Manufacuring of the T-72 started in 1971 and it was mass-produced from 1978 in many models and in four coutries outside the Soviet Union. It has features like ABC-pro- tection, infrared distance measure etc. and differs from T-64 in outer design mainly in its six big wheels. The latest mo- del was even better armoured than the contemporary T-80U and a forerunner to the T-90. Different types of T-72 is the most common tank in the Russian army and with the financial situation (2002) it will likely remain so for a good time to come. This tank is by many concidered to be the most beutiful of all with fine proportions and general looks.