Summary and Key Points: Despite Western claims about Russia's reliance on older equipment and the impact of sanctions, the T-72 Main Battle Tank remains a key asset for Moscow.

-Russia is not only continuing to use the cost-effective T-72 but is also innovating by developing a new infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) based on the T-72 chassis.

-This move allows Russia to maintain a steady supply of armored vehicles, highlighting the tank's durability and Russia's ability to adapt and sustain its war effort in Ukraine.

An Unparalleled Success Story: The T-72 is Getting a New Variant

A recurring theme in the Western press has been that Russian equipment losses in Ukraine mean they are going to lose the war in Ukraine. Another claim is that sanctions have limited Russia to antiquated equipment. 

As with all good propaganda, there is an element of truth in these reports. But the conclusion is wrong. Yes, Russia has had to rely on older equipment, such as the Soviet era T-72 Main Battle Tank. And, yes, initially the Russians lost a great amount of some of their better equipment. 

Ever since the Ukrainians’ successful defense of Kyiv, however, the war has flipped in Russia’s favor.

The T-72 is a Great Tank

In fact, the preference for older platforms, such as the ubiquitous T-72 MBT, is more because of its cost-effectiveness and military utility, and less because the Ukrainians are beating the Russians. And sanctions imposed on Russia by the West have been anything but successful. 

They’ve simply forced the Russians to innovate. 

What’s more, because Russia is itself an industrial giant and commodities superpower, Moscow’s war machine can afford to become self-sustaining in ways the cosmopolitan, free-trade-loving, maritime powers of the world simply cannot.

The T-72 is old. But it’s cheap and highly effective. If a T-72 is lost, as so many tanks are on the battlefield, it’s not the end of the world for Russia. 

By utilizing cheaper and easier-to-replace systems such as the T-72, the Russian industrial base can engage in a cookie-cutter approach to tank production. This allows for easy, quick, and affordable manufacturing of systems so that there is always a stockpile on hand for however long the war lasts. 

Russia is Building a New Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) On a T-72 Chassis 

The Russians have become so good at using the T-72 that they have started innovating off the older platform. They are now building a new tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) based on the T-72’s chassis. 

This new IFV supposedly resembles Russia’s other IFV, the T-15, but has far greater durability. As Army Recognition articulates in their breakdown on the new vehicle, “allows for simpler production and maintenance processes while providing the necessary protection in combat scenarios. This decision seems to address the need to optimize limited resources and leverage existing infrastructure.

“The simplified production and maintenance of T-72s allow the Russian army to maintain a steady flow of armored vehicles to the front, crucial for supporting their ongoing offensives.”

The creation of this new IFV based on the T-72 should be yet another indicator of just how potent this old tank platform is. It should further dispel the claim that Ukraine is going to win the war.

Author Experience and Expertise: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a National Interest national security analyst, is a former Congressional staffer and geopolitical analyst who is a contributor at The Washington Times, the Asia Times, and The-Pipeline. He is the author of Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His next book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine, is due October 22 from Encounter Books. Weichert can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

All images are Creative Commons or Shutterstock.

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