Sudanese Army continues to deploy Iranian-made T-72Z main battle tanks in the ongoing civil war.

As reported by Hammer of War on April 2, 2025, a recent video from the ongoing civil war in Sudan shows a unit of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) operating an Iranian-origin Type 72Z main battle tank, also known as the T-72Z, Safir-74, or Al-Zubair I in Sudanese service. The footage also reveals soldiers employing a Chinese-made DJI drone and another equipped with night vision goggles. The presence of the Iranian-manufactured vehicle and additional equipment provides insight into the composition and modernization level of Sudanese military assets in the civil war against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023.
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Sudan acquired Type 72Z tanks in 2006, and they remain one of the heavier assets available to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) amid its struggle to retain control of strategic positions in the capital and regions such as Darfur. (Picture source: Twitter/Hammer of War)

The Sudanese Civil War began in April 2023 following a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict was preceded by a 2021 coup that derailed a fragile civilian-military transition after the 2019 ouster of President Omar al-Bashir. The SAF and RSF each command substantial forces and have competed for control of strategic areas, particularly Khartoum and Darfur.

The war has evolved into a prolonged military confrontation characterized by urban battles, artillery use, and mechanized offensives. Both factions have employed a mix of Soviet-origin vehicles, drones, and light vehicles. While the SAF operates older tanks and aircraft, the RSF has relied on fast-moving technicals and seized assets. Battlefield footage shows the SAF using main battle tanks such as the Type 72Z in both urban and rural combat zones as it attempts to maintain control over key infrastructure.

The recent footage confirms the Sudanese army’s continued use of Iranian-supplied or Iranian-licensed military hardware, including the Type 72Z main battle tank, which Sudan produces under license as the Al-Zubair I. Sudan acquired the Type 72Z in 2006, and it remains one of the heavier assets available to the SAF amid its struggle to retain control of strategic positions in the capital and regions such as Darfur. The video also illustrates the integration of off-the-shelf commercial technologies, such as DJI drones and night vision equipment, alongside legacy hardware.

The T-72Z is an Iranian upgrade program launched in 1996 by the Defense Industries Organization (DIO) and its subsidiary, the Vehicle Industries Group, to modernize aging fleets of T-54, T-55, and Type 59 tanks. The program reportedly includes around 400 tanks, mostly drawn from surplus inventories, and is designed to provide a cost-effective solution for extending operational life while improving mobility, firepower, and protection. The tank’s designation refers to the Iranian calendar year 1372 (1993–94) and is not related to the Soviet T-72 series. This modernization was not intended to replace frontline systems but to extend the service life of second-line armored units.

The T-72Z is said to incorporate first- and second-generation explosive reactive armor (ERA) modules produced by the Iranian company Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex. (Picture source: Iranian MoD)

The tank’s primary armament is a 105 mm M68 rifled gun, an Iranian copy of the U.S.-designed cannon used on the M60A1, with a maximum range of 14.6 kilometers. It is compatible with NATO-standard ammunition and supports laser-guided missiles such as the 9M117 Bastion (AT-10), which has a maximum range of 4,000 meters. Secondary weapons include a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun and a 12.7 mm DShKM heavy machine gun mounted on the turret roof for anti-aircraft or anti-personnel roles. The EFCS-3 fire control system, paired with an ND-YAG laser rangefinder with a maximum range of 10 kilometers, allows for improved engagement of moving and stationary targets, including during night operations, without the need for a searchlight. The EFCS-3 system incorporates a ballistic computer, automatic stabilization for firing on the move, and a second-generation night vision device.

The T-72Z is said to incorporate first- and second-generation explosive reactive armor (ERA) modules produced by the Iranian company Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex. This ERA is designed to resist shaped-charge threats and some forms of kinetic penetrators, as well as tandem-warhead anti-tank missiles. The base armor features 203 mm on the turret front, 150 mm on the turret sides, and 97 mm on the upper front hull. Side skirts and modular panels allow for rapid replacement or repair. Iranian sources state that the ERA is resistant to small-caliber fire under 30 mm and offers resistance to incendiary attacks.

The integration of a stabilizer system enables accurate fire on the move. Some variants are also reported to be equipped with laser warning receivers that automatically activate smoke dischargers when a threat is detected. Communication systems include the VRC-222 radio, compatible with VRC-122 and Russian R-173 radios. The tank also features navigation systems and onboard fire suppression systems. In addition, the T-72Z is equipped with smoke grenade dischargers and a diesel-injection smoke generation system.

The T-72Z features a modular powerpack for quick removal and replacement in the field. It uses a 780 hp, 4-stroke, V-12 diesel engine with water cooling and a supercharger, with some sources identifying the engine as the V46-6. This allows the 40-ton vehicle to reach speeds up to 65 km/h, with a power-to-weight ratio between 19.5 and 21.66 hp/ton, depending on the source. The tank is designed to overcome vertical obstacles up to 0.85 meters, climb gradients of up to 30 degrees, and operate on side slopes up to 25 degrees. It accommodates a crew of four and features an automatic and semi-automatic gear shifting system, possibly the SPAT-1200, as well as an air conditioning system.