Russia Uralvagonzavod
T-72B3
A deep modernization of the Soviet-era T-72B, adding a new fire control system, upgraded engine and Relikt explosive reactive armor. It is the most numerous tank in Russian Army service and has seen extensive combat since 2022.
In service since 2013 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
60
km/h
500
km range
18.6
hp/t
125
mm gun
46,500
kg
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Russian state channel
Rosoboronexport monopoly; Western sanctions exposure and payment/logistics risk for many buyers.
Channel: Rosoboronexport (state)
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 2013. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the T-72B3 can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 60 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 500 km |
| Power-to-weight Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility. | 18.6 hp/t |
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 1,700 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 125 mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore with autoloader |
|---|---|
| Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods. | 12.7 mm NSVT + 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun |
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 125 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 39 |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Composite armor with explosive reactive armor |
|---|---|
| Reactive armor Explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks that disrupt shaped-charge jets. | Yes |
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | smoke grenade launchers, Relikt ERA |
| NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments. | Yes |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 9.53 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 3.59 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2.19 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 46,500 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | V-92S2F V12 diesel |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 1,130 hp |
| Fuel capacity Internal fuel volume. | 1,200 L |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Diesel |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | Sosna-U thermal sight |
|---|---|
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 3 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public Uralvagonzavod and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
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What is the top speed of the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 has a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
What is the range of the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 has a maximum range of 500 km.
How much does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 weigh? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 has a combat weight of 46,500 kg.
How many crew does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 require? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 requires a crew of 3.
What is the main armament of the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3's primary weapon is the 125 mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore with autoloader.
What engine does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 use? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 is powered by the V-92S2F V12 diesel.
What is the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 used for? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 is a main battle tank typically used for anti armor, infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3? +
The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3 is operated by 3 countries.
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