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Main battle tank Russia flagRussia

Uralvagonzavod

T-72B3M

A deep modernization of the T-72B3 with a more powerful engine, improved fire control and Relikt explosive reactive armor, forming the most heavily upgraded T-72 variant in Russian service. It is one of the most numerous tank types employed by Russia in the war against Ukraine.

In service since 2016 · 3 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

60

km/h

500

km range

18.5

hp/t

125

mm gun

46,500

kg

Several performance figures for Russia-origin systems are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification. Treat these specs as directional, not tested values.

Pricing: No public unit cost

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 2016. Status: active · ~900 built.

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-72B3M can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Performance specifications
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
Stronger than 24% of main battle tanks
Range

Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.

500 km
Stronger than 61% of main battle tanks
Power-to-weight

Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility.

18.5 hp/t
Stronger than 18% of main battle tanks
Muzzle velocity

Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.

1,700 m/s
Stronger than 64% of main battle tanks

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Firepower specifications
Main armament

Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.

125 mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore (autoloaded)
Secondary armament

Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods.

12.7 mm NSVT + 7.62 mm PKT machine guns
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.

40
Stronger than 42% of main battle tanks

Protection

Armor, countermeasures and survivability.

Protection specifications
Armor

Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified.

Composite armor with Relikt 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.

Relikt ERA, smoke grenade launchers
NBC protection

Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments.

Yes

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Physical specifications
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.

2.22 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.

Propulsion specifications
Engine

Powerplant model and type.

V-92S2F diesel
Engine power

Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster.

1,130 hp
Stronger than 39% of main battle tanks
Propulsion type

Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…

Diesel

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors & avionics specifications
Sensors

IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.

Sosna-U gunner sight
Thermal imaging

Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations.

Yes

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Program specifications
Units built

Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.

900
Stronger than 77% of main battle tanks
Operator countries

Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.

3
Stronger than 70% of main battle tanks

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

See how it stacks up

Head-to-head comparisons

T-72B3M vs

Frequently asked questions

What is the top speed of the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M has a maximum speed of 60 km/h.

What is the range of the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M has a maximum range of 500 km.

How much does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M weigh? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M has a combat weight of 46,500 kg.

How many crew does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M require? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M requires a crew of 3.

What is the main armament of the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M's primary weapon is the 125 mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore (autoloaded).

What engine does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M use? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M is powered by the V-92S2F diesel.

What is the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M used for? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M is a main battle tank typically used for anti armor, infantry combat.

How many countries operate the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M? +

The Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M is operated by 3 countries.

How much does the Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M cost? +

Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M: No public unit cost. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.

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