April 29, 2025

Preview: The T-72B3M Russian Main Battle Tank from Meng in 72nd scale...

The most up-to-date version of the T-72 (for now), the T-72B3M, is MENG's latest 1/72nd scale kit. We look at the real thing & the CADs in our preview...


Preview: The T-72B3M Russian Main Battle Tank from Meng in 72nd scale...

T-72B3M Russian Main Battle Tank
From Meng Models
1/72nd scale
Kit No #​​72-007
New-tooled kit.
136mm L, 55mm W, 43mm H.
The Subject: The T-72B3M
The T-72B3M, sometimes unofficially referred to as the T-72B4, is a recent Russian upgrade of the ageing T-72B tank. It is a further development of the T-72B3 with some improvements. It has a new gun, an improved fire control system with panoramic commander's sight, improved protection, and a new engine. This tank was first publicly revealed in 2014.
A small batch of these tanks was produced. In 2016, it was announced that Russia is planning to upgrade a total of 150 older T-72B tanks to the T-72B3M standard. Currently, Russia is gradually refurbishing and upgrading a number of its ageing T-72B tanks to keep them operational and up to date. The T-72B3M can be seen as a low-cost upgrade of the older T-72B tank. By 2020, a total of 248 Russian tanks were upgraded to the T-72B3M standard. However, despite all updates and improvements, the T-72B3M is no match for modern Main Battle Tanks (MBTs). In 2017, it was announced that the first modernised T-72M3M tanks entered service with Belarus. However, Belarusian tanks have some differences.
Early production versions of the T-72B3M had older Kontakt-5 built-in explosive reactive armour. It has been reported that this tank will be fitted with a built-in Relikt explosive reactive armour of the 3rd generation. Such armour is present on the T-90MS demonstrator.

One of the key features to identify the T-72B3M/T-72B4 is the panoramic sight mounted on the top centre of the turret.
This tank has a new 2A46M5 125 mm smoothbore gun. The autoloader of this tank has some modifications and can use newly developed munitions. This tank can launch 9M119 Svir or 9M119M Refleks anti-tank guided missiles in the same manner as ordinary projectiles. The Western reporting name for both missiles is AT-11 Sniper. A total of 45 rounds are carried; 22 rounds are stored in the autoloader and are ready to use, while the remaining are stored inside the hull. There is a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, as well as a 12.7 mm roof-mounted machine gun. The last mentioned is manually controlled by the vehicle commander.

The rear side view of the turret with the snorkel.
The T-72B3M has an improved fire control system over the previous T-72B3. It is fitted with a new panoramic sight with thermal vision, which gives it a hunter-killer engagement capability. The tank commander uses a panoramic sight with thermal vision to search for targets. Once the target is selected, the gun is laid on the target automatically, and the gunner completes all the aiming and firing processes. During that time, the commander looks for the next target. Such an engagement method is present in all modern MBTs. The fire control system comes with a ballistic computer. Gunner uses a Sosna-U sight with a thermal imager. The T-72B3M has day/night and all-weather combat capability. The tank is also fitted with a digital radio system. So in terms of the fire control system and electronics, the T-72B3M outperforms the T-90 tank, used by the Russian Army.

This MBT is operated by a crew of three, including a commander, a gunner, and a driver.
This tank is powered by the V-92S2F diesel, developing 1,130 hp. This engine was also fitted on some refurbished and upgraded T-72B3 tanks. It replaced the original 840 hp engine. As a result, the T-72B3M is faster than its predecessor. This tank also comes with new tracks. With preparation, this MBT can ford water obstacles up to 5 m deep. This deep wading feature is present on all Soviet/Russian MBTs. The T-72B3M also has a built-in blade for self-entrenching. The tank can prepare itself for defensive entrenchment within 12-40 minutes, depending on the ground type.

The Kit:
MENG will release the 1/72nd scale "Russian T-72B3M Main Battle Tank" plastic kit. The assembled size is about 136mm in length, about 55mm in width, and about 43mm in height. Based on the experience of the existing 1/72 products, this kit continues to be designed with modularity and is easy to assemble. The kit comes with decals (of course).

The CADs showing the kit and the features.
The kit faithfully reproduces the appearance of the Russian T-72B3M main battle tank.
Modular design makes it easy to assemble and pays attention to every detail.
The turret & the commander's cupola can rotate.

You can see more info on this kit and others from Meng on the Meng Models Website...