T-72AMT
After the fighting in the Donbass and heavy losses in tanks, the Ukrainian leadership began to take measures to make up for the losses in armored vehicles. Since the countries of the West refused to lend their military vehicles to Ukraine, and Kiev did not have much money for the purchase of weapons, it was decided to reactivate the tanks left over from the USSR. However, here too the Ukrainian authorities faced significant problems. So the T-64s, which were considered the main battle tanks in Ukraine, standing at the storage bases, were often in a very deplorable state due to poor storage conditions. In addition, the existing T-64s were clearly not enough to make up for losses and form new military units.
Therefore, the Ukrainian authorities had to put into service tanks of other models, which were inherited after the collapse of the USSR and were located at storage bases. Thus began the restoration of the T-80 and T-72 tanks for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, over the years of independence, many combat vehicles of these models were sold for export, and the equipment removed from storage was not in good condition. In addition, the tanks that were in the "sumps" did not improve in any way, and by the 2010s their equipment did not meet the requirements of modern combat.
In 2017, the Kiev Armored Plant, at the expense of the enterprise, produced a prototype of an updated version of the T-72 tank, which was named T-72AMT. It is worth noting that this was not the first attempt to modernize the T-72 in Ukraine; foreign orders for these improvements also did not work out.
In 2018, the T-72AMT was tested at test sites to test its running and firing capabilities. It is worth noting that after showing the Ukrainian modernization of the T-72, some experts began to compare it with the Russian T-72B3, declaring the advantages of the Ukrainian tank over its counterpart from Russia.
However, assessing the T-72AMT with a sober look, it is worth recognizing that Ukrainian modernization in some places barely reaches the same level as the T-72B3, especially since Russian designers are constantly improving the characteristics of the modernized T-72B3. So the surveillance devices on the Ukrainian car are clearly outdated. In terms of security, the Ukrainian version of the tank, although approaching the Russian T-72B3. However, it has vulnerabilities. So on the right side of the T-72AMT gun, an infrared searchlight is installed, thereby leaving this section of the tank turret unprotected from anti-tank weapons. During the hostilities in the Donbass, the Knife protection complex also caused mixed reviews among experts. The only significant advantage of the T-72AMT can be called a remotely controlled combat module with a machine gun.
Despite the leadership's statements about the imminent delivery of these tanks to the troops, the first batch of modernized T-72s could be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine only in January 2020. Moreover, the T-72AMT came in a seriously “stripped down condition”. So the tanks did not have remotely controlled machine-gun modules, instead of thermal imagers there were old 1K13-49 surveillance devices. There were no additional generators for recharging batteries and weapon control systems. Gone were the lattice screens that covered the stern and rear of the turret. It is quite possible that this is due to the not very successful design of the screens themselves, the screening on the turret seriously increased the dimensions of the tank. In total, 31 units of T-72s upgraded in this way were transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In 2020, the Kyiv Armored Plant handed over to the 72nd Brigade a battalion set of modified T-72s, which did not have such improvements, which did not have an updated machine gun installation and sight. KBTZ (SE "Kyiv Armored Plant") transfered to the Armed Forces a new batch of modernized T-72 in the amount of 6 units. The public handover of 6 units of modernized T-72 tanks took place March 4, 2020, and the tank battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was manned with these combat vehicles. This year it had already received two batches of 15 and 10 units, respectively.
The transfer of equipment from the State Enterprise "Kyiv Armored Plant" was organized by the Joint Center for Military Technical Property. The modernization project was implemented by the Kyiv Armored Plant in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defense - namely, with the Central Armored Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Modernization covers all components - security, mobility, firepower, team control.
Kyiv Armored Plant handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine a batch of five units of repaired T-72 tanks on 24 February 2021. Ukroboronprom modernized military equipment as part of a defense order. The transfer of the updated equipment was carried out by the General Director of Ukroboronprom Yuriy Gusev and the Director of the Kyiv Armored Plant Volodymyr Synyavsky. At the same time, according to Yuriy Gusev, Ukroboronprom was awaiting approval of the state defense order for 2021.
"Today, ahead of schedule, we handed over to the Ukrainian army five units of T-72 tanks, which were repaired as part of the DOZ. In addition, work is underway to transfer five more units of equipment," said Yuri Gusev and added that the main task of the Concern is to fulfill the state defense order and provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with quality equipment and weapons.
According to Volodymyr Synyavskyi, director of the Kyiv Armored Plant, the modernization of five T-72 tanks took two months.
Its technical characteristics have been improved, a more powerful engine of 840 horsepower has been installed, and the running gear of the T-80 tank caterpillar has been improved. Currently, the machine is able to fire a Kombat guided missile at a range of 4 km at the expense of the 9K-120 complex. Improved inspection devices and dynamic protection due to the "Knife" system, - said Volodymyr Synyavsky.
External signs indicate that the first transfer of tanks in the T-72AMT version took place. However, in a somewhat "trimmed" form. In particular, the transferred tanks do not have a power unit, which is located behind the tower on the right side, designed to feed the SUV and recharge the battery.
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