T-72 operators and variants
| T-72 | |
|---|---|
A T-72B3 in Moscow 2018 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Soviet Union |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1973–present |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kartsev-Venediktov |
| Designed | 1967–73 |
| Manufacturer | Uralvagonzavod |
| Produced | 1973–present |
| No. built | approx. 25,000 |
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1973. It replaced the T-54/55 series as the workhorse of Soviet tank forces (while the T-64 and T-80 served as the Soviet high-technology tanks). In front-line Russian service, T-72s are being upgraded or augmented by the T-90, itself a modernized version of the T-72B. The T-72 has been exported and produced in many countries.