432 (later serialized as the T-64) into production, dooming Kartsev's tank. In December 1962, the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union ordered Ob. 167 jeopardized the future of the Kharkiv tank. Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union Dmitry Ustinov, believed the parallel development of Ob. Okunev and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, who believed the tank was more affordable. 167 was favored by Uralvagonzavod director I.V. 434, in which the former proved its superiority to both the T-62 and T-55. In 1964, the tank underwent comparative testing with the Ob. Prototypes used the turret from the T-62, and a manual loader. Unlike the Kharkiv tank, it eschewed the state-of-the-art. 165 were readied as the T-62 and T-62A respectively. This suggestion was rejected, and the Ob. 166 for production, Kartsev disagreed and instead offered to prepare the Ob. 166, and was also Kartsev's favored model. 167 was designed based on an Object 140 rebuilt by Kartsev and Valeri Venediktov. To do this, the crew was reduced to three soldiers, removing the loader by introducing an automated loading system. Under the direction of Morozov in Kharkiv, a new design emerged with the hull reduced to the minimum size possible. 434 was a technically ambitious prototype.

To improve on the T-62, two designs based on the tank were tested in 1964: Nizhny Tagil's Object 167 (T-62B) and Kharkiv's Object 434. Uralvagon KB was led by Leonid Kartsev in Nizhny Tagil.

Morozov KB was led by Alexander Morozov in Kharkiv. The T-72 was a product of a rivalry between design teams.

Production and development of various modernized T-72 models continues today.ĭevelopment Development from the T-64 The Russian T-90 introduced in 1992 and the Chinese Type 99 are further developments of the T-72. It has been widely exported and has seen service in 40 countries and in numerous conflicts. About 25,000 T-72 tanks have been built, and refurbishment has enabled many to remain in service for decades.

The T-72 was a development of the T-64, which was troubled by high costs and its reliance on immature developmental technology. The T-72 is a family of Soviet main battle tanks that entered production in 1969.

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