US examines upgraded T-72 tank developed by Ukraine

The US Department of Defence has released photos showing US military intelligence studying Ukraine's capabilities and technological development by testing the modernised Ukrainian T-72.

Here's What We Know

During the Northern Strike military exercises, Marines and reservists of the 203rd Military Intelligence Battalion studied and tested the T-72 tank at the Camp Grayling training ground.

The photo shows a modernised Soviet T-72A tank developed by the Kharkiv Machine Building Design Bureau after 1991.

Militarnyi believes that this tank has probably received significant upgrades in mobility, armour protection and firepower. The standard 780-horsepower B-46 series engine was replaced with a Kharkiv two-stroke opposed engine.

The infrared searchlight has also been removed, indicating that the outdated gunner and commander sights have been replaced with newer analogues with passive infrared or thermal imaging surveillance.

The updated look is complemented by a new set of built-in dynamic protection "Knife", which significantly improves the vehicle's protection against cumulative and even kinetic armour-piercing shells.

The Ukrainian vehicle was operated by the military of the 203rd reconnaissance battalion. They specialise in information gathering and technical intelligence, the study and use of foreign weapons systems, and the analysis of military technologies of potential enemies.

For example, this battalion took part in the war in Iraq, where they found, captured and unearthed an Iraqi MiG-25 fighter jet.

Source: DVIDS