "Ural" models were modernized in the 1980s. Searchlight has been placed on the right-hand side of turret, blanking off the TPD-2-49 coincidence optical rangefinder and replaced by the TPD-K1 laser rangefinder, added plastic armour track skirts covering the upper part of the suspension with separate panels protecting the sides of the fuel and stowage panniers instead of the flipper-type armor panels used on the T-72 "Ural", the turret front and top being heavily reinforced with composite armour better known by its US codename – "Dolly Parton", an electronic fire control system, MB smoke grenade launchers, flipper armour mount on front mudguards, internal changes, and a slight weight increase.T-72M : Soviet export version, similar to the T-72A but with thinner armour and 125 mm D-81T smoothbore tank gun with 44 rounds. It was sold [|to Iraq] and [|to Syria] and was also built in Poland by Bumar-Łabędy. and Czechoslovakia.T-72M-E : Soviet export version armed with the 125 mm D-81T smoothbore tank gun with 44 rounds.T-72M1 : Soviet export version, with thicker armour and similar to T-72A obr.1979g. It is also fitted with 7+5 smoke grenade dischargers on turret front. It was also built in Poland and ex-Czechoslovakia. : Equipped with the new 2A46M main gun with a new 2E42-2 stabilisation system. There is a much improved version of 1A40-1 fire control system, a 1K13-49 gunner's sight, which allows the use of 9M119 Svir gun-launched anti-tank guided missile. Thicker armour, 20 mm of appliqué armour on the front of the hull, front and top of the turret were heavily reinforced with composite armour better known by its US codename "Super Dolly Parton". New V-84-1 engine with 840 hp. On early models, the smoke dischargers were mounted on the turret front, later they were grouped on the left side of the turret to prepare for the installation of ERA bricks.T-90 – A further development of the T-72, incorporating many features of the heavier, more complex T-80. It was first called upgraded T-72B- : this upgrade was initiated in 2010 using old stocks of T-72B tanks held in reserve. The purpose was to upgrade old T-72s to use the same gun, ammunition, ATGM, ERA etc. as the new T-90A tanks to simplify supply lines. In addition to performing a general overhaul of every vehicle, all tanks were equipped with the more powerful V-92S2 engines and a new steering system in the driver's compartment, and older tracks were replaced with the new universal, twin-pin design. The upgrade program focuses mainly on the implementation of a new fire control system. The tank commander retains an upgraded version of the legacy TKN-3MK sight, which is a passive device with a range of only 600 m at night. The commander also has a separate monitor that displays thermal imagery from the gunner's main sight, and a new turret control panel. The gunner has the new PNM Sosna-U panoramic multi-spectral sensor, which replaced the 1K13 night vision in its mounting; the 1A40-4 FCS with TPD-K1 sight is retained, but as part of the auxiliary sighting system to complement the newer system. The Sosna-U is a multi-channel, panoramic sight stabilized in both vertical and horizontal axes with a built-in laser rangefinder and command guidance module, used with 9M119M missiles. The main advantage of the Sosna-U is the Thales Catherine-FC thermal imager, which extends the detection range of a tank-sized target to 10,500 m and the identification range to 3,300 m in both day and night conditions and all weathers. The T-72B3 series vehicles also received the new 2A46M-2 main gun which is reportedly equivalent to the Rheinmetall Rh120 L/44 cannon. The gun-laying and stabilization drives were also replaced by the new 2E42-4 system, and the AZ ammunition auto-loader was modified to accommodate newer generations of 125 mm smoothbore anti-tank ammunition: Vant and Mango rounds. There is also a new 9K119 Refleks system, used to launch 9M119 Refleks ATGM through the gun barrel. The B3 upgrade includes a new explosion- and fire-suppression system and an advanced VHF radio system designated R-168-25U-2 AKVEDUK. The variant entered service on 19 October 2012. It was first delivered to the 20th Field Army in summer 2013, and to its Armored Guards Brigade in October 2013. About 2,000 such tanks were in service as of 2020. The cost to upgrade a T-72 to the T-72B3 standard was around 52 million rubles in 2013.
