The Soviet main battle tank T-72 has proven itself in combat as a durable and easy-to-maintain combat vehicle. However, it often becomes a "victim of portable anti-tank weapons and drones," writes military expert Peter Suchiu in an article for The National Interest.
The T-72 tank entered service with the Soviet Army in 1974, with a total of about 30,000 units produced. Despite export deliveries around the world, Russia remains the largest operator of this MBT.
Suchiu referred to data from OSINT intelligence (Open Source Intelligence, research from open sources). He claims that Russian soldiers are unsealing T-72As to replenish their armored forces.
Compared to the T-54 and T-62, the T-72 is a quite combat-capable machine. Even old tanks that have been idle for years without maintenance can have their hull and chassis modernized.
According to him, as many repaired T-72s as new T-90s are entering service. "Russia is still betting heavily" on these tanks, as they are "cheaper to replace and easier to maintain," the expert concluded.
Read more on the topic:
The National Interest: Russia Relies on Modernized T-72, T-80, and T-90 Tanks
