UkrOboronProm is ready to upgrade about 300 tanks T-72, which are now in army reserve, to meet NATO standards. According to UkrOboronProm Deputy Director General of Operations Yurii Pashchenko, modernized units can solve some crucial problems of Ukrainian army.
During round table «Problems of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex reforming», Yurii Pashchenko mentioned that modernized, in accordance with international standards, military equipment will help to further strengthen Ukrainian army, which needs fast and efficient rearming today.
«Tank T-72 is not in service of Ukrainian Army: There are almost 300 of these tanks in Ukraine and we suggested to Ministry of Defence to upgrade them up to tanks PT-91 – Polish main battle tanks – to meet NATO standards», – stressed Yurii Pashchenko. He also noted that Polish side gave Ukrainian military a chance to test PT-91 samples in their proving ground.
According to Defence24.com (Poland), Ukrainian Armed Forces fighting in Donbass use mostly the T-64B tanks, some of which have been modernized up to the T-64BM standard. It was in February this year, when information has been released that training of the reserve forces in the Kharkov area would involve both the T-64B, as well as the T-72 tanks. According to the earlier reports, plans had been made to deliver some T-72 tanks to the units of the National Guard.
The T-72B tanks are being widely used by the pro-Russian forces. The rebels also use the T-72B3 variant which is the latest derivative of that tank, utilized by the Russian military.
T-72AG upgraded tank (Manufacturer: State Enterprise «Kyiv armored plant») is combat tracked vehicle, which has powerful rocket-artillery armaments, reliable armored protection and high maneuverability. It is intended for resolving of wide scope of tasks and is capable to engage tanks and other armored objects of enemy, manpower, anti-tank and artillery means etc.
Main Specifications T-72AG
| Weight of tank with combat unit | 44 t |
| Crew | 3 |
| Specific power | 19.53 hp/t |
| Specific pressure | 0.877 kgf/cm2 |
| Movement speed: | |
| maximum on highway | 60 km/h/37 mph |
| average on dirt road | 30-40 km/h/19-25 mph |
| Cruising range: | |
| on highway | 700 km/435 miles |
| on dirt road | 460-650 km/286-404 miles |
| Engine: | |
| mark | V-84-1 |
| power | 840 hp/626 kW |
| Armament | |
| Gun: | |
| mark | 2А46М, with thermal cover |
| caliber | 125-mm/4.92 inch |
| guided missile | 9М119 |
| firing range | from 100 to 5,000 m/from 328 to 16,404 feet |
| Maximum firing range: | |
| with APT and APIT projectiles | 4,000 m/13,123 feet |
| with HEI and FT projectiles | 4,000 m/13,123 feet |
| with HE projectiles | 5,000 m/16,404 feet |
| Coaxial machinegun with grenade: | |
| mark | PKT |
| caliber | 12.7-mm/0.50 inch |
| Anti-aircraft gun: | |
| mark | NSV-12,7 |
| caliber | 12.7-mm/0.50 inch |
| Guided armament system | 9К119 «Refleks» |
| Effective firing range | from 100 to 5,000 m/from 328 to 16,404 feet |
| Rate of fire of the system | 3 rounds per min |
| Sighting system 1А43, composed of: | |
| sight range-finder | 1G46 |
| scope of measuring of range finder | 400-5,000 m/1,312-16,404 feet |
| Ballistic computer | 1V517M |
| Commander’s sighting complex PNK-4S «Agat», composed of: | |
| sight | TKN-4S |
| Aiming range: | |
| day | 4,000 m/13,123 feet |
| night | 800 m/2,625 feet |
| Night sighting complex ТО1-КО1 «Buran», composed of: | |
| sight | TPN-4 |
| sighting range | 1,400 m/4,593 feet |
| Fire control system: | |
| mark | ZPU 1ETs29 «Irtysh» |
| type | stabilized in vertical and horizontal planes |
| Automatic loader: | |
| type | electro-mechanical |
| capacity | 22 rounds |
| loading time | 8 sec |
| Armament stabilizer: | |
| mark | 2E42 |
| type | biplanar |
| In-built ERA system | |
| Communication means, composed of: | |
| radio station | R-173 |
| radio receiver | R-173P |
| tank intercom system | R-174 |