- T-72B3M obr.2016: a further upgrade of the T-72B3, produced since 2016 by overhauling and upgrading old T-72B tanks from storage. 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 and Svinets-2. New 2E58 gun stabilizer is responsible for improved aiming time. 9K119M Refleks-M system is used to launch 9M119M Invar 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 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.
- T-72B1 obr. 2023: mobilization model, produced by overhauling and upgrading existing 30+ years old T-72B and T-72BA tanks during regular maintenance in armor repair plants. The purpose was to unify different models in order to simplify supply lines. There is brand new dual channel TKN-3TP commander's sight with thermal vision range 3000 m. New 1PN96MT-02 gunner's sight coupled with the old TPD-K1 sight. Combination of Kontakt-5, 4S24 and Relikt ERA all-around vehicle copied from T-72B3M obr.2022. Anti-RPG net below the turret. These vehicles were made without crosswind sensor and Sosna-U sight because of increased production during the war. Everything else was upgraded to the level of basic T-72B3.' – A transport vehicle for flamethrower-squads armed with RPO launchers. Entered service in 2001.BMPT – Heavy convoy and close tank support vehicle. All new turret armed with 2 × 30 mm 2A42 autocannons, 4 × 9M1201 Ataka-T ATGM and 7.62 mm PKT MG. 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 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. The term BMP-T that is very often found is not correct.TOS-1 – Large box-type multi-barrel rocket launcher with 30 tubes that replaces turret.TZM-T – Reloading vehicle for the TOS-1 mobile multi-barrel rocket launcher.
- ' – Armoured recovery vehicle with a hydraulic crane with capacity of 12 tonnes mounted at the front of the hull on the left side. It also has a main winch with capacity of 25 tons which can be increased to 100 tonnes, auxiliary winch, hydraulically operated dozer/stabilizing blade at the front of the hull, towing equipment and a complete range of tools and recovery equipment.IMR-2 – Combat engineering vehicle. 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. On the vehicle's rear, a mine-clearing system is mounted.MTU-72 – bridge layer based on T-72 chassis. The overall layout and operating method of the system are similar to those of the MTU-20 and MTU bridgelayers. The bridge, when laid, has an overall length of 20 meters. The bridge has a maximum capacity of 50,000 kg, is 3.3 meters wide, and can span a gap of 18 m. By itself, the bridge weighs 6400 kg. The time required to lay the bridge is 3 minutes, and 8 minutes for retrieval.BMR-3 – Mine clearing vehicle.RKhM-7 "Berloga-1" – NBC reconnaissance vehicle without turret and with fixed superstructure.
- Tsar Mangal, a makeshift armored vehicle with improvised armor and anti-drone protection, equipped with demining rollers. The first specimen was based on T-72.
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.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 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-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 – This model was built under licence by ZŤS Martin. 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 and 902B "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers.T-72M1 – 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. – Czechoslovak armoured recovery vehicle based on T-72 chassis.Czech Republic
These variants are not new builds, but upgrades of a large number of otherwise obsolete T-72 version hulls.T-72M4 CZ – Comprehensive upgrade of every aspect of the T-72M1 resulting in a tank that only superficially resembles the precursor, intended to remedy T-72's failures learned during the Gulf War. The automotive performance was enhanced with a Perkins CV12-1000 1,000 hp water-cooled diesel engine coupled to a Nimda XTG-411-6 automatic transmission. All drive train work was done by the Israeli firm Nimda and involved minor modifications of the tank's hull and the driver's compartment. The upgrade added new Czech-manufactured Dyna-72 ERA for protection against HEAT and kinetic rounds impacting the frontal aspects of the turret and hull, and against top-attack ATGMs and sub-munitions with ERA tiles covering the turret roof. Survivability is enhanced with the Polish-made Obra laser warning system integrated with a series of DGO-1 smoke grenade dischargers on each side of turret, a Deugra fire suppression system, REDA NBC suite and electromagnetic mine plow. The most important improvement in firepower comes from the use of the Galileo Avionica TURMS-T computerized FCS which enables a "hunter-killer" mode of operation; the commander has a panoramic day/night sight with built-in laser rangefinder and Attila thermal camera and can engage targets independently, while the gunner has his own primary sight with thermal channel. The FCS has sensors that correct for thermal distortion of the barrel, the temperature of the ammunition propellant, meteorological conditions, totaling 22 sensor clusters installed at several points on the turret. A new 125/EPpSV-97 APFSDS round was developed for use with the new tank which can defeat 540 mm of RHA at 2,000 m. The Czech tanks were also equipped with a rear-view camera, a new intercom, navigational system, the DITA 72/97B