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The standard Sosna-U multi-channel thermal sight has been replaced by the 1PN-96MT-02.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 calculations and display them. In this case, the sight is purely to improve the day/night observation capabilities of the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle is using a 1A40-1 sight which comes standard with basic T-72Bs.
The 1PN-96MT uses a 640x460 pixel display and a UFP thermal micro-detector matrix with a base resolution of 640x480 operating at 8-12 micrometres. The observation is rated: at 2000m minimum for tank-sized targets. The sight has 2 FoV settings: wide FoV of 9x6,75 deg and narrow FoV (digital magnification) of 3x2,25 deg.
Interestingly enough, the sight housing for the 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.
Regarding the FCS, the vehicle is missing its DVE-BS cross-wind sensor, which comes standard with T-72B3M tanks. This can be easily explained by the lack of the Sosna-U sight and a more modern 1A40-1M/4 sight block, which would support the integration of a cross-wind sensor like DVE-BS.
On a minor note, the ergonomics for the gunner seem to have been slightly improved, the placement of the new thermal sight offers a better display placement, which is right in front of the gunner's eyes.
As mentioned earlier the armour package has undergone some changes. An entire ERA array has been added to the LFP.
One more notable feature is the presence of ERA containers mounted along the entire side of the tank.
These containers are mounted on a hinge which is fixed to the top segment of the side skirts. The side skirts have been untouched.
The container design is very similar to the ones mounted on the turret. The inner ERA plate layout for these containers is unknown, but knowing the general design approach, the plate layout is slanted, which is supposed to improve protection values.
These containers are made out of metal (steel or aluminium) and could be more durable when traversing harsh terrain, which was one of the factors affecting old ERA bags which were held in place using latches. The hinged mechanism allows easier access to the side skirts and would allow field crews to replace the containers easier. It's worth pointing out, if the containers will affect vehicle performance in city-style environments, visually the containers have more volume.
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