T-72 Adra

Main battle tank

T-72 Adra/Mahmia تي -72 عدرا
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Syria
Service history
In service	2014–present
Used by	Syria
Wars	Syrian Civil War
Production history
Designer	Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (CERS)
Designed	2012–13
Manufacturer	Adra Industrial City
Produced	2014–present
No. built	Unknown

T-64 tanks

T-64

Main battle tanks	T-Rex
Other variants	BMPT Azovets BMPV-64 BMPT Strahz BMP-K-64 MT-T Object 775 Object 772 PTS-2

T-72

Main battle tanks	T-72 Adra T-72M4CZ T-95 Type 99 tank PT-91 Twardy Karrar M-84 M-84AS M-84AS1 M-84D M-95 Degman Obiekt 187 TR-125 Tank EX Lion of Babylon
Other variants	2S7 Pion BMPT Terminator BMR-3M BREM-1 Raad-2 WZT-3 PZA Loara IMR-2 TOS-1 155mm ShKH Himalaya
T-72 operators and variants

T-80

Main battle tanks	Black Eagle Obiekt 292 Obiekt 785 T-84
Other variants	1K17 Szhatie 2S19 Msta-S BREM-84 BVMP-84
T-80 models

T-90

Other variants	2S35 Koalitsiya-SV BMPT Terminator BREM-1M BMR-3M IMR-3M MTU-90 UBIM

The T-72 Adra (Arabic: تي -72 عدرا) or 'Mahmia' is a Syrian tank. It is a domestic upgrade to the T-72M1 that features slat armor, spaced armor, and chains to provide 360 degree protection from RPGs.^[1]

Background

In the late ‘70s through the early ‘90s Syria imported a number of T-72M1 tanks from the Soviet Union, as well as Czechoslovakia. These tanks were used in the 1982 Lebanon War, with moderate effectiveness, after which it was called by Hafez Al-Assad, “The Best Tank in the World”. The Syrian Civil War took its toll on Syria's T-72 fleet, with many tanks being lost in intense urban combat. To try to reduce these losses, while under an arms embargo, Syria developed the 'Adra' upgrade for their T-72 tanks in the town of Adra.^[2]^[3]

Design

The Adra consists of spaced armor around the turret and at the front of the hull, with the spaced armour and chassis being covered in a layer of slat armor. The turret ring is also protected by steel chains which hang from the turret and are weighed down with steel balls, in the hope that they will offer similar performance to slat armor, but with more flexibility, however these are rarely effective and usually do not detonate the projectile.^[4] Later versions are protected with Sarab Active Protection System against ATGMs.^[5]

Operational history

The T-72 Adra was first deployed in Jobar in 2014, where two were confirmed to have been destroyed. As of November 2017 at least 11 T-72's have been converted to this variant. But it went on to be deployed in Eastern Ghouta, and possibly Aleppo. However, by 2016, it was in wide use in Jobar, Qaboun, and Eastern Ghouta, and very limited use in Aleppo. The T-72 Adra is often used in urban areas where regular T-72's would be vulnerable. It eventually proved to be vulnerable to rebel M79 Osa and RPG-29 anti-tank launchers and was later deployed in Daraa, though they have on 2 occasion stopped RPG-29's and usually stop early model ATGM's and RPG-7's in 2017, to stop the rebel offensive in Al-Manshiyah by the 4th Armoured Division of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). 4th Division convoy towards Daraa included at least 4 tanks, 2 BMPs and 1 BREM-1 (+ several IRAM launchers).^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]

Operators

Current operators

Syria – Syrian Armed Forces

References

^ "T-72 Mahmia". Tank Encyclopedia. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
^ "Syria's Steel Beasts". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^ "The Republican Guard's armour upgrades: Products of a Four Year War". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^ "Syria Enhance T-72 Protection, Christopher F Foss". Jane's 360. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^ Eshel, Tamir (1 March 2017). "Home Grown Syrian Soft Kill System Successfully Defeated TOW Missiles". Defense Update.
^ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9tQIsZXUAAURkX.jpg ^{[bare URL image file]}
^ https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBVTv4fVoAM9A4G.jpg ^{[bare URL image file]}
^ وج الصوارم :: تدمير دبابة T92 على جبهة المتحلق الجنوبي قرب ثكنة كمال مشارقة .21-10-. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^ 10. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^ Mudiq, Qalaat Al (19 April 2017). "#Daraa: warplanes, Grads, artillery, IRAM rockets, #ATGM-s, T-72 Adra used by pro-Regime forces to repel Rebels in Al-Manshiyah.pic.twitter.com/fblt6LLRO8".

External links

Unpainted
Desert Camo 1
Desert Camo 2
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C-afDN7XoAEMCcE.jpg
http://jobarnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/photo_2017-04-27_13-39-34-1024x682.jpg
http://jobarnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/photo_2017-06-07_11-08-12-1024x682.jpg
http://jobarnews.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/photo_2017-06-07_11-08-11-1024x682.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DBuwAKKW0AANvAx.jpg