auto-diagnostic system and improvements to the suspension due to the increase in the weight of the T-72M4 CZ by 4 tonnes. Curiously, the obsolete 2A46 main gun was retained as was the original 2E28M stabilization system, which was modestly upgraded with new hydraulic drives and gyroscopic sensors, resulting in only marginal improvements in first-hit probability despite the sophisticated and expensive TURMS-T FCS. The published probability of hitting a stationary target on the move is said to be between 65 and 75% with the first fired round. In comparison, the Leopard 2A4 from the mid-1980s can achieve a first round hit probability on the move of 75-85% at 2,000 m and as high as 90% with a skilled crew. The original tender called for an order of 350 tanks, which was downgraded to 140 in the face of dwindling defense budgets and finally amounted to a commitment for only 35 tanks to be upgraded to the T-72M4 CZ standard. One of the reasons for this drastic reduction was due to the escalating unit cost of the upgrade — from an initial estimate of 3.7M—and closing on a final cost of US$5.2M per tank.', also known as ' – modernization of the T-72M1 by Czech company Excalibur Army, introduced in 2019. This version offers several modernization packages depending on buyer's preferences. These include increased armour protection, better power pack, better protection against WMDs, modern optical and targeting systems, remote control of the external 12.7 mm machine gun, new fire-control system, modern communications system, new fire protection system and more.', also known as ' – modernization of the T-72 to 3rd-generation standard by which includes:- *New opto-electronic devices and an upgraded night vision block for all three crew members from company, 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 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 and T-72 – East German army designators for command tanks.T-72TK – East German designation for VT-72B. The vehicle was planned to enter service with NVA in 1990, but only one was actually handed over to IB-9 at Drögeheide. Two others were still in Grossenhain on 3 October 1990. At this place the tanks got fitted with relevant NVA kit and the cranes were tested/certified.BLP 72 – The East-German army had plans to develop a new bridgelayer tank that should have been ready for series production from 1987 but after several difficulties the project was canceled.FAB 172M or FAP 172U – 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. 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, 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 made a formal offer to India's Ministry of Defence 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 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 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 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 . 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 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, 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.
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 - 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, 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. 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.Tank EX – Indian integration of the Arjun turret onto the T-72 hull, Prototype only. Did not enter production as it was rejected by the Indian Army.
Iran
- Raad-2 - Iranian 155 mm self-propelled howitzer based on the T-72 hull.
- 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.
- Lion of Babylon ' – Iraqi-assembled version of the T-72M1.
Poland
T-72M/T-72M1 –Licensed, standard T-72 models produced in PolandPT-91 Twardy – A Polish main battle tank based on T-72M1 developed sometime between the late 1980s and early 1990s and involving use of a new digital fire-control system, newly developed ERA and an uprated powerplant. This formed the basis for a whole line of derivative vehicles. PT-91 was a result of previous T-72 upgrade programs.- * PT-91M Pendekar – Production export variant for Malaysia with Sagem Savan-15 fire control system, a new 1,000 hp powerpack with Renk automatic transmission bringing its top speed to 70 km/h. Its main gun have been changed to a ZTS 2A46MS 125 mm gun, a 7.62 mm FN MAG coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm FN Browning M2 HB AA machine gun. This variant is also equipped with Sagem panoramic sight, a Sagem laser gyro inertial navigation system, turret stabilisation system, Obra-3 laser-warning system, integrated with 81 mm smoke grenade launchers, CBRN warning and protection system, Thales communication systems. ERAWA 2 Explosive Reactive Armour, and German-made tank tracks. Two prototypes made, 48 serial PT-91M Pendekar vehicles produced 2007–2009.WZT-3 – ARV based on the T-72M. It is armed with a 12.7 mm machine-gun fitted to the commander's hatch. Standard equipment includes: crane with telescopic jib that can lift a maximum load of fifteen tonnes, front-mounted stabilizing dozer blade, main and secondary winches.MID Bizon-S – engineering tank based on the PT-91 tank hullSJ-09 – Polish driver training vehicle. The turret has been replaced by a flat-plate cabin with dummy gun barrel. Polish army uses T-72 based vehicles, Malaysian Army has one based on PT-91M.PZA Loara – SPAAG prototype based on the T-72 chassis.
