Here's the technical specs as available on
Globalsecurity.org:
Polish industry produced the T-72M1Z and Wilk upgrades and has gone
on to build the PT-91 Twardy development. This has now entered
service. PT-91 and its version T-72M1Z MBTs were derived from T-72
MBT through modernization, replacing and upgrading of its systems.
They were designed to be a highly reliable systems having superior
firepower, improved crew protection and impressive mobility. They
still keep outstanding, optimally small silhouette to minimize the
ballistic surface. The design concept creates very wide
modernization field, as it can be done with everyone T-72 family
MBT pratcically, almost without major changes in its shell.
In April 1951 was erected J. Stalin Mechanical Factory in Labedy
(Regulation No.97 of Heavy Industry Minister) abbreviated later as
ZMIS, with main designation to produce heavy tracked vehicles such
as tanks, agricultural and artillery tractors, excavators and
cranes. The name of the factory and sometimes structure was a
matter of change several times within the space of these years. In
1956 it was shortened to Mechanical Factory "Labedy" in Labedy, and
after joining the Labedy to Gliwice of course appeared name in
Gliwice. In the years from 1951 to 1956 were produced tanks of T-34
type, later T-54 type that were produced until 1964 and next, after
upgrading, tanks of T-55A type until 1969. In this last period
simultaneously started production of tanks of T-55 and T-55A type,
which were produced until 1979. On the base of this tank new
modification was constructed with new designation as Recovery
Vehicle WZT-1 and WZT-2 and Engineering Vehicle in the Experimental
Production Unit, later the Research and Development Centre of
Mechanical Systems (OBRUM) in Gliwice. Regulation No.77 of Machine
Industry Minister from December in 1975 established, on the basis
of our Factory, Mechanical Equipment Industrial Complex "Bumar -
Labedy" in Gliwice.
From the year 1980 Bumar produce main battle tank T-72, T-72M1 and
its variations: commander tank T-72M1K and Recovery Vehicle WZT-3
and Mine Clearing Vehicle. The Gulf War revealed some defects of
this tank never the less it is treated as a tank at the turn II and
III generation of tanks. So it was upgraded using domestic research
and development resources such as OBRUM (Research and Development
Centre of Mechanical Systems), OPTA, WITU (Military Institute of
Armament), WITPiS (Military Institute of Armoured and Truck
Vehicles) and constructed type PT-91 (Hard). Now it doesn't
correspond fully to III generation of tanks but significantly
approached to this. Bumar has produced this tank since 1993.
In September 1996 U.S. special Balkan envoy James W. Pardew Jr.
visited Warsaw on 6 September to determine what Poland can do to
help the "Train and Equip" program aimed at strengthening Bosnia's
Moslem-Croat Federation military forces, Polish media reported.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Mroziewicz said Poland would
like to participate in the "Train and Equip" program "at the lowest
possible level." The U.S. asked Poland to sell T 72 tanks to be
financed by a NATO fund; however, Poland declined in line with the
policy of many EU states of equal distance from all sides in the
Bosnian conflict. The U.S. will sell M60A tanks.
In March 2002 Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir bin Mohamad
declared that his country will buy modernised PT-91 Twardy tanks.
The contract may be worth approximately 250-300 million dollars
depending on the equipment Malaysia would buy together with the
tanks. Poland proposed a several dozen vehicles of technical
support. The Malaysian PM watched Polish tanks at the training
grounds in Wesola near Warsaw.
To keep the required horsepower and speed, PT-91 and T-72M1Z are
equipped with turbocharged 850 hp diesel engine. With upgraded
transmission they can attain a maximum road speed of 60 km/h.
However, for low speed maneuvering, the low gear provides a
continuous speed up to 7 km/h. They still enjoy excellent cross
country ability. Their design creates the fording ability of water
obstacles up to 5 meters depth using fording kit, however the water
obstacle of 1,2 meters depth can be crossed without any
preparation.
The PT-91 MBT is equpped with the Fire Control System consisting of
Gunner Station. It basis on modernized TPDK-1 sight for day channel
and optionally passive PCN-A sight or thermal imagine sight, which
create night fighting capability. The fire solutions are calculated
by the ballistic, digital computer which processes mixed set of
information generated by set of sensors and input manually by the
gunner.
The T-72M1Z MBT dual axis stabilized Fire Control System, with both
Gunner and Commander stations is equipped with day and night vision
capabilities, which, in conjunction with electro-hydraulic gun
stabilization system, makes it capable of acquiring a target
accurately within a minimum time Gunner Station consists of 2 axis
stabilized sight platform with thermal imaging and daylight visual
imaging subsystems, laser range finder which permits the gunner to
detect, identify, acquire and track a target during day and night
combat conditions.
Commander Station consists of panoramic sight mounted on the turred
roof which provides day vision and night imaging through 2 axis
stabilized head mirror assembly with 3600 panoramic viewing
independent of turret orientation. Combined with the GS, the CS
provides the hunter-killer capability which allows the crew of
T-72M1Z to acquire rapidly and destroy multiple targets.
Additionally system allows commander to override gunners decisions.
The digital, ballistic computer provides solutions for 6 types of
ammunitions, by processing information generated by up-to-date set
of sensors or input by the gunner or commander.
The crew survivability was improved by the adoption of very
effective ERA in major areas, which offers better protection
against chemical energy projectiles. With up-to-date Automatic Fire
Suppression System any fire in the Crea Compartment is
automatically detected by IR Detectors and suppressed by Halon
1301. The Engine Comparment is protected by separate, also
automatically operating system which bases on Temperature Sensing
Firewire and suppresses any fire with Halon 1211.
Newly added Laser Warning System provides information about laser
beams of sights range finders and missiles guiding systems and
reacts automatically firing smoke grenades from two, 6 launchers
banks. The system can be overridden by the commander who can fire
these grenades manually in personally selected sequences or use
backing, manual system also consisting of two, 6 launchers
banks.
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Far as I can tell the only really interesting addon is the Laser
Warning Receiver with the option to spoof ATGMs with smoke
grenades. Anyone has any idea how effective are smoke grenades
against hellfires?
