WASHINGTON, April 29. /TASS/. The National Interest magazine has ranked Russia’s T-72 as the number one tank in its top ten tanks on the battlefield currently.
The T-72 tank leads the ranking for survivability and defensive systems, ability to travel long distances and remain in the fight without frequent resupply, adaptability and upgrade potential, ease of manufacturing, multi-role capability, strategic impact, and deterrence value.
According to the rankings, the T-72 "checks all the boxes for an effective tank." Besides, despite the use of new weapons such as unmanned aerial vehicles, the T-72 is expected to contribute to Russia’s victory in the Ukraine conflict.
The United States’ M1 Abrams tanks rank second on the list, and Israel’s Merkava V is third.
The T-72 tank entered service with the Soviet Army in the summer of 1973. The tank was developed by the Uralvagonzavod tank design bureau (now the Ural Transport Machine Building Design Bureau at the Rostec State Corporation’s Uralvagonzavod Concern). T-72 tanks are in service with armies in almost 50 countries. Upgraded variants of the tank have been launched over the decades, including T-72A, T-72B, T-72BA, T-72B3, and the latest model, T-72B3M.