The T-72 variants run on more easily accessible diesel. M1 Abrams run on jet fuel, which could pose problems for refueling in combat zones in Ukraine, experts previously told Newsweek. The Soviet-era tank has a has a top on-road speed of 37 mph and a cross-country maximum speed of 27 mph. The M1 Abrams tanks have a maximum speed of 42 to 45 mph, with a top speed of 25 to 30 mph in cross-country terrain. Abrams, a 7.62 mm machine gun.ĭepending on the model, an Abrams can weigh between 67.6 and 73.6 tons, but the T-72s are considerably lighter at around 45 tons. The T-72s are fitted with a 2A46 125 mm smoothbore and, like the U.S. There are several iterations of the M1 Abrams, which can be fitted with 105 mm or 120 mm armaments, plus. Looking at the weight, speed, armored protection, sighting technology and accuracy, to name just a few, the M1 Abrams outclasses the T-72 variants, Clarke added. 'There is no comparison between an M1 and a T-72' in any of the major metrics, Professor Michael Clarke, of the War Studies department, King's College London, told Newsweek. 'Not just in armament and armor protection, but also in sensors needed to detect the enemy and fire that crucial first shot,' he added.

'Purely as a weapon, the M1A2 is superior to the various T-72 models that Russia is using in Ukraine,' military and defense expert Michael Peck told Newsweek. They are used extensively by Russian forces in Ukraine, alongside the upgraded T-90 tank. The T-72 is the most widely used main battle tank, and has been sent into action in all major wars of the last two decades, according to the U.K.-based Tank Museum. In November, the White House had committed to financing the refurbishing of 45 Soviet-era T-72B tanks with advanced capabilities for Ukraine via the Czech Republic. It has not yet been confirmed when the M1 Abrams will roll out to Ukraine's front lines, but a senior White House official said the deliveries will take 'months, as opposed to weeks.' Ukrainian and Russian forces have long used T-72s, but Ukraine will receive U.S.-supplied M1 Abrams in coming months. In this combination image, a M1A2 Abrams main battle tank from the Minnesota National Guard, and (inset) a photo of a T-72 Soviet tank.

What is the russian main battle tank