Romania
TR-125 – Romanian prototype tank based on T-72 with extra armour, new FCS, new gun, modified suspension and more powerful diesel engine. A reverse engineered vehicle, it was larger in dimensions than the T-72. Its name stands for Tanc Românesc 125, with "125" indicating the gun caliber of 125 mm.Serbia
Yugoimport T-72 modernization package – Upgraded engine, communication gear and ERA.M-84AS – Is a prototype tank using an M-84A tank modernized to T-90 level by Yugoimport SDPR.M-84AS1 – Is a substantially modernized version of the M-84 main battle tankM-84AI – Armoured recovery vehicle created from the chassis of a M-84A. Completed with the help of Polish experts, resulting in a vehicle similar to the WZT-3. Standard equipment includes: A TD-50 crane, front-mounted stabilizing dozer blade, main and secondary winches.Slovakia
– T-72M1 upgraded with suspension of the driver's seat from hull roof, DSM 16.1 engine monitoring system, ERA armour package around the turret with a flat front section, fire detection and suppression system, improved transmission, improved hull floor protection, laser Detection Warning System, modified electrical harness, PNK-72 driver's night sight, SGS-72A commanders stabilized passive sight, gunner's sight with a large head with two section door, S12U diesel engine, Slovenian EFCS3-72A fire control system and MB smoke grenade dischargers on the each side of the turret. It also has two external sensor rod mounts on turret roof.T-72M2 – Slovak modernization. Development was completed but without any order for tank fleet modernization.VT-72C – Improved VT-72B produced since 1999 for India. It is fitted with a more powerful Polish S-12U diesel engine and has a modified interior.VT-72Ž – Combat engineer tank. Similar to the VT-72B but with a modified telescopic arm with bucket.MT-72 – Slovakian scissors-type bridge based on T-72 chassis. When deployed the bridge is 20 m long and will span a gap of 18 m. It is capable of carrying loads of up to 50 tonnes.ShKH 2000 "Zuzana" (Zuzanne) – A 155 mm version of the Dana 152 mm self-propelled gun-howitzer installed on a modified T-72M1 chassis.South Africa
T-72 "Tiger" – The modernization package from Lyttelton Engineering Works included two large sights installed on the front of the turret. South Africa also offered a self-propelled artillery conversion for existing T-72s, rearming the chassis with a turret adopted from the G6 howitzer.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, which follow a similar pattern, but the welded plates are not angled. Armor plates are made of RHA. 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
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. It is powered by the 6TD-1 or 6TD-2 diesel engine from the T-84 and features additional smoke grenade launchers.' – Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau modernization package aimed at improving the automotive and firepower capabilities of the tank with components mostly derived from the T-80UD program, including an improved 6TD-1 engine rated at 1,000 hp or 1,200 hp 6TD-2, new drivetrain components from the T-80UD, an improved engine cooling system, turbocharger and air filter. These upgrades improve upon the T-72B tank's mobility and bring the upgraded vehicle up to par with the T-80UD. Further improvements were made to the fire-control system, which is now an adaptation of the 1A45 Irtysh system, with 1G46 day sight, TKN-4S, TPN-4 or TPN-4 Buran-Catherine night sights which also enables the use of 9M119M Invar laser-guided missiles launched from the main gun. The tank turret was covered in Kontakt-5 ERA tiles and the main gun was upgraded to the newer 2A46M1 variant, and coupled with a significantly more precise 2E42M main gun stabilization system. However, with most of the tank's components reliant upon the T-80UD, this variant has not had any export success.- '