Uralvagonzavod (UVZ, part of Rostec) has begun shipping upgraded T-72B3M tanks to the Ministry of Defense, which for the first time began to be equipped with dynamic protection (DZ) of the rear - for this, dynamic protection blocks "Relikt" are used.
Previously, the rear of Russian tanks, where the thickness of the main armor is only a few tens of millimeters, could only be covered with anti-cumulative lattice screens.
Military expert, editor-in-chief of the magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky, spoke about how the dynamic protection of domestic tanks was increased.
At first, the roof of the turret was covered with "visors", then the side protection was increased, extending the side screens with dynamic protection to the rear, then the turret protection was strengthened, covering it with blocks with DZ from all sides, including the top. Now the DZ covers the rear itself. That is, tanks now receive almost all-aspect protection.
The expert added that the last weak spot of domestic tanks is the roof of the engine-transmission compartment. However, it will not be possible to simply hang dynamic protection blocks on it, as they will impede heat removal from the engine.