MINSK. April 17 (Interfax) - The Belarusian State Military-Industrial Committee has tested the upgraded T-72BM2 tank's ability to cross bodies of water, the committee press service said on Saturday.
"As part of state trials of a T-72BM2 tank prototype developed by specialists from the 140th Maintenance Plant, the Belarusian State Military-Industrial Committee tested the tank's ability to cross bodies of water. The trials confirmed its compliance with airtightness requirements," the press service said.
"Specialists from the 140th Maintenance Plant helped prepare the tank for crossing a body of water by using the capacities of a BREM-70MB1 vehicle," it said.
The state trials are continuing, the press service said.
Committee head Dmitry Pantus said earlier that up to 30 T-72BM2 tanks, upgraded by Belarusian defense facilities, would be supplied to the Belarusian army by the end of this year. "This is a fully Belarusian upgrade done based exclusively on the competences of our enterprises," he said.
The tanks are equipped with a new sighting system with thermal imagers, a more powerful 840 h/p engine, and enhanced armor. They can fire all types of 125mm munitions, including modern guided ones, from a standard 2A46 gun.