CZE - T-72EA

T-72EA

Low-cost upgrade of the T-72 series of tanks, primarily produced under license in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (T-72, T-72M, T-72M1) and the People's Republic of Poland (T-72M, T-72M1) in the 1980s, with the aim of increasing the combat value of the vehicles with minimal interference to the original design. The T-72EA type builds on previous T-72 tank upgrades designed by EXCALIBUR ARMY (T-72 fitted with DYNA-72 dynamic protection for the US, T-72 SCARAB).


The tank's ballistic protection was increased by the installation of 196 blocks of Kontakt-1 reactive armour, for which explosive liners were manufactured by STV GROUP. The dynamic protection increases resistance to cumulative tank ammunition and rounds from anti-tank hand grenade launchers in the equivalent of 400 mm of rolled homogeneous armour steel. The reactive armour blocks are mounted on the front and front side parts of the hull and turret. The fitting of the dynamic protection brackets to the turret, including its overhaul, was carried out by TATRA DEFENCE VEHICLE. Some Ukrainian T-72EAs were retrofitted with 12 additional Kontakt-1 blocks and a rubber shield on the lower hull face.


The original sighting and observation instruments were upgraded by OPTICS TRADE with the installation of brightness amplifiers to improve vision in night conditions. Both the gunner's sight TPN-1-49-23 M and the combined day/night observation instrument of the commander TKN-3 M, as well as the night observation instrument of the driver TVNE-4B M, are thus fully passive - there is no need to add illumination by the infrared lights L-2AGM and OU-3GK, which could be removed as a result. The original periscopes were modified to types TNPO-168V F (driver's observer), TNP-165A F (gunner's observer) and TNPA-65A F (two for the driver, two for the commander and one for the gunner), which were equipped with anti-laser filters to protect the crew members' eyesight.


TPN-1-49-23 M
- Detection at 50 mlx light level: 4100 m
- Reconnaissance at 50 mlx: 2200 m
- Identification at 50 mlx: 1200 m
- detection at 5 mlx light level: 3600 m
- Reconnaissance at illumination level 5 mlx: 1700 m
- identification at illumination level 5 mlx: 1000 m
Note: according to STANAG 4348, the parameters of the night branch of the instrument were determined for a vehicle type target under the following defined observation conditions: vehicle type target with dimensions 2,5 × 2,5 m; target to background contrast 0,5 and meteorological visibility 16 km.


TKN-3 M
- Detection at 50 mlx illumination level: 4100 m
- Reconnaissance at 50 mlx illumination level: 2200 m
- identification at 50 mlx illumination level: 1200 m
- detection at 5 mlx light level: 3600 m
- Reconnaissance at illumination level 5 mlx: 1700 m
- identification at illumination level 5 mlx: 1000 m
Note: according to STANAG 4348, the parameters of the night branch of the instrument were determined for a vehicle type target under the following defined observation conditions: vehicle type target with dimensions 2,5 × 2,5 m; target to background contrast 0,5 and meteorological visibility 16 km.


TVNE-4B M
- Detection at 50 mlx illumination level: 1200 m
- Reconnaissance at 50 mlx illumination level: 420 m
- Identification at 50 mlx illumination level: 210 m
- detection at 5 mlx light level: 1050 m
- Reconnaissance at illumination level 5 mlx: 350 m
- identification at illumination level 5 mlx: 200 m
Note: according to STANAG 4348, the instrument parameters were determined for a person-type target under the following defined observation conditions: person-type target with dimensions 1,8 × 0,5 m; target-to-background contrast 0,5 and meteorological visibility 16 km.


The driving characteristics of the upgraded tank are improved by a more powerful V-84 engine, which gives the T-72EA increased acceleration dynamics and higher speed, especially in difficult terrain. The driver's station has also been modified with a new digital dashboard from EXCALIBUR ARMY. This shows information on the tank's operational characteristics, such as speed, engine temperature or turret position.


The internal and external radio communication means have been completely replaced and are newly sourced from MESIT. The VICM200 COMBAT digital intercom improves internal tank crew communication and the DICOM RF20 series radio enables encrypted communication. A GPS module is available to display navigation data and transmit GPS coordinates.


A prototype of the T-72 tank fitted with EXCALIBUR ARMY's Kontakt-1 dynamic protection blocks was publicly unveiled for the first time as the T-72 ERA at IDET 2021 in Brno in early October 2021. The first customer of the T-72EA tank was the Kingdom of Morocco, which reportedly ordered the upgrade of approximately 142 tanks for the needs of 6. Royal Armoured Brigade, which has been armed with at least 100 T-72B vehicles since the turn of the millennium (30 T-72B delivered in 1999, 58 T-72B and 12 T-72BK delivered in 2000). The first T-72EAs were delivered to Morocco in 2021 and deliveries continued the following year.


