Defense & Security News - Russia
 
The T-72B3 becomes the standard main battle tank of the Russian armed forces.
Two dozen upgraded T-72B3 tanks with extra protection have been delivered to the Russian army Tamanskaya Infantry Division, Vyacheslav Khalitov, deputy CEO for special hardware at Russia’s Uralvagonzavod Corporation, said on the single military hardware acceptance day.
     
     
"Another batch of 20 repaired and upgraded tanks has passed trials. The tanks have been accepted by Defense Ministry representatives and dispatched to unit No. 23626 [the Tamanskaya Infantry Division] of the Western Military District," Khalitov said.

According to him, the corporation will execute obligations under 2017 state defense contracts in full, on schedule and in a proper manner.

The 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Infantry Division, like the 4th Guards Kantemirovskaya Armored Division, is part of the newly-formed 1st Guards Armored Army of the Western Military District.

The T-72B3 is a development of the standard Russian-made T-72B series currently in service in the Russian army. The T-72B3 has significantly improved its combat characteristics with more fire power, protection, mobility and command controllability.

The main armament of the T-72B3 is a 125mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun fitted with a light-alloy thermal sleeve and a bore evacuator.The guided weapon system for the gunner and commander provide the tank to fire laser- guided missile 9M119 AT-11 `Svir' or 9M119M Refleks at a maximum range of 5,000 m in the daytime and night.