Drones Shift Battlefield Dynamics: The Downfall of Russia’s T‑72B3 Tank
A video showing an attack on a T-72B3 tank used by one of the Russian units fighting in Ukraine has surfaced online. This time, to destroy the valuable invaders' machine, a grenade dropped from a drone was enough.
Both sides of the ongoing conflict commonly use FPV (first-person view) drones. They can't match the destructive power of classic anti-tank missiles, but both Ukrainians and Russians frequently use unmanned aerial vehicles to destroy enemy armoured vehicles. They attach explosive charges (requiring a direct hit on the target) or drop grenades or bombs from above.
The T-72B3 tank destroyed by Ukrainians
In this instance, a Ukrainian drone employed an American M67 grenade, which was dropped into the interior of the Russian tank through an open hatch. From the attacking side's perspective, this is an ideal outcome, offering a high chance of obliterating the enemy armoured unit.
M67 grenades, designed as an improvement over the M33 grenades, have been in production since 1975. They weigh about 400 grams, allowing small drones (which usually have a carrying capacity of up to a few kilograms) to transport them easily. M67 grenades contain about 180 grams of explosive material.
Destroying an enemy tank with a drone and a grenade represents a significant victory, as it removes a much more valuable enemy unit from combat at minimal expense. This is especially true of the T-72B3, which is among the top tanks deployed by the Russians in Ukraine.
The valuable Russian tank. What can the T-72B3 do?
The T-72B3, an enhanced version of the T-72B, was introduced into the Russian army after 2010. Its standout feature is the Sosna-U sight, equipped with Catherine-FC thermal imaging cameras from the French conglomerate Thales. This enables the crew to effectively target enemy positions from great distances, including during nighttime, a capability not shared by many other tanks that Russians operate in Ukraine.
The T-72B3 tips the scales at about 50 tons and stretches nearly 7 meters in length and 2.2 meters in height. Its range is estimated at around 500 kilometres. Compared to the T-72B, it also features enhanced armour with reactive modules. Its primary weapon is a 125 mm smoothbore gun. Notably, the T-72B3 has an autoloading system compatible with Svinets-2 rounds, which have only been in the Russian arsenal for a few years. Additional armaments include 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns.
