Russian Central District armored division in Urals to receive T-72B3M tanks in 2020.

A batch of 30 upgraded T-72B3 tanks to the T-72B3M level will be delivered to the Central Military District’s armored division based in the Chelyabinsk Region in the Urals in 2020, the Defense Ministry’s press office said: "Tank crews will learn to operate the advanced military hardware during driving lessons and live-firing drills due to take place after its delivery to the units".

T-72B3 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Guards Vitebsko-Novgorodskaya armored division was formed in late 2016. It is based in the Chelyabinsk and the Sverdlovsk Regions in the Urals. The large unit operates T-72 tanks, BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and BTR-82A armored personnel carriers.

The first upgraded T-72B3M tanks were delivered to the Western Military District in 2017. The upgraded T-72B3 tank has a more powerful engine of 1,130 hp, an automatic gearbox, and upgraded arms. It is equipped with a PNM Sosna-U multiple channel sight, an upgraded TKN-3 sight with the Dubl system, as well as TVN-5 night binoculars and a rearview TV camera.

The armor has been reinforced with Relikt ERA screens, add-on rid screens, and new ERA modules in a soft case. The tank features enhanced adhesion tracks, road wheels and sprokets with a better cleanability capacity to ensure resistance to skidding and improve the overall performance of the fighting vehicle.

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