The Czech T-72s are filled with outdated and broken equipment that there is no realistic way to repair—making them next to useless in an armed conflict.
The Czech Republic (Czechia) has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion in February 2022. Throughout the conflict, Prague has supplied arms to Kyiv, while also upgrading and donating portions of its old fleet of Soviet-era tanks to the besieged nation. However, this week it was reported that many of the T-72s that were to be upgraded won’t be, primarily due to technical issues that can’t be readily resolved.
The T-72M4CZ Tank’s Specifications Specs
The upgraded T-72M4CZ is a modernized variant of the Soviet-designed T-72M. It was introduced in 2004, with its primary function to destroy an adversary’s tanks and other armored vehicles.
- Year Introduced: 2004
- Number Built: 30 (Czech variant)
- Length: ~9.73 m (31 ft 11 in) gun forward; 6.67 to 6.86 m (21 ft 11 in to 22 ft 6 in) hull
- Total weight, battle ready: ~41 tonnes (45.2 short tons)
- Suspensions: Torsion bar
- Engine: Perkins CV-12-1000 TCA Condor 1,000 hp diesel with Allison XTG 411-6-N automatic transmission
- Armament: 125mm 2A46M smoothbore gun; 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun; 12.7mm NSV anti-aircraft machine gun; 12x 81mm smoke grenade launchers; OBRA-II Laser Warning System
- Top Speed: 64 km/h (40 mph) on road, 44 km/h (27 mph) offroad
- Range:
- Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Why Czechia’s T-72 Tanks Don’t Work Anymore
The Czech Republic had pledged to send 30 T-72M4CZs, but the aging tanks were equipped with Italian-made fire-control systems that no longer function and can’t be repaired. Selex Galileo no longer produces the components for the system used to help the three-person crew aim the main battle tank’s (MBT) 125mm main gun. The only option for the Czechs would be to replace the entire fire-control system, which would be costly and time-consuming.
According to reports, the work on the 30 tanks would take up to two years, by which time the effort probably wouldn’t be worth it.
“In the summer and autumn of this year, control tests were carried out repeatedly and without success,” the Czech defense ministry told Novinky.cz. “The problem occurred with the so-called rectification, i.e., the accuracy of the firing of tanks. Repairing these components is not technically possible, as confirmed by their Italian manufacturer.”
If the MBTs can’t shoot accurately, they’re not much use to Kyiv—except possibly for parts for other, more functional T-72s.
No mention was made of whether the tanks could be used for training, but Prague won’t even take the time to send them to Kyiv.
Czechia Has Already Supplied Massive Amounts of Aid To Ukraine
Even without the T-72M4CZs, Prague has supplied Kyiv with approximately $832 million worth of aid since February 2022. That has included more than 1.5 million large-caliber artillery shells, which Ukraine has desperately needed in its ongoing artillery duel with Russian forces.
In addition, the Czech Republic has supplied infantry fighting vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, aided the training of Ukrainian military personnel, and donated cash to humanitarian organizations.
This has been profitable for Prague, as the country has received about $1.19 billion in foreign aid and defense contracts.
Prague has also continued to transition from Soviet hardware to Western platforms, including the receipt of around 15 “previously-owned” German-made tanks or second-hand Leopard 2A4s. Additional tanks could arrive over the next year.
Germany and Switzerland previously agreed to provide the Czech Republic with refurbished Leopard 2s to replace the T-72s sent to Ukraine.
By the end of 2026, the 73rd Tank Battalion should have forty-two Leopard 2s in service, but it could have even more in the following years. The long-term plan is for well over 100 MBTs by 2030, including more advanced models of the German-made tank.
Main Battle Tanks Are Losing Importance in the Drone Era
In nearly four years of fighting, it has also become evident that 30-year-old tanks are less critical than they may have been at the start of the conflict. Both sides have suffered heavy tank losses, and Russia’s attempts to field older tanks have proven ineffective.
The T-72 would be no exception, and there is evidence to prove it.
“Russia’s older T-72 series has also struggled to keep up in the Ukraine war. According to Oryx, more than 1,200 T-72s were destroyed in the first year of fighting alone,” wrote Maya Carlin for The National Interest in September.
Drones have proven to be a serious game-changer, with both sides increasingly relying on small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) rather than lumbering behemoths.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / castigatio.
