US Army incorporates Soviet-era T‑72AG tanks in training exercises
The Bulgarian Military portal reports that during the Northern Strike 24 manoeuvres, a rare tank with Soviet origins - the T-72AG, of which about 60 units were produced, was spotted in the ranks of the 203rd Reconnaissance Battalion of the US Army. As noted, this is not the first time this machine has participated in military exercises. What exactly do the Americans use the Russian equipment for?
The T-72AG tank seen during the Northern Strike manoeuvres is not the only Russian design actively used by US forces. Bulgarian Military notes that the US Army also includes MiG-29 aircraft, mainly used for training and survey purposes. This allows the Americans to obtain valuable information about the capabilities of Russian machines and the potential tactics that can be implemented using them.
Russian equipment in the service of the American army
The mentioned T-72AG serves the Americans for similar purposes. Although the variant designated as "AG" is a significant modernisation compared to the basic version, the US uses the tank to verify its capabilities under combat conditions. However, it should be noted that while the original T-72 is of Russian production, it is also in the arsenal of the Ukrainian armed forces.
This means that the US can practice tactics that can later be applied on the front lines in Ukraine. The presence of Soviet-era equipment in their arsenal also allows Americans to test how it collaborates with Western designs.
The T-72AG tank
We should explain that the T-72AG is a modernisation of one of the more popular and simultaneously most effective T-72 tanks. It differs from its predecessor, among others, by the power unit, which reaches a power of 1,340 HP and results in a 4-tonne increase in weight compared to the T-72. The "AG" variant weighs 50 tonnes and accelerates to a speed of about 45 km/h. The commander has at his disposal an improved TKN-4S sight effective both day and night with a detection range of 5 km (3 km more than the T-72 with the TKN-3). In addition, the T-72AG has improved durability by mounting Kontakt-5 reactive armour plates on the turret. The gun has been upgraded to the 2A46M1 version.
