The T-72 has been one of the most widely produced Soviet tanks of the Cold War, second only to the T-54/55. It was designed as a simplified version of the T-64 and intended to fill the ranks of the USSR’s dozens of tank divisions that could not be equipped with its more expensive and sophisticated predecessor, which was reserved for Guards divisions. Additionally, it was to be provided for export to Soviet client states, which was not the case with the T-64. As such, it is often seen as more of a successor to the earlier T-62. The T-72 was of typical Soviet tank design, retaining the basic hull and turret layout of its predecessor, with the most notable change being the use of an improved version of the T-62's engine which was seen as more reliable, a new suspension, and a redesigned engine deck. The turret was initially nearly identical to that of the T-64 and also incorporated an autoloader and a missile-firing main gun, initially the same 125-mm D-81TM smoothbore but later upgraded to the 2A46M series which had longer barrel lives. Throughout the T-72’s service life, numerous upgrades were undertaken such as improved fire control and designation systems, as well as use of composite and reactive armor for boosting protection. It was also capable of deep fording with the addition of a snorkel fitted above the gunner’s periscope hatch. Because of their cheaper cost, T-72s were heavily exported to most Warsaw Pact and communist armies, which included license-production in Czechoslovakia, India, Poland, and Yugoslavia. These, however, were often of inferior quality, lacking features such as NBC protection and laser rangefinders. As a result, they often fared poorly against Western tanks, notably in the 1991 Gulf War where Iraqi-built T-72s were decimated by Coalition M1 and Challenger 1s. Better performance was seen, however, against their second-generation contemporaries, such as the M60 and Chieftain during the 1982 Lebanon War and the Iran-Iraq War where the T-72s gave a good account of themselves. Despite being the budget alternative to the T-64, the T-72 eventually proved to be more upgradable and eventually exceeded its predecessor in almost all capabilities to say nothing of being more mechanically reliable, prompting the T-64 to be eventually relegated to reserve or storage. Financial difficulties in post-Soviet Russia has also meant that the T-72 has remained the mainstay of the Russian tank forces until this day, given the inability to produce more modern T-80s and T-90s in large enough numbers. Equipped with the most modern ERA as well as active protection systems, the most modern versions of the T-72 are sufficiently advanced to be comparable in capabilities to third-generation tanks, although they carry over their original design weakenesses such as unprotected munitions storage and inferior non-ERA armor. The T-72 has been the most widely employed tank in the Russian invasion of Ukraine but its limitations have been apparent in the massive losses they have incurred, with over 1,300 destroyed or captured by the end of 2023, nearly half of these being modernized versions. It has also been used extensively by Ukraine which aside from Cold War-era stocks and captured vehicles has also received many donations from former Warsaw Pact countries (around 200 are known to have been lost). Despite its mixed battlefield performance, especially against Western tanks, its massive production run and wide availability worldwide means the T-72 is likely to still figure prominently in future conflicts.

The prototype of the T-72 (Ob’yekt 172M), nicknamed 'Ural', was completed in 1970 and accepted into service in 1973. This featured the D-81T (2A26) smoothbore until replaced by the superior 2A46 in the T-72A, the first major comprehensive upgrade. This variant also featured added protection in the form of composite armor (nicknamed 'Dolly Parton' in the West) on the turret front as well as ERA. Downgraded export versions were known as the T-72M and T-72M1 and included most Warsaw Pact vehicles (including license-produced ones). The next key variant was the T-72B, designed to bring the tank to T-80 standards with improved fire control, uprated engine, and even heavier 'Super Dolly Parton' armor upgrades as well as the ability to fire the 9K120 (AT-11) ATGM. The T-72B was also eventually fitted with Kontak-1 ERA on the glacis plate, turret and side skirts, with the similar T-72BV having a slightly revised ERA arrangement. Earlier T-72As were also fitted with ERA and known as the T-72AV. Dedicated export versions of the T-72B were known as the T-72S. Further development led to the T-72BA with new engine, second-generation Kontakt-5 ERA and upgraded gun. This was upgraded into the T-72B1 with GLONASS navigation and target-tracking, and was exported into the T-72B1MS also known as the 'White Eagle'. Further modernization led to the T-72B2 but this package proved too expensive, paving the way for the T-72B3 which borrowed many features from the T-90A including a new ballistic computer, night/day all-weather capabilities and the ability to fire 9K119 ATGMs. It was first delivered to combat units in 2013. This has been modernized further in the T-72B3M which is the most recent variant in use and includes Relikt ERA, a more powerful engine, and optional APS; some units have also incorporated cage armor due to combat experience in Ukraine. The T-72BU was also the first name given to what became the T-90 and is covered in a separate entry. Domestically-built versions of the T-72 by client states were mostly based on the T-72M and its derivatives. Among these the most notable were the Iraqi Asad Babil (Lion of Babylon), the Polish PT-91, the Romanian TR-125, and the Indian Ajeya Mk 1 and Mk 2. Most of these were extensively fitted with local components. Non-tank variants include the BREM-1 armor-recovery vehicle, TOS-1 multiple rocket launcher, IMR-2 combat engineering vehicle, and MTU-72 bridge-layer. The BMPT support vehicle was designed after experience in Chechnya for defending tank and infantry units in urban combat and is also described separately.