Tanks

T-72B3M

Also known as
  • T-72B3M/T-72B4
  • T-72B4
  • T-72B3 mod. 2016
  • T-72B3 Obr. 2016
  • T-72B3M Model 2022

The T-72B3M is a Russian modernization of the T-72B3 main battle tank, adding a 2A46M5 125 mm gun, Sosna-U and panoramic sighting equipment, Relikt explosive reactive armor, and a 1,130 hp V-92S2F engine. It is a distinct late T-72 upgrade seen in Russian service, later wartime production batches, and captured Ukrainian use during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

T-72B3M, Modernized main battle tank, Tanks
Image source: Commons File: T-72B3M Army-2022 2200

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Russia
Type
Modernized main battle tank
Service note
Post-Soviet modernization; full-scale 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Designed
Publicly shown in 2014; Russian service deliveries reported from 2017
Produced
2017-present modernization and delivery batches
Developed from
T-72B3 / T-72B

Specifications

Crew
3
Main armament
2A46M5 125 mm smoothbore gun with autoloader; compatible with APFSDS, HE-fragmentation, HEAT, and 9M119 Refleks guided missiles
Secondary armament
7.62 mm PKTM coaxial machine gun and 12.7 mm NSV heavy machine gun
Combat weight
About 45,000 kg
Engine
V-92S2F diesel, 1,130 hp
Mobility
Reported 60 km/h road speed and 550 km range
Protection
Composite armor with Relikt explosive reactive armor; 2025 Rostec reporting describes electronic-warfare drone suppression, anti-FPV netting, and added protection around vulnerable areas
Fire control
Sosna-U gunner sight, panoramic commander sight, laser range finding, thermal imaging, and digital ballistic computer
Modernization Markers

The B3M upgrade is visible less as a new hull than as a package of fire-control, protection, and mobility changes layered onto the T-72B/T-72B3 base.

AreaSource-backed changeWhy it matters
Fire controlSosna-U gunner sight, panoramic commander sight, ballistic computer, and laser-guided missile channel.Improves target detection and shot preparation compared with older T-72 fire-control fits.
ProtectionRelikt explosive reactive armor on the hull and turret, with later wartime batches adding electronic-warfare drone suppression, anti-FPV netting, and extra protection around vulnerable areas.Shows the design moving from Cold War armor layouts toward a field-modified survivability package.
MobilityV-92S2F diesel rated at 1,130 hp with improved drivetrain and automatic-transmission features.Offsets added protection weight and gives the upgraded tank a reported 60 km/h road speed and 550 km range.

Sources: Army Technology T-72B3M, Army Recognition T-72B3M/T-72B4, Rostec delivery report.

Variants

The designation is used around the late T-72B3 upgrade line; sources commonly describe the T-72B3M as T-72B4, while Ukraine-war reporting often maps the same configuration to T-72B3 mod. 2016 or Obr. 2016.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
T-72, Main battle tank, TanksT-72Parent tank family

The B3M remains part of the T-72 family but is separated here because the late Russian modernization has distinct sights, armor, powerpack, and Ukraine-war evidence.

Sources: Army Technology T-72B3M, Army Recognition T-72B3M T-72B4

Fired Guided Missiles

The T-72B3M retains a 125 mm smoothbore gun ammunition set that includes gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles.

AmmunitionAmmunition typeFiring evidence
9M119M Refleks / Invar, 125 mm gun-launched anti-tank guided missile round, Munitions9M119M Refleks / Invar125 mm gun-launched ATGM

Army Recognition describes the T-72B3M/T-72B4 2A46M5 main gun as able to fire 9M119 Refleks, also known as AT-11 Sniper, guided missiles.

Sources: Army Recognition T-72B3M T-72B4

Relationship scope

This link documents T-72B3M compatibility with the missile family; it does not add independent conflict-use claims for the missile record.

Sources: Army Recognition T-72B3M T-72B4

Timeline

T-72B3M Key Events

  1. Public debut at Tank Biathlon

    Army Technology and Army Recognition both place the public unveiling of the T-72B3M during the 2014 Tank Biathlon events.

    Sources: Army Technology T-72B3M, Army Recognition T-72B3M T-72B4

  2. Russian service batch reported

    Army Technology reports that the first 20 upgraded tanks entered service with Russia's Western Military District in February 2017.

