Cate's Research-Investigation Bureau

In a previous article, I covered a new T-72B modernization batch . New close-up footage has been released, showcasing the same vehicle and some of its integrated features. One of the tank operators explains that the housing can be manually operated from behind the hatch. This confirms a previously made statement: " 1PN-96MT-02 received a mechanical shutter which is operated by the gunner using a lever, which can only be operated when the gunner's hatch is open ".  Closed housing Open housing Video snippet showing housing operation Taken from: ANNA-News

New footage shows a new T-72B3 "M" vehicle fielding non-standard equipment. The vehicle features all the new integrations that were fielded by UVZ in the last several months. T-90M style front mudguards, additional ERA protection around the gun mantlet and commanders cupola, steel tubes used for mounting additional protection against loitering munitions and RPGs. Posts covering these changes:  T-72B3M and T-90M changes , New T-72B3M modernization batch .  The vehicle received additional ERA protection on the lower frontal plate and new ERA containers mounted along the entire side of the tank.   Additionally, the vehicle is missing several standardized features that would be seen on other T-72B3M tanks.  The standard Sosna-U multi-channel thermal sight has been replaced by the 1PN-96MT-02. This sight differs from the Sosna-U by not having its own laser rangefinder channel. Instead, the sight receives data from the main FCS block to perform ballistic calculat...

 

Having covered the new T-72B3M batches quite extensively over the last couple of blog posts, more images have been released, clearing up one of the far-fetched speculations written by me.  As mentioned in these blog articles: " New UVZ assembly line video footage showcasing new T-72B3M and T-90M changes " and " New T-72B3M modernization batch " , the unidentified stubs mounted next to the gun breach that I called part of an electronics suite are not what they seem to be. Initially, they resembled some type of receiver that could have been part of GLONASS.  Images released from the " 61 Bronetankovyy Remontnyy Zavod" - 61st tank repair factory, have shown that these stubs are for mounting "cope cages" as users of the Internet call them. An improvised cage that is intended to protect the turret roof from loitering munitions or RPG-style munitions fired from higher elevations.  The presence of these 4 stubs completely rules out the idea of it being ...

More video footage has been released showing more defined assembly features of T-72B3M and T-90M tanks produced by UVZ.  This post expands on the previously created analysis, which can be read here .   Previously identified features present on the T-72B3M, seem to have been fully integrated into further batches of this vehicle.  New T-90M style mudguards, 2x2 ERA slab mount covering the smoke launcher array, additional ERA protection around the gun mantlet, more ERA tiles in front of the commander's cupola and unidentified electronics in the front of the turret.  Along with the already-known features, 2 new interesting details seem to have appeared in this  batch.  The gunner's auxiliary sight does not match any of the standard sights used on T-72B (1K13-49) or T-72B1 (TPN-3) tanks. The new housing seems to have additional mechanical parts installed on top. It is worth theorizing that this certain vehicle could have received a one-off sight housing. In...