Type 72Z

Not to be confused with the Soviet T-72 tank.

The Type 72Z tank (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,^[5] with upgrades carried out by the Iranian Defense Industries Organization.^[3]

Type 72Z
Safir-74 with a DShK mounted on top during a military parade.
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Iran
Service history
Used by	See Operators
Wars	Sudanese civil war (2023–present)[1]
Production history
Manufacturer	Defense Industries Organization, Military Industry Corporation
Produced	1996–present
No. built	about 400[2]
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	36 tonnes[3]
Length	6.45m
Width	3.37m
Height	2.40m
Crew	3-4
Armor	203 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]
Engine	V-46-6 V-12 diesel[3] 780 hp[4] (630 kW)
Power/weight	21.66hp/tonne
Suspension	Torsion bar
Operational range	440 km
Maximum speed	65 km/h

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

The Type 72Z was first announced by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in 1996.^[5] 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]

Upgrades

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][7] 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][5] 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][8]

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]

The engine was replaced with a Ukrainian 780 hp V46-6 diesel engine,^[4][5] together with the SPAT-1200 transmission system.^[3] Air conditioning, power steering and a fire suppression system are also believed to have been installed.^[8]

Variants

• Safir-74 - Iranian T-54/T-55 tanks which have gone through similar upgrades.^[5] Safir means "messenger" in Persian.^[9]
• Al-Zubair I - Sudanese variant of the Type 72Z manufactured by the Military Industry Corporation,^[10] with the engine upgraded with a supercharger.^[11]

Operators

Map of Type 72Z operators in blue

•  Iran^[5]
  • Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps^[2]
  • Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces^[2]
•  Sudan: First purchased in 2006.^[12]

Non-state operators

• Kata'ib Hezbollah^[13]

See also

• Karrar MBT
• Tiam MBT
• Zulfiqar MBT