T-72B main battle tank is not simply a heavily armored vehicle – it is the story of persistence and progress. Initiated at the peak period of the Cold War, this tank has been able to maintain its status even in the latest era. As a matter of fact, the tank’s past cuts across the time of changing armored warfare, which depicts the combining of the three cardinal virtues of war – firepower, survivability, and mobility, to meet the tough realities of battlefields of different eras. Till today, the T-72B has always been up to the task, whether during its send-offs in the 1980s or its current mission in Ukraine.
The basic T-72 was constructed to be a less sophisticated, less expensive alternative to the technically complex but delicate T-64. Debuting in 1973, the original T-72 was supposed to be a tough one, easy to handle, and operable by crews of limited training. Nevertheless, the first generation had its issues, which were: primitive fire-control systems, inadequate night-fighting gear, and armor that was easier to penetrate with heavier weapons. The vulnerabilities of these tanks became glaringly clear once modern anti-tank missiles such as the TOW started being used on the battlefields, hence the need to perfect the designs.
This moment of change was characterized by the 1984 release of the T-72B. The latter has been equipped with composite armor of significantly greater strength, which was lovingly referred to as “Super Dolly Parton” due to its turret cheeks being so thick. In addition to that, KONTAKT-1 explosive reactive armor was wrapped around the tank to give it an extra layer of protection against the likes of shaped charges and anti-tank rounds, thus elevating its defense to the level equivalent to 700-900mm of steel. There is no such thing as a tank that cannot be destroyed, but the T-72B was now able to sustain damage that the previous version could not survive.
Not all the T-72B models were the same. The export editions, like the T-72S “Shilden,” were done with the intention of having less heavy armor and other compromises that would conform to the international regulations.
However, they still made up the major part of the armor fleets of the Warsaw Pact. The Polish crews relied on daring attacks to do the trick, the Czech troops boasted enormous numbers for their wars, and the East German tankers practiced with the utmost discipline and accuracy. Decades later, many of these vehicles were still in service, a clear indication that the design was really long-lasting.
It is rather a great indication of the T-72B’s versatility that it has managed to survive up to the present time. When conflict occurred in Ukraine, the US chose to finance the refurbished T-72Bs from the Czech reserves rather than send brand-new tanks that would require months of training and complicated logistics. The Ukrainian crews that knew how to operate and maintain them gave them a very important advantage in the middle of a changing battlefield that was moving very fast.
But the threats that tanks face today are really different from those in the 1980s. The drones, electronic warfare, and advanced guided weapons that come are overshadowing the armored formations. There was a time when most thought that the T-72B would become obsolete and fall into disuse, yet the upgrade–from the latest reactive armor to IED countermeasure kits–has kept them going.
Simultaneously, the very fundamentals of war had not changed as much as some may imagine. Artillery still holds the throne as the “God of War,” whereas small drones, despite their increasing use, are still very much reliant on the operator’s skill and are susceptible to jamming and weather. Mortars and conventional guns continue to be the reliable assassins that are not affected by the high-tech turmoil that is reshaping today’s battles.
On the Russian side, newer machines have been equipped with SOSNA-U thermal sights since 2022, but the strain of extended fighting has compelled a good number of old-model tanks back into operations. In these situations, the quality of optics, the reliability of fire-control systems, and above all else, the training of the crews often make just as much difference as the thickness of the armor. The T-72B has yet again the benefit of its easy and rugged design, helping it to be among the survivors.
Western tanks such as the Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams are fitted with state-of-the-art technology and high-end protection, but on the other hand, they also entail complicated logistics and maintenance networks. In comparison, the T-72B enjoys classic design and steady incremental upgrades. It might not be the flashiest battle machine on the battlefield, but if used properly, it will still be practical, reliable, and lethal.
Tanks’ futures will remain as such – forward-looking. The tactics of swarms of drones, precision-guided munitions, and electronic warfare will still be demanded, but they will need to be different. What history has been able to teach us is that the T-72B is a strong design with clever upgrades that enable it to remain relevant much longer than expected. It is far from being one of the past’s abandoned battlers, this Cold War hero, still, heavy armor always carries the day in modern warfare.