| Armament |
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The T-72AV is fitted with a two-man turret mounted in the centre of the hull. The standard 2A46 main gun is replaced with an improved version 2A46M fitted with a thermal shield, which reduces the environmental effects on the accuracy of fire. The main gun is able to fire the 9M11 anti-tank rocket which is controlled in flight by a laser beam. The light puses of the laser are converted by the rocket's photodiode to the rocket motor electrical signals. Replacement of the main gun and coaxial machine gun stabilizer 2E28M with 2E42-2 has increased the effectiveness of armor piercing attack by a factor of 1.3 and shaped-charge attack by a factor of 1.2. The weapons laying and stabilization accuracy is enhanced by installing an electric drive based on the EDM-16U low-inertia motor in place of the hydraulic traverse drive, and by using the up-to-.date components in the elevation and traverse drive control units. A 7.62mm light machine gun is mounted to the right of the main armament. The commander’s cupola is armed with a 12.7mm NSVT heavy machine gun. The T-72AV is fitted with a smoke screen laying system including eight smoke grenade dischargers mounted to the left side of the turret. It has a firing range of 300 m. Width of the area covered by smoke produced by four smoke grenade is from 30 to 100 m. Maximum screening effect is obtained in 15 to 20 s.
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| Design and protection |
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The overall layout of the T-72AV is similar to the T-72 MBT series with the driver's compartment at the front, two-man turret in the centre and engine and transmission at the rear. The T-72AV is protected with explosive reactive armor (ERA) Kontakt-1, including the installation of ERA elements on continuous side rubber skirts to improve protection against antitank weapons. Explosive armour bricks are fitted at the front of the hull and turret. The front parts on each side of the suspension are also fitted with that type of armour. The turret roof between the commander's and gunner's hatches has been provided with additional protection against top attack weapons. The additional anti-mine protection measures of the T-72AV include a pillar installed between the turret platform and the floor near the driver's station, installation of the driver's seat on a transversal beam to exclude the effect of the floor bending on it in the event of a mine detonation, improvement of escape hatch protection, use of a special mat and stamp-outs in the engine compartment bulkhead. Two light steel stowage boxes are mounted on the turret, one at the rear and the other on the right slightly behind the commander's position.
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 The T-72AV is protected with explosive reactive armor (ERA) Kontakt-1, including the installation of ERA elements on continuous side rubber skirts to improve protection against antitank weapons. |
| Mobility |
| The T-72AV is motorized with a V-84MS 618kW four-stroke V-12 piston engine developing 840 hp. The T-72AV can run at a maximum road speed of 60 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km. The torsion bar suspension each side of the T-72AV consists of six roadwheels with the idler at the front, drive sprocket at the rear and three return rollers supporting the inside of the track only. Shock-absorbers are fitted at the first, second and sixth roadwheel stations. The upper part of the suspension is covered by side skirts with the forward part either side of the driver's position providing additional armour protection. The tank can also be fitted with two auxiliary drum-type tanks at the rear of the hull carrying another 200 litres each. |
| Accessories |
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The T-72AV is equipped with the 1A40-1 sighting system in place of the TPD-2 sight. The new system consists of a laser range finding sight, designated TPD-K1, and associated units, which includes range data unit, power supply unit, electrical unit, range measuring unit, indication unit and correction potentiometer. The range finding sight is a laser-based light indication device which provides pointing of the main gun and machine gun on the target, stabilization of the field of view in the vertical plane, and automatic setting of the aiming angle with allowance made for the measured target range, own movement, type of projectile to be fired, temperature of the charge and other data. The T-72AV is also equipped with a wind sensor installed outside behind the gunner's hatch. With the new the night sight/guided weapon (1K13) director, the tank is able to engage targets at a maximum range of 5,000m, 500 m in passive night mode and 1,200 m in active night mode. Standard equipment of the T-72AV includes snorkels for deep fording operations, which are carried on the turret rear when not required, an overpressure-type NBC protection system, night vision equipment for all three crew members. The T-72AV can cross water obstacle with a depth of 1.2 m without preparation and 5 m with the deep-water fording kits. The tank is also equipped with a quick-acting fire-fighting system activated by ten optical and five thermal sensors and the light signaling system KDS1-2S. A dozer blade can be mounted at the front part of the hull and a KMT-6 mine dredger.
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| Specifications |
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Armament
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One 125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun, one 7.62mm coaxila machine and 12.7mm heavy machine gun
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Country users
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Kenya (77), Sudan (400), Nigeria (77), Georgia, RDC, Morocco, and Russia
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Designer Country
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Ukraine and Russia
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Accessories
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infrared night vison, laser range finder, fire control system, NBC protection system
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Crew
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3
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Armor
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Standard and Kontakt-1 ERA explosive armour
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Weight
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43,000 kg
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Speed
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60 km/h
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Range
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500 km
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Dimensions
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Lenght: 9.53 m; Width: 3.59 m; Height: 2.14 m
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