T-72 Tanks Used By The Military To Destroy Boko Haram [See Photos]

Nigeria welcomes three T-72 M1
main battle tanks (MBT), to fight
Boko Haram, IHS Jane’s Defence
Weekly reports. Additionally, the
source informed of other types of
armoured vehicles (BMPs) and anti-
tank complexes being shipped to
Nigeria via air transport.
The total price of the delivery was
estimated at USD8m
(N1,536,400,000). Excalibur Group
company (Czech Republic), that
specialises in refurbishing military
equipment, was one of the
contractors.
A total of 16 vehicles have been
transported via Antonov An-225
(Mriya) aircraft from Ostrava-
Mosnov airport to the end user’s
location since January 26, 2015.
It would be noted that the recent
success of the Nigerian Army may
be attributed to use of heavy tanks
for military operations in Michika
and Madagali.
Boko Haram insurgents, who use
ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns mounted
on their vehicles, cannot penetrate
the explosive reactive (ERA) armour
of a T-72.
The terrorists have RPG-7 anti-tank
hand-held grenade launchers that
are able to damage the MBT.
However, RPG’s firing range is
500m, while the T-72 can demolish
any target from the range of 3-5km.
Facts about T-72 MBT:
– over 25,000 built since 1973;
– exported in over 40 countries
worldwide;
– price USD1…2m. May increase
drastically depending on
modification;
– first ever world championship for
militaries operating T-72 took place
in Russia in August 2014.