Russia Has Completely Exhausted Its Stock Of New Tanks In Warehouses
- 15.02.2026, 16:44
Outdated Soviet-made models began to be sent to repair plants.
Russia's Uralvagonzavod has started modernization of the old model of the T-72 tank. Based on the findings of military experts, the "Militar" portal writes that the Russians have already exhausted their stock of newer T-72Bs.
The publication quoted armored vehicles researcher Andrey Tarasenko, who noticed the old T-72A tanks in one of the propaganda plots on Russian television. As the researcher noted, the released footage from the tank factory showed a T-72A tank with the Relikt dynamic defense installed on the turret. In addition, the over-track shelves are made with protection modules instead of the standard additional tanks.
The researcher noted that during 2026-2027, Uralvagonozavod will still be able to load its production capacity by repairing the "ancient" T-72A. However, the Omsk plant will run out of Soviet T-80B (BV) stocks as early as 2026. And so far, the question remains open as to whether Russia will be able to organize mass production of new tanks.
The authors also cited the opinion of analysts from Frontelligence Insight that as of the fall of 2025, Russia planned to repair and upgrade to the T-72B3M level more than 800 T-72 tanks in ten years. This figure coincided with the remaining T-72 tanks in warehouses and armored factories.
"Analysts then analyzed documentation obtained by the Uralvagonzavod Corporation and recreated production plans for repairing and upgrading T-72 tanks based on the number of parts ordered," the article said.
The data showed that Russia planned to fully "repair and upgrade 828 vehicles to the T-72B3M configuration by 2036, with activity peaking tentatively in 2028." Analysts assumed that between 2027 and 2029, 498 T-72B3Ms will be repaired or upgraded.
In addition, OSINT researcher Jompy found that this figure is almost exactly the same as the remaining T-72s in storage. And about two-thirds of that stockpile is the older T-72A, which was adopted into service in 1979 and produced before 1985. Some of them have already been sent to Uralvagonzavod.
"Full modernization of the T-72A tanks to the level of the T-72B3M will be an extremely difficult task, as they will require complete replacement of all electronics, redesign of the running gear, the loading mechanism and even the hull and turret armor packages," the analysts wrote.
They also recalled that restored but not modernized T-72A tanks, additionally equipped with dynamic protection according to the T-72B3 standard, were spotted by the Russians at the front in 2024.