Edge Rewrite
everything Source code View original
// HTMLRewriter · presentation

This page was redesigned at the edge.

Cloudflare fetched the original article and streamed it through HTMLRewriter to apply an entirely new visual system without rebuilding the source page.

// request.cf · coarse context

A page that knows where it met you.

Only coarse request metadata is shown. This demo does not display or persist visitor IP addresses.

Country
US
Cloudflare location
CMH
Connection
HTTP/2
Language
Not provided

Ray ID: a222bb350e8d3e6e

Jump to content

Type 72Z

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Type 72Z
Safir-74 with a DShK mounted on top (covered) during a military parade.
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originIran
Service history
Used bySee Operators
WarsSudanese civil war (2023–present)[1]
Production history
Manufacturer
Produced1996–present
No. builtabout 400[2]
VariantsSee Variants
Specifications
Mass36 tonnes[3]
Length6.45m
Width3.37m
Height2.40m
Crew3-4
Armor203 mm front of the turret
150 mm sides of the turret
64 mm rear of the turret
39 mm top of the turret
97 mm upper front of the hull
99 mm lower front of the hull
79 mm upper sides of the hull
20 mm lower sides of the hull
46 mm rear of the hull
20 mm floor of the hull[citation needed]
fitted with ERA[4]
Main
armament
105mm M68 rifled tank gun[4]
Secondary
armament
7.62mm coaxial PKT and roof-mounted 12.7mm DShKM machine guns[4]
EngineV-46-6 V-12 diesel[3]
780 hp[4] (630 kW)
Power/weight21.66hp/tonne
SuspensionTorsion bar
Operational
range
440 km
Maximum speed65 km/h

The Type 72Z (also known as the T-72Z and the Safir-74,[5] and the Al-Zubair I in Sudan)[4] is a highly modernized version of the Type 59 and T-54/T-55 tanks with upgrades carried out by the Iranian Defense Industries Organization.[3]

The tank is not to be confused with an Iraqi modernization also known as T-72Z, said to carry a 125 mm gun.[6]

History

[edit]

The Type 72Z was first announced in 1996; the tank was first produced in the same year.[7][8] The upgrades to the Type 59 and T-54/T-55 tanks were carried out by the Vehicle Industries Group of the Defence Industries Organization, in order to extend the service life of tanks already in use with the Iranian army.[3]

Around 400 are in service.[5]

Upgrades

[edit]

The 100mm gun of the T-55/Type 59 was replaced with an Iranian-produced derivative of the 105mm M68 gun, capable of firing 9M117 Bastion anti-tank guided missiles as well as NATO standard ammunition.[3][4][9] Its co-axial and anti-aircraft machine guns are retained.[10] The Slovenian Fotona Electronic Fire Control System (EFCS-3-55) was added, with automatic and manual gun stabilizers, a laser rangefinder, second-generation night sights, a ballistic computer, and an independent viewer and target designation system for the commander.[3][4][11]

Electric smoke grenade dischargers were also added to provide concealment on top of the existing ability to create a smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the left exhaust outlet.[3][4][12] Explosive reactive armor (ERA) developed by the Shahid Kolah Dooz Industrial Complex can be fitted to the Type 72Z, providing protection against projectiles and napalm-type weapons. Side track skirts similar to those on the Type 59 were added to T-54/T-55 tanks upgraded with ERA.[3][11]

The engine was replaced with a Ukrainian 780 hp V46-6 diesel engine,[4] together with the SPAT-1200 transmission system.[3] Air conditioning, power steering and a fire suppression system are also believed to have been installed.[12]

The upgrades installed on the T-55s/Type 59s would increase their survivability in the battlefield.[13]

Variants

[edit]

Operators

[edit]
Map of Type 72Z operators in blue

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Brahy, Jérôme. "Sudanese Army continues to deploy Iranian-made T-72Z main battle tanks in the ongoing civil war". Armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 "Iranian Military Capability 2011". Scribd.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.[better source needed]
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pike, John. "T-72Z Safir-74". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pike, John; Sherman, Robert (18 June 1999). "Type 59". Fas.org. Federation of American Scientists Military Analysis Network. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Iranian Land Forces : Combat Vehicles : Support". Warpoweriran.com. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "JED The Military Equipment Directory". Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  7. ↑ Shaul Shay. "Between Tehran and Khartoum" (PDF). Rieas.gr. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Iran" (PDF). Inss.org.il. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Type 59 Main Battle Tank". Inetres.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  10. ↑ Foss (2002), p. 49.
  11. 1 2 3 Valls & Sex (2018), p. 33.
  12. 1 2 "DIO T-72Z (T-55) Main Battle Tank (MBT)". Militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  13. ↑ Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar. "US vs. Iran (II) : Hybrid War" (PDF). Img.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  14. ↑ Cordesman, Anthony H. Iran's Military Forces in Transition: Conventional Threats and Weapons of Mass Destruction. p. 133.
  15. ↑ Valls & Sex (2018), p. 36.
  16. ↑ "Safir-74 - Tank Encyclopedia". Tanks-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Al-Zubair-I Main Battle Tank DAA02". Military Industry Corporation. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "Iran Memproduksi Senjata dan Peralatan Militer Canggih untuk Pasar Dalam dan Luar Negeri". Artileri.org. Retrieved 26 June 2017.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Foss, Christopher, ed. (2002). Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002. IHS Jane's.
  • Valls, Pere; Sex, Zachary (2018). Arab Revolutions & Border Wars, Volume 3. AK Interactive.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Type_72Z&oldid=1361012520"