Russia's T‑72B3 tanks: Cutting-edge yet vulnerable in Avdiivka's intense skirmishes

The Russian T-72B3 tank, as depicted in the video below, is kitted out with the quintessential 'field upgrade package' familiar to the Russians. Examples include the infamous cage on the turret for protection against drone-dropped charges, additional rod armour on the sides, and a camouflage technique appearing as though the tank has been dusted with feathers, with a few branches added for good measure.

Conceptually, this kind of field-made augmentation was designed to offer concealment qualities akin to camouflage nets or multispectral camouflages seen on CV90 infantry combat vehicles. Such camouflage not only disrupts the object's silhouette in the daylight but also minimises the thermal and radar signature of the object to which it is applied.

The Russian attempt clearly indicates that not all tank elements were carefully concealed. The camouflage may work during the day, but its long-term effectiveness is questionable.

The T-72B3 tanks, manufactured in 2011, represent the most prevalent type of equipment in the Russian military. The tanks are fitted with a cutting-edge fire control system named Sosna-U, underpinned by Catherine-FC thermal imaging cameras from France.

The 'Military Balance 2021' report suggests that the Russians possessed 1,150 tanks of this type. In 2022, this figure may have risen to more than 1,200 units. It's noteworthy, however, that according to data from the Oryxspioenkop group, the Russians have lost at least 350 T-72B3 tanks.

The T-72B3 tank results from a cost-effective upgrade of T-72B tanks. This upgrade embraced improvements such as enhanced optoelectronics, the adoption of the more precise 2A45M-5 gun, and the adaptation of the automatic loader to accommodate new anti-tank ammunition from the Swamp family boasting a longer penetrator. Additional minor modifications were made to the electrical turret rotation system.

Despite these alterations, the majority of the tank components remain untouched. Only the old Kontakt-1 reactive armour was switched out for slightly less obsolete Kontakt-5 on earlier production series machines. This resulted in a tank with firepower on par with the newer T-90Ms but at a fraction of the cost, albeit at the risk of outdated protection.