The T-72 AMT is an upgraded version of the T-72A main battle tank (MBT), was developed at the Kiev Armoured Plant based in Ukraine. Kiev Armoured Plant developed the T-72 AMT tank based on the experience gained by the Ukrainian troops in the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone (ATO) zone. The tank’s upgraded platform integrates a variety of lethality, survivability and systems enhancements. The hull structure of the vehicle houses driver’s cab at the front, fighting section in the centre and power pack at the rear. In addition, T-72 AMT modification received digital radio stations from the Turkish company Aselsan and Ukrainian “Lybid K2”, modern satellite navigation equipment. Improvement of the crew environment is another aspect of modernization. Even an ordinary rear view camera greatly facilitates driver’s work.
The T-72AMT is armed with a 125mm 2A46 smoothbore gun, which has a rate of fire of six to eight rounds a minute. The main gun fires armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding-sabot (APFSDS) rounds, high-explosive anti-tank fin stabilised (HEAT-FS) rounds, and high-explosive fragmentation fin stabilised (HE-FRAG-FS) rounds. The possibility of firing the GM Kombat, one of the main features of the T-72AMT. The Kombat laser-beam riding precision-guided missile is designed to be fired from smooth bore 125 mm mounted on main battle tanks equipped with fire control systems compatible with it. The Kombat is fired from a 125mm gun, like a shell, but operate like a guided missile and can penetrate 750 mm armor. The sighting and guidance unit of the missile is installed above the turret to the left side of the main gun’s sight. The missile is fitted with a tandem warhead to defeat dynamic protection to destroy even heavily armoured enemy tanks. The secondary armament includes a coaxially mounted 7.62mm PKT machine gun and a 12.7mm NSV machine gun.
The T-72 AMT measures 9.5m-long, 3.5m-wide and 2.2m-high. It is manned by a crew of three, including a driver, a gunner and a commander. The tank AMT integrates Nozh (Knife) new-generation dynamic protection, which is already in operation with the Bulat and Oplot main battle tanks. The Knife explosive reactive armour protects the crew against high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), kinetic energy penetrator (KEP) and explosively formed projectile (EFP) rounds.The tank is also hinged with anti-cumulative gratings, reducing the impact of HEAT hits, while protecting the most vulnerable parts of the tank. The engine, transmission and other components are also protected by slat armour to reduce the impact of shaped-charge weapons. The survivability is further enhanced by a collection of smoke grenades dischargers mounted on the vehicle.
The T-72AMT tank is powered by a diesel engine developing a maximum power output of 840hp. The power-pack enables the vehicle to attain a maximum speed of 60km/h on road. The vehicle is equipped with torsion bar suspension. The running gear includes six road-wheels on each side, with the idler in the front and drive sprocket at the rear. The tracks are supported by three return rollers, while the first, second and sixth road-wheel stations are equipped with shock absorbers.
Kiev Armoured Plant T-72 AMT Main Battle Tank
