The Czech Republic has transferred the last of the T-72M1 main battle tanks it had pledged to Ukraine in response to Russia’s continuing aggression.
The entirety of the package included 86 systems inherited by Prague after the Cold War, with some upgraded to the T-72M4 configuration.
A report from local news agency Hospodářské Noviny said the final shipment had 20 vehicles sourced from Czechia’s 73rd Tank Battalion, which now has zero tanks left in its inventory.
The Central European country sent the initial T-72M1 batch under the project in April 2022, making it the first NATO member to deliver tanks to the Ukrainian Armed Forces after Moscow’s attack in February of the same year.
Replacements Underway
By 2026, the Czech Republic will receive Leopard 2A4 tanks purchased from Germany to fill the gap left by the T-72 fleet.
These new platforms will increase to over 40, according to a national security strategy revealed in 2024, and will complement more than 60 additional Leopards in the 2A8 variant that the government also ordered from Berlin.
Czechia is now considering establishing a domestic Leopard tank factory to optimize the vehicle’s production for its military.
The T-72M1 Main Battle Tank
The T-72M1 measures 10 meters (33 feet) long, weighs 39,000 kilograms (85,980 kilograms), and is designed for three operators.
It is covered with steel, composite, and reactive layers and is armed with a 125-millimeter cannon, a 7.62-millimeter weapon mount, and a 12.7-millimeter heavy machine gun.
The platform is powered by a 780 horsepower diesel engine and a hydraulically assisted transmission with seven forward gears.
The vehicle has a top speed of 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour and a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles).
