Czech Republic announces plans to restore T-72M4CZ tanks for military use
12 April, 2023 Restoration of T-72M4CZ tanks at the Czech VOP CZ company. Czech Republic April 2023. Frame from the ST24`s video
Thirty retired modified ?-72M4CZ tanks will be restored in the Czech Republic. Repair work will be carried out at the facilities of the Czech VOP CZ company. These 30 ?-72M4CZ tanks were withdrawn from service due to a lack of necessary spare parts.
Now the company expects to receive these necessary components. "At the end of the year, we will be ready, the tanks will be fully equipped sometime in October-November, when we get components for the fire control system," said the Chief Executive of the VOP CZ company.
Restoration of T-72M4CZ tanks at the Czech VOP CZ company. Czech Republic, April 2023. Frame from the ST24`s video
The Czech Army has only 30 ?-72 tanks of the M4CZ modifications, which were withdrawn from service due to a lack of spare parts for repair, mainly the electronics of the fire control system, which is no longer produced.
Only nine of the 30 vehicles were on the move in 2019, and recently only eight tanks remained in working condition. In 2020, it was reported that VOP CZ was to carry out repair work on 27 T-72M4CZ tanks, three command vehicles based on them, and three ?T-72M4CZ recovery tanks.
Czech T-72M4CZ tank. Photo credits: Wikipedia/Maulincio
Czech T-72M4CZ tanks, compared to the basic ?-72, have a new 12-cylinder CV-12 engine from the British company Perkins Engines with a capacity of 1000 horsepower.
It also has, a new Italian-made TURMS-T fire control system with new sights, ERA, as well as a number of other systems. The decision to upgrade to the level of the M4CZ was called transitional before the purchase of new Western tanks. Previously, Ukroboronprom announced agreements with the Czech VOP CZ military equipment manufacturer on the repair and production of armored vehicles.
BMP-2 at the Czech VOP CZ enterprise.
Czech Republic April 2023.
Frame from the ST24`s video
Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, named 89 tanks, as well as 226 armored vehicles and 39 howitzers in the list of military assistance to Ukraine from the Czech state and local companies.