Rare Russian tank spotted in US military exercise in Michigan
The Bulgarian Military portal reports that during the Northern Strike 24 maneuvers, 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. According to the report, this is not the first time this machine has participated in military exercises. So, what exactly do the Americans use the Russian equipment for?
The T-72AG tank seen during the Northern Strike maneuvers is not the only Russian design actively used by US forces. Bulgarian Military notes that the US Army also employs MiG-29 aircraft, which are primarily used for training and reconnaissance purposes. This allows the Americans to gather 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 "AG" variant is a significant modernization compared to the basic version, the US uses the tank to verify its capabilities under combat conditions. It is important to note that while the original T-72 is of Russian origin, it is also part of the Ukrainian armed forces' arsenal.
This means that the US can practice tactics that may later be applied on the front lines in Ukraine. Additionally, the presence of Soviet-era equipment in their arsenal allows the Americans to test how it functions in conjunction with Western designs.
The T-72AG tank
To clarify, the T-72AG is a modernization of one of the more popular and simultaneously most effective T-72 tanks. It differs from its predecessor, among other things, by the power unit, which generates a power of 1,340 HP and results in a 4-metric-ton increase in weight compared to the T-72. The "AG" variant weighs approximately 50 metric tons and accelerates to a speed of about 45 km/h. The commander has at his disposal an improved TKN-4S sight that is effective both day and night with a detection range of 5 kilometres (3 kilometres more than the T-72 with the TKN-3). In addition, the T-72AG has enhanced durability due to the mounting of Kontakt-5 reactive armour plates on the turret. The gun has been upgraded to the 2A46M1 version.
