KMDB - Protection of modernized T72 main battle tanks


















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T-72AG

T-72MP

T-72-120



Protection of modernized T72 main battle tanks
T-72
Tank Upgrade


In order to increase the protection level, the T-72AG is fitted
with additional armour modules for the front hull and turret,
explosive reactive armour for the hull and turret, and protective
side skirts fitted with explosive reactive armour in the forward
part of the hull. The design and function of the ERA is identical to
that installed on the T-84 MBT.
Armour Package Design
In so doing, the modular armour package design is
used, which offers a number of advantages:

possibility of re-equipping the tank armour protection as new
armour materials become available and new protection technologies
emerge;
new approach to restoration of the armour protection in case
it has been hit by a projectile, consisting in replacing the
damaged armour modules with new spare ones instead of having to
repair the damaged modules under field conditions;
possibility of operating the tanks in peacetime with explosive
reactive elements removed, which makes it possible to save fuel
due to a lower weight of the vehicles; however, in case of
emergency the ERA elements can be quickly re-installed on the tank
by the tank crew;
from the manufacturer's point of view: possibility of
manufacturing the ERA modules at the specialised enterprises, the
tank production/repair plant having only to weld the ERA
attachment points.
Efficiency
Installation of armour modules and explosive reactive
armour results in the following increase of the T-72 tank protection
level:

against chemical energy attack (high-explosive anti-tank
projectiles) - by twice;
against kinetic energy attack (armour-piercing projectiles) -
by 1.6 times.
The explosive reactive armour ensures the tank
protection against the following weapons over the frontal arc:

anti-tank hand grenades, manual and stationary grenade
launcher rounds and no-recoil gun rounds;
anti-tank guided missiles of the Shturm-S, TOW-2 and Milan
type;
high-explosive anti-tank rounds fired from 125mm guns;
armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot projectiles
fired from 125mm guns or 120mm guns from a distance of 100 m.

The placing of the explosive reactive armour elements
inside armour containers makes them impregnable to damage from
7.62mm small arms, 12.7mm automatic gun rounds, and artillery shell
fragments.
The explosive reactive armour elements do not detonate
when hit by 30mm automatic gun projectiles or exposed to effects of
the incendiary mixtures of Napalm type or volumetric
explosions.



T-72AG MBT (front view) 


Technical Data
Weight of the additional protection complex (together
with positioning and fastening parts and ERA elements) is 3,150
kg.
It takes to the tank crew 5.5 to 6 hours to replace
one set of ERA elements on one tank (including their extraction,
washing and re-installation).
ERA elements installed on a tank do not require any
special maintenance in the process of tank service.
In order to carry out installation of the additional
protection complex on the tank, neither non-standard technological
equipment nor special instrument nor high-qualification specialists
are required.
Delivery Set Required for Upgrading of the Armour Protection of
the T-72 Tank:

frontal protective module to be installed on the tank hull
front;
parts and assemblies of the turret additional protection;
parts and assemblies required for modernization of the racks
over tracks;
hull side screens and shields;
explosive reactive armour elements.
Increase of Protection of the T-72 Tank Turret
Add-on armour is installed on the front and side parts of the
turret


Explosive reactive armour is installed on the front and side
parts of the turret as well as on the turret roof




Measures
Increase of resistance

against
armour-piercing projectiles
against
high-explosive anti-tank projectiles

Installation of add-on armour and explosive
reactive armour
145 % H1
200 % H1
Increase of Protection of the T-72 Tank Hull
Hull front part

Hull side





Measure
Increase of resistance

against
armour-piercing projectiles
against
high-explosive anti-tank projectiles

Installation of add-on armour and explosive
reactive armour
145 % H1
200 % H1

Installation of side screens with explosive
reactive armour
200 % H2
200 % H2




NBC Protection System
In order to enhance the crew protection against the
mass destruction weapons, the T-72AG is fitted with current
state-of-the-art NBC protection system intended to make the crew
compartment air-tight. The system snaps into action automatically,
with audible and light indication being provided simultaneously. In
so doing, when the tank is operating on a radioactive-contaminated
area, the system makes it possible to measure the gamma-irradiation
within the range of 0.9-150 R/h.




Varta Optronic Countermeasures System
As an option, the T-72AG can also be fitted with a
Varta optronic countermeasures system which ensures the
following:

decoying away incoming anti-tank guided missiles by means of
setting light jamming in the sector of Ä…20° relative to the main
armament bore axis in the horizontal plane and of Ä…2° in the
vertical plane;
suppression of anti-tank guided missile guidance control
systems that use laser semi-active homing systems with laser
target illumination, by means of laying quick-generation aerosol
screens in the sector of Ä…45° relative to the main armament bore
axis.
The major components of the Varta optronic countermeasures system
consists of an and a aerosol screen laying system.
The optronic suppression station comprises two jammers, two
modulators and a control panel. The jammers and modulators are
placed outside the tank in protective cases, while the control panel
is located inside the tank.
The main elements which make up the aerosol screen laying system
are:

four laser threat warning sensors. The sensors are installed
on the turret roof in protective cases;
a control unit, two control panels and an indication panel.
One control panel is installed at the gunner's station and is only
intended to lay aerosol screen in the manual mode. The other
control panel is installed at the commander's station and serves
to control the system from the commander's station in the
automatic, semi-automatic and manual modes of operation. This unit
also displays information about the system parameters and the
direction of the enemy laser beam directed at the tank. The
indication panel is installed in the commander's rotating hatch.
The panel displays information about the direction of the enemy
laser beam directed at the tank;

twelve aerosol grenade launchers are installed
either side of the turret (six per side).








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