Czech Republic to send in Poland T-72M4 tanks & BVP-2 IFVs for Puma 2022 military exercise.

UPDATE: Citing information from Braise the Step Twitter account, the Czech army T-72M4 tanks and BVP-2 IFVS are not transferred to Ukraine but are on the way to Poland to participate in the international military exercise Puma 2022. According to a video on the Twitter account of "Julian Röpcke" on October 25, 2022, the Czech Republic would have transferred to Ukraine seven T-72M4 main battle tanks and four BVP-2, a Czech version of the Soviet-made BMP-2 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). This information was also relayed by the Forbes news agency. The T-72M4 and BVP wee not on the way to Ukraine, but 
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Czech T-72M4 main battle tank on the way to Ukraine. (Picture source Screen Shot video Twitter Julian Röpcke)

According to open source information, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Czech Republic has already donated to Ukraine 40 T-72M1 main battle tanks, 10 refurbished T-72M1 from the company Excalibur army, an undisclosed number of BVP-1, a Czech version of the Soviet-made BMP-1 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle).

Czech Republic has already delivered a large number of artillery systems including 2S1 122mm self-propelled howitzers, an undisclosed number of DANA 152mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers, RM-70 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System), BM-21 MLRS and an undisclosed number of RM-70 Vampir, a modernized version of the RM-70.

For the moment, the Czech Republic has not officially announced the delivery of T-72M4 tanks and BVP-2 tracked armored IFVs to Ukraine. On October 12, 2022, the Czech Republic Ministry of Defense announced the signature of an agreement with Germany for the acquisition of 14 Leopard 2A4 that will replace the T-72M1 donated to Ukraine.

The T-72M4 is a modernized version of the Soviet-made T-72 that has been carried out by the Czech company in collaboration with foreign companies including Nimda, Finmeccanica - Selex Galileo of Italy. The first modernized T-72 tanks were delivered to the Czech army between 2003 and 2005. According to the military balance 2021, the Czech army has 30 T-72M4 tanks.

The T-72M4 keeps the original armament of the T-72M1 consisting of one 125mm smoothbore gun. The second armament includes one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and one 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on the commander hatch.

The T-72M4 is fitted with new composite armor and new Polish DYNA explosive reactive armor providing protection against HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank, APFSDS (Armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot), and HESH (High explosive squash head) rounds. The tank is also fitted with a new Italian TURMS-T (Tank Universal Reconfigurable Modular System) fire control system, a new ballistic computer, and a host of new sensors.

The T-72M4 is powered by a new British Perkins Condor CV12-1000 TCA turbocharged diesel engine developing 1,200 hp. The tank can run at a maximum road speed of 61 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km.

Czech Army T-72M4 main battle tank (Picture source Army Recognition)

The BVP-2 is a Czech version of the Soviet-made BMP-2 tracked armored IFV produced under license in the Czech Republic. The design of the BVP-2 is similar to the BMP-2. It has a crew of three including a driver, commander and gunner, and can accommodate up to 7 infantrymen.

As the BMP-2, the BVP-2 is fitted with a two-man turret armed with a stabilized 30 mm cannon 2A42 and a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun mounted to the left of the main armament with 2,000 rounds. A bank of three smoke grenade dischargers is mounted on each side of the turret.

Czech Army BVP-2 tracked armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle IFV. (Picture source Army Recognition)