The advanced production of T-72EAs for Morocco allowed these tanks to be quickly delivered to Ukraine, which was militarily attacked by Russia in February 2022, as part of military aid. With dwindling stocks of Soviet-origin combat-ready tanks, the United States tried to persuade Morocco to supply tanks T-72 to Ukraine because there were no more available in Europe. Thanks to U.S. and EU influence and Ministry of Defense negotiations, Moroccan officials eventually decided to turn over the remaining tanks originally intended for modernization for the Royal Moroccan Army to Ukraine. As part of international cooperation, the US and the Netherlands jointly paid for the modernization of 90 Czech T-72 tanks (with an option for 30 more) for the Ukrainian army. The cooperation is the result of six meetings of the Ukrainian Defence Contact Group, the August donor conference in Copenhagen and the September meeting of national arms representatives. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has said it will spend €45 million (approximately CZK1.1 billion) to modernise Czech tanks and will also provide Ukraine with additional heavy military equipment. The U.S. portion of the expenditure fell within the USD 400 million (roughly CZK 9.8 billion) military assistance to Ukraine announced on 4 November 2022. The share of U.S. and Dutch assistance was the same, with each country funding the conversion of 45 tanks. The T-72M and T-72M1 vehicles slated for upgrading to the T-72EA standard came from the inventory of EXCALIBUR ARMY, which bought them from the mobilization depots of the former Warsaw Pact countries.


In addition, one T-72EA, destined for the Ukrainian army and named Tomáš after the first president of Czechoslovakia, was financed by the Czech public as part of the crowdfunding campaign Gift for Putin. The fundraising for the tank began on 6 September 2022, and within a month, 36,092,906 CZK had been raised from 11,288 donors, of which the T-72EA alone cost around 25 million CZK. The remaining funds were used to purchase ammunition as part of the "Feed Thomas and his friends" campaign. The tank was shipped from the Sternberg plant EXCALIBUR ARMY to Ukraine via Poland on 20 October 2022.


By the end of November 2022, 11 T-72EAs had been delivered to Ukraine, of which one Expeditor was reportedly destroyed and another one was captured in September 2022. These tanks were apparently fully financed by the Ukrainian side. The first T-72EAs may have been delivered to Ukraine in August and September 2022, and immediately after delivery, the Ukrainian army deployed them in the Kharkiv offensive to push Russian troops out of the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian offensive began on 6 September 2022 and lasted until 2 October 2022. During this time, more than 500 villages and 12,000 km² of Ukrainian territory were liberated.


In early December 2022 (49th week), the acceptance of the first five vehicles for Ukraine funded by the US and the Netherlands took place. The tanks were immediately deployed into combat after delivery to Ukraine in the defense of the town of Bakhmut. At the end of 2022, the upgrade time for one T-72EA tank was 66 days, with one finished vehicle leaving the assembly hall every four days. As part of US-Dutch military assistance, 37 upgraded T-72EA tanks were delivered to Ukraine by approximately mid-April 2023. The Ministry of Defense also proposed adding dozens more tanks to the production run if foreign partners were interested in funding the project.


By mid-August 2023, at least four T-72EA tanks had been proven destroyed in combat in the Russian-Ukrainian War.

Prototyp T-72 ERA na podvalníku DEM-70 od polské společnosti DEMARKO, veletrh IDET 2021, Brno, říjen 2021.

Modernizovaný tank T-72 osazený dynamickým pancéřováním DYNA-72 v areálu společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY, Přelouč, pravděpodobně léto 2014. EXCALIBUR ARMY pro potřeby amerického pozemního vojska (US Army) dodal dva modifikované tanky T-72 opatřené reaktivním pancéřováním DYNA-72 za zhruba 10 milionů Kč. Po jednom voze bylo do USA dodáno v roce 2014 a 2015. Tanky jsou pravděpodobně provozovány u Aberdeen Test Center na polygonu Aberdeen Providing Ground ve státě Maryland.

Fotografie:
EXCALIBUR ARMY

Pohled na horní části korby a věže tanku T-72EA.

Fotografie:
CSG DEFENCE

Držáky dynamické ochrany Kontakt-1 na věži modernizovaného tanku T-72EA, přibližně leden 2023.

Fotografie:
EXCALIBUR ARMY

Přístrojová deska v řidičském prostoru tanku T-72EA, květen 2023.

