Operation Carbenet
| Operation Carbenet | |
|---|---|
| File:ATE Main battle tank T-72 (9672947593).jpg Image of the T-72 ATE/IST "Tiger" taken by Bob Adams, 24th September 2006 | |
| Location | |
| Objective | Discover the flaws of enemy T-72 Tanks and try to counter them |
| Date | March to May of 1990 |
| Executed by | South African Defence Force |
| Outcome | Development boost of the TTD, Creation of the T-72/35, T-72 IST "Tiger" and T-72M1-T6. |
Operation Carbenet (sometimes miss referred to as Cabernet) was a covert operation in 1990 that involved South Africa acquiring T-72M1 Main Battle Tanks from Poland for testing and development.[1]
History
During the Angolan Civil War, South Africa played a major role in the conflict; the SADF knew that the MPLA forces in Angola would acquire T-72 tanks eventually and that if the war carried on the Olifant Mk.1A tanks wouldn't stand a chance.[2] So they started looking to acquire T-72 tanks to study them and to see what they could do to improve the T-72.[3][2]
After they signed an agreement to withdraw from Angola and Namibia in 1989, South Africa acquired their first T-72 tanks from Poland in May 1990, as soon as the T-72M1s arrived, South Africa started testing the strengths and weaknesses of the tank platform to see what they would need to do to counter the T-72 threat and to see if South Africa could improve the T-72 for SADF use.[3][2][4]
It is worth mentioning that the research of the T-72 tanks during Operation Carbenet most likely helped develop the Loggim Tank also known as the "Tank Technology Demonstrator", as the TTD was a direct counter to the T-72.[2]
In the early 2000s, South Africa acquired a contract from Algeria to improve the T-72 and BMP-1 for use in the Algerian Military, leading to the T-72 ATE/IST "Tiger" and BMP-1 (ZT-3/30). Operation Carbenet played a big role in the development of these vehicles. After evaluation the Algerian Military opted out and instead would buy Russian T-90 tanks.[5][6]
Vehicles
Operation Carbenet led to the SADF improving the tank and testing it to see what the platform supported, the following list talks about all the vehicles that came out of Operation Carbenet.[citation needed]
| Variant | Description | Image |
|---|---|---|
| T-72 Tiger | Upgraded T-72M1 with an advanced Thermal system, Fire Control system and Tracking system | SADF T-72 ATE "Tiger" side profile |
| T-72/ZA35 | Upgraded T-72M1 with its turret replaced with a ZA-35 turret | SADF T-72 ZA-35 side profile |
| T-72 T6 | Testing version which used the unique T6 modular turret variant of the G6 turret | SADF T-72 T6 side profile |
T-72 ATE/IST "Tiger"
The T-72 Tiger was one of the variants that kept its turret but was upgraded significantly, it gained advanced Optics such as its large tracking optic as can be seen on the right side of the main gun, it also gained advanced thermal devices and an ESS system, it also used the same 125mm gun that it usually did, it was made for an arms deal with the Algerian Military in the early 2000s but was cancelled when Algeria opted out the arms program to acquire T-90 tanks instead.[3][6][7]
T-72/35 aka "T-72 (ZA-35)"
The T-72/35 was one of the variants that had its turret changed to have a ZA-35 turret which is a Rooikat SPAAG variant with its 2 GA-35 Auto cannons designed to act as anti air, and is one of the more popular variants that came out of Operation Carbenet.[2][8]
T-72M1-T6 aka "T-72 (G6)"
The T-72-T6 was one of the variants that Operation Carbenet produced that involved testing of a brand new G6 turret that was made to be a lot more compact and compatible with other chassis than the G6, the turret was named the T6, it is known for its incorporation on the T-72 chassis as the T-72M1-T6 and the Arjun chassis as the Bhim, it had a 155 millimetres (6.1 in) howitzer same as the G6 and had a max range of 39 kilometres (24 mi) with its main gun.[9][10][11][7]
References
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- ↑ "SIPRI Arms Transfers Database: Transfers of major weapons: Poland to South Africa, 1990". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Venter, Dewald (2020). South African Armoured Fighting Vehicles: A History of Innovation and Excellence, 1960-2020. Helion, Limited. ISBN 1913336255. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "T-72 MI Main Battle Tank". sa-armour-museum. Retrieved 2026-09-19.
- ↑ Liebenberg, Ian (1997). "The Integration of Arms and South African Strategic Doctrine (1989–1994)". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. Stellenbosch University. 27 (1): 45–52. ISSN 1022-8136.
- ↑ "AAD 2006 - Ysterplaat Air Force Base - 23/24th September 2006 Photos Page 1". www.sa-transport.co.za. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "A friend among strangers: an unusual version of the T-72 was created in South Africa". ВПК.name. 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Foss, Christopher F. (1996). "South Africa develops T-72 tank upgrade package". Jane's Armour and Artillery. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2686-8.
- ↑ Military technical collection (T-72 ZA-35). BASTION. ISSN 2708-5228. Search this book on
- ↑ "Artillery | Denel Land Systems". www.denellandsystems.co.za. Retrieved 2026-09-19.
- ↑ "Overview". www.militaryperiscope.com. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- ↑ "T6 155mm 45 CALIBRE TURRET". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
Further reading
- LIW T6 turret brochure
- The T-72 "Tiger": South Africa's Secret Modernisation on YouTube
- FORCESDZ: “The modernisation of the T-72 by IST Dynamics” (page 25)
- Senior System Engineer: Pierre Thivend “ATE contact with Algerian Army” (page 3)
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