Object 184

Due to its balance of mobility, armor, and firepower, the T-72 became a popular Soviet export and the most commonly deployed main battle tank in the world soon after its introduction in 1971. As such, it received numerous updates in the decades that followed to keep it competitive. The Object 184 project added upgrades such as stronger turret armor (the thickest on any Soviet tank at the time) and a V-84 diesel engine to counteract the added weight. After finalization, Object 184 entered production as the T-72B in 1985.