Czechia Cancels Modernization of T-72M4CZ Tanks Planned for Transfer to Ukraine

The Czech Ministry of Defense has canceled the modernization project for T-72M4CZ tanks, which were supposed to be upgraded and then transferred to Ukraine.

Novinky reported on this.

According to the Ministry, the modernization effort failed due to technical issues that could not be resolved.

The key components of the T-72M4CZ fire-control system cannot be repaired or replaced, which makes the tanks nearly unusable. The military explained that repeated control tests were conducted in the summer and autumn of this year, but all of them failed. These tests were required before the contract could be fulfilled. The main problem was the tanks’ firing accuracy.

“The issues were caused by the error rate of certain electronic parts of the fire-control system, which could not be properly assessed. Repairing these components is technically impossible, as confirmed by their Italian manufacturer,” the Ministry stated.

As a result, the tanks are practically unusable, and fully putting them into service would require additional investment in the entire fire-control system. This would significantly increase the cost of the vehicles and delay their delivery by two years. According to the ministry, such work would not be economically viable.

The decision to modernize the T-72M4CZ tanks of which about 30 are stored in Czechia was made long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, based on the results of the 2025 tests, the Czech Ministry of Defense received a recommendation to terminate the modernization contract with the state-owned company VOP CZ and reimburse the expenses that will be determined by an audit.

Commentary

Jan Grohmann, editor-in-chief of the Czech Armadni Noviny, previously told Militarnyi that before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Czech Ministry of Defense had planned to modernize one battalion of T-72M4CZ tanks.

“The reason was not only their outdated condition but also the inability to purchase spare parts for systems that were no longer being produced. Buying new tanks was not considered—the reason was the lack of urgent need and lack of funding,” Grohmann said.

However, according to him, this changed after February 2022 – the Czech Ministry of Defense was promised additional resources, and it also began receiving Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany, later joining the framework contract for the purchase of new Leopard 2A8 tanks.

Meanwhile, work under the T-72M4CZ modernization contract had already been set in motion. Therefore, the Czech defense ministry decided to continue upgrading the vehicles, planning to transfer one battalion of 30 tanks to the Ukrainian army after the work was completed.

“Instead of a full modernization, this is more of a technical upgrade that involves replacing discontinued components and upgrading or replacing communication systems, sensors, and fire-control system components,” Jan Grohmann noted.