IDET 2025: STV Group Upgrades T-72 Tanks Spearhead of Czech Army with a Modernized Engine and Reactive Armor.

At the IDET 2025 exhibition held in Brno, Czech Republic, the Czech company STV Group presented a deeply modernized version of the T-72 main battle tank. This armored vehicle, the result of a national industrial renovation program, is intended to provide current T-72 operators with a comprehensive modernization solution combining enhanced mechanical performance, improved armor protection, and compatibility with contemporary standards. The goal is to offer a sustainable alternative to the acquisition of new tanks, responding to the budgetary constraints faced by many armed forces. The updated model, displayed statically at the STV stand, results from a reconstruction process involving approximately 20,000 component groups.
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The upgraded T-72 features a 12-cylinder V-46 engine, optimized drivetrain, STV-made reactive armor, and a 125 mm cannon compatible with various local munitions (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The upgraded version is powered by a V-46, 12-cylinder engine with a 38.9-liter displacement, providing the necessary power to move a vehicle weighing up to 46 tons, depending on configuration. This engine is coupled with an optimized drivetrain to ensure reliable mobility across all terrain types. The vehicle’s survivability is enhanced by the integration of explosive reactive armor (ERA) produced by STV, designed to mitigate the effects of shaped charges, tandem warheads, and modern anti-tank projectiles. The main armament, a 125 mm smoothbore cannon, remains in use and is compatible with a wide range of locally produced ammunition, including APFSDS, HEAT, and high-explosive rounds.

The T-72 modernization showcased by STV at IDET reflects the ongoing relevance of this platform within the Czech Armed Forces, which continues to operate the T-72M4CZ variant. This specific version is the outcome of a national upgrade program initiated in the 2000s to adapt Warsaw Pact legacy systems to NATO standards. As of 2025, the Czech Army officially fields 30 units of the T-72M4CZ alongside 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks, marking a gradual shift toward Western equipment. The T-72M4CZ remains operational, particularly within the 7th Mechanized Brigade, which includes one tank battalion, two mechanized infantry battalions, and one motorized infantry battalion.

Equipped with a modern fire-control system, thermal optics, digital sensors, and NATO-compatible communications, the T-72M4CZ offers a viable interim capability. It enables the Czech Army to maintain effective armored combat potential while awaiting the full deployment of newer systems. The presence of a national industrial support structure, as exemplified by STV Group, also ensures accessible logistical support, cost control, and enhanced strategic autonomy.

STV Group, a major industrial player in Central Europe in the fields of maintenance, repair, and modernization of ground systems, targets with this program a broad range of countries still operating the T-72. This tank, with over 25,000 units produced since the 1970s, remains in service in more than thirty countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. The modernization proposed by STV reflects a practical approach to extending operational life at a lower cost, with local expertise and a high degree of customization to meet specific client requirements. The version presented at IDET 2025 highlights the continued relevance of this strategy in a global context shaped by the resurgence of high-intensity conflicts and increasing pressure on defense budgets.