    Sources: Army Technology T-72B3M

  3. Belarus service entry

    Army Technology reports the first Belarusian T-72B3M service entry in June 2017.

    Sources: Army Technology T-72B3M

  4. Captured example reported near Robotyne axis

    Army Recognition identified a Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigade capture as a Russian T-72B3 mod. 2016, also called T-72B3M, during fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region.

    Sources: Army Recognition Captured T-72B3M Tanks

  5. Uralvagonzavod delivery with wartime changes

    Rostec said Uralvagonzavod delivered further T-72B3M and T-90M batches to the Russian Army and described electronic-warfare drone suppression, anti-FPV netting, and added protection around vulnerable areas.

    Sources: Rostec Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M Delivery

Media

T-72B3M Images

T-72B3M, Modernized main battle tank, Tanks - view 1
Source: Commons File: T-72B3M MBT Army-2022 2597
T-72B3M, Modernized main battle tank, Tanks - view 2
Source: Commons File: T-72B3M MBT Army-2022 2607
T-72B3M, Modernized main battle tank, Tanks - view 3
Source: Commons File: TankBiathlon14final-03
Related Weapon Systems
T-72M1, Main battle tank, TanksTanksT-72M1Main battle tankThe T-72M1 is a T-72A-derived export and licensed-production main battle tank built around a three-person crew, an autoloaded 125 mm gun, improved turret protection, and an added glacis armor plate compared with earlier T-72M export tanks. Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Soviet production made the model common in Warsaw Pact and export inventories, and Polish, Czech, and Bulgarian stocks became part of Ukraine's armored force during the full-scale phase of the Russia-Ukraine War.
T-90, Main battle tank, TanksTanksT-90Main battle tankThe T-90 is a Russian main battle tank family developed from the late Soviet T-72B line and built by Uralvagonzavod. This baseline page covers the original T-90 and Russian-service T-90A/T-90AK branch, separating it from the catalog's export T-90S/T-90SA and modernized T-90M records. Direct conflict evidence places T-90A-family tanks with Russian forces in eastern Ukraine and in the full-scale Russia-Ukraine War, and with Syrian government forces and later captured users during the Syrian Civil War.
PT-91 Twardy, Main battle tank, TanksTanksPT-91 TwardyMain battle tankThe PT-91 Twardy is a Polish T-72M1-derived main battle tank from Bumar-Labedy, combining the familiar three-crew 125 mm autoloaded layout with domestic ERAWA reactive armor, Drawa-family fire-control improvements, and Polish powerpack options. The family also includes the Malaysian PT-91M Pendekar export branch with a 1,000 hp-class powerpack and revised fire-control package, while Ukraine's wartime examples are Polish-supplied T-72-family tanks used for direct armored fire against Russian positions.

Sources

Army Technology T-72B3MPublisher: Army Technology | Note: Supports T-72B3M identity, Uralvagonzavod development, service chronology, crew, armament, fire-control, protection, engine, speed, and range. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Army Recognition T-72B3M T-72B4Publisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports T-72B3M/T-72B4 designation, 2014 public unveiling, Model 2022 variant note, armament, Relikt armor, V-92S2F engine, mobility, and sighting equipment. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Rostec Uralvagonzavod T-72B3M DeliveryPublisher: Rostec | Note: Supports Uralvagonzavod production and delivery context, including 2025 Russian Army batches and reported wartime protection changes on T-72B3M tanks. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Army Recognition Captured T-72B3M TanksPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use context: a Russian Army T-72B3 mod. 2016, also called T-72B3M, captured by Ukrainian troops and wider reporting on captured examples returned to Ukrainian service. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Oryx Russian Equipment LossesPublisher: Oryx | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use context by visually documenting Russian T-72B3 Obr. 2016 and later T-72B3-family losses during the invasion. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Commons File: T-72B3M Army-2022 2200Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for the primary T-72B3M gallery image by Mike1979 Russia. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Commons File: T-72B3M MBT Army-2022 2597Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for an additional T-72B3M gallery image by Mike1979 Russia. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Commons File: T-72B3M MBT Army-2022 2607Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for an additional T-72B3M gallery image by Mike1979 Russia. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Commons File: TankBiathlon14final-03Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for a Tank Biathlon T-72B3M/T-72B4 image by Vitaly V. Kuzmin. | Accessed: 2026-06-30