ABU DHABI. March 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia's major MBT producer Uralvagonzavod has brought to the IDEX 2003 arms show the T-72M1, a T-72 derivative, under the auspices of the Rosoboronexport state-owned arms trader.
"This modernization of the T-72 makes it the most cost- efficient," Vladimir Domnin, Uralvagonzavod chief designer, told Interfax-Military News Agency Thursday.
He said that there were a lot of upgrade versions, but the market would buy only "the most efficient and affordable", which is quite the case with the T-72M1.
Now that the tank has a 1,000-hp engine, its combat performance, especially in hot and dry desert environment, should become far better. The tank also has a new fire control system rendering it a move/stop-&-day/night fire capability. The infrared night sight has given way to a combined multi-channel sight with day, night, and thermal-imaging channels. The sight is coupled to a laser range-finder.
The protection has been greatly reinforced using combined armor units.
The tank also has a platoon-level C2 system.
"Each tank of the make has this system, which enables it to control a tank platoon in combat," Domnin said.
Experts say that the modernization has increased the performance level of the tank by a factor of 1.7 to 1.9, which has brought it closer to its most sophisticated counterparts.
In response to a question from Interfax-AVN on the modernization of Indian T-72s, Domnin said that under Indian legislation, weapons procurement and upgrade always go through a tender.
The tender on the power plant was won by Russia, and the fire control system tender now underway also has Russian offers. Tenders on other systems are also expected.
"Of course I am sure than no one could manage as good modernization as the designer and producer, but the customer is always right," Domnin said.
Various estimates put the number of operational T-72s outside Russia at 8,000 to 15,000. Most of these can be modernized. Officially the T-72 was supplied to 15 countries, but currently about 30 states, including Gulf states Syria and Iran, have it in the inventory.