Thursday, October 27 2016 13:07

ArmInfo.Armenia and Russia have launched a large-scale project to modernize the Main Battle Tanks T-72 operationally available at the Armenian Army.  

Armenian Defense Ministry Official Representative Artsrun  Hovhannisyan told Izvestia that the modernization process has been  launched, but the number of the vehicles to be modernized and the  deadline of the project are not reported. The tanks will be  modernized to the level of T-72B4, the models used during the Tank  Biathlon. It is noteworthy that earlier the Defense Ministry of  Armenia planned to sign a contract to modernize the tanks with Bumar  Labedy SA, Poland. 

A reliable source told Izvestia that several dozens of tanks will be  modernized and the main activities will be carried out in Armenia,  which will make the process less expensive. 

Uralvagonzavod Corporation, the designer and manufacturer of T-72B4  tanks, refrained from comments.  Editor-in-chief of Otvaga-2004  Internet project Vitally Moiseyev says Armenia planned to sign a  contract for modernization of 84 tanks with Bumar Labedy SA under the  project PT-72U. 

"The contract would cost Armenia $100 million. However, Armenian tank  troop officers who participated in the Tank Biathlon in Russia  praised the modernized models T72B4. Perhaps, this fact has  influenced the choice of the country's leadership," Moiseyev said.

As ArmInfo reported earlier, Zorayr Gabrielyan, representative of the  Armenian Armed Forces, said the Defense Ministry of Armenia  elaborates a project to modernize the tanks operated by the Armed  Forces and is negotiating with research and industrial facilities and  international companies engaged in the field to launch the  modernization in the country to avoid transportation and others  costs