Zdroj:
@StuDent931203 via mil.in.ua

Tank T-72EA krátce po dodání do Maroka je přepravován z přístavu v Casablance do kasáren Královské marocké armády, přibližně prosinec 2021.

Fotografie:
autor neznámý, via Internet

Tank T-72EA určený pro Královskou marockou armádu v areálu společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY ve Šternberku, 2022.

Fotografie:
CSG DEFENCE

Konečná montáž modernizovaných tanků T-72EA pro Maroko (resp. Ukrajinu) ve společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY, Šternberk, přibližně květen/červen 2022.

Fotografie:
autor neznámý, via Internet

Tanky T-72EA určené pro Královskou marockou armádu v areálu společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY, Šternberk, konec září 2022.

Fotografie:
autor neznámý, via Internet

Tank Tomáš - T-72EA nakoupený za peníze ze sbírky Dárek pro Putina v areálu společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY, Šternberk, přibližně 29. září 2022. Další T-72EA stojící vedle byly zřejmě financovány přímo ukrajinským státem.

Zdroj:
Dárek pro Putina - https://www.zbraneproukrajinu.cz/

Tank T-72EA určený pro ukrajinskou armádu v areálu společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY, Šternberk, 9. ledna 2023. V pondělí 9. ledna 2023 premiér Petr Fiala společně s vládní delegací zavítal do společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY. Předseda vlády společnost navštívil v rámci své pracovní cesty po Olomouckém kraji. Hosté se nejdříve seznámili s historií i současností společnosti EXCALIBUR ARMY během prezentace v jejím vývojovém centru. Poté si premiér Fiala a jeho doprovod mohli prohlédnout před jednou z výrobních hal ukázku vojenské techniky, která se v EXCALIBUR ARMY vyvíjí nebo vyrábí. Za přítomnosti novinářů pak na jeden z modernizovaných tanků T-72EA, který zamíří na Ukrajinu, napsal vzkaz "Statečným obráncům Ukrajiny, Česká republika" a podepsal se.

Zdroj:
Vláda ČR - https://www.vlada.cz/

Tank T-72EA z výzbroje ukrajinské armády osazený odminovacím vyorávačem KMT-6, rusko-ukrajinská válka, únor 2023.

Zdroj:
twitter.com

Tank T-72EA z výzbroje ukrajinské speciální jednotky Kraken při výcviku, rusko-ukrajinská válka, přelom zima/jaro 2023.

Zdroj:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgH3pRbPO50

Ukrajinský tank T-72EA z výzbroje 38. samostatné brigády námořní pěchoty, rusko-ukrajinská válka, začátek května 2023.

Zdroj:
38. samostatná brigáda námořní pěchoty

Tank T-72EA z výzbroje ukrajinské armády osazený odminovacím vyorávačem KMT-6, rusko-ukrajinská válka, jaro 2023.

Zdroj:
autor neznámý, via Internet

Ukrajinská 63. samostatná mechanizovaná brigáda s darovanými tanky T-72EA se připravuje na nadcházející ofenzívu proti ruským okupačním silám, rusko-ukrajinská válka, začátek června 2023.

Zdroj:
twitter.com

Tank T-72EA z výzbroje 61. samostatné mechanizované brigády, rusko-ukrajinská válka, přibližně 6. července 2023.

Zdroj:
61. samostatná mechanizovaná brigáda

Tank T-72EA z výzbroje ukrajinské armády, rusko-ukrajinská válka, konec července 2023. Vozidlo bylo poškozeno a svoji osádkou následně opuštěno při neúspěšném ukrajinském útoku v sektoru Robotyne (Rabotino) v Záporižské oblasti. Ve stejném sektoru ukrajinské vojsko ztratilo jeden tank T-72M1 [T-72M1], tři odminovací tanky Leopard 2R a jeden vyprošťovací tank Bergepanzer 3 Büffel.

Zdroj:
vk.com

Hořící tank T-72EA z výzbroje ukrajinské armády zachycený poblíž obce Robotyne (Rabotino) v Záporižské oblasti, rusko-ukrajinská válka, konec července 2023.

Zdroj:
twitter.com

Jako zdroj tanků T-72M a T-72M1 určených k přestavbě na modernizovaný typ T-72EA sloužilo i vrakoviště EXCALIBUR ARMY v Přelouči. Na horním snímku stav z 13. září 2020, na spodním snímku stav z 3. července 2022.

Zdroj:
mapy.cz
earth.google.com