According to information published on the Telegram account of the Belarus defense industry, on July 26, 2022, Belarus developed a new modernized version of the T-72B Main Battle Tank (MBT). The armed forces of Belarus have already conducted the first trial tests and the tank will be used in August 2022 during the tank competition in Russia.
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The new modernized version of the T-72B main battle tank from the Belarus defense industry. (Picture source Belarus defense industry)
The new modernized version is equipped with a new armor that seems similar to the armor mounted on the Russian T-72B3 MBT (Main Battle Tank). The tank is also equipped with a new Sosna-U sight for the gunner.
The fire control system is interfaced with the Sosna-U sighting system and a digital ballistic computer that automates the shot preparation process and improves firing accuracy significantly. This sight includes a second-generation thermal imaging camera, laser range finder, and a channel for missile guidance.
The front and the side of the hull are fitted with a new passive armor while the turret is equipped with a Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor which is a type of third-generation explosive reactive armor (ERA) able to defeat modern armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds. Kontakt-5 is made up of "bricks" of explosive sandwiched between two metal plates. The rear sides of the hull are also equipped with wire cage armor to increase protection against RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) threats.
The main armament of the T-72B consists of one 125mm special smoothbore gun/launcher 2A46M. It can fire three types of ammunition, including the APFSDS (Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot) with a maximum range of 2,100 m, HEAT-FS (High-explosive anti-tank fin-stabilized) with a maximum direct fire range of 4,000 m, and HE-FRAG(FS) with a maximum indirect fire range of 9,400 m.
The second armament of the T-72B includes one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun mounted to the right side of the main armament. A 12.7mm NSV heavy machine gun NSV machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola. A bank of eight 81 mm forward-firing electrically operated smoke dischargers is mounted to the left side of the turret. imaging device.
The T-72B has a crew of three including a driver, commander, and gunner. The tank uses an automatic loading system with a total of 22 rounds ready to fire. Additional 23 rounds are stored in ammunition stowage racks in the hull and turret.
The T-72B main battle tank is motorized with a V84-1 four-stroke high-speed multi-fuel engine developing 840 hp at 2,000 rpm. It is adapted for operations on diesel fuel, jet fuels (T-1, TS-1, T2), and motor petrol grades. It can run at a maximum speed of 60 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.
Defense News July 2022
