Libyan National Army Deploys Russian T-72 Tanks with Anti-Drone Upgrades

The Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has showcased newly upgraded Russian-made T-72B3M main battle tanks equipped with specialized protection against drone threats. Footage from a recent exercise involving the elite Omar Almokhtar Battalion reveals these tanks, identified as the T-72B3 Obr. 2025 variant, feature enhancements derived from combat experience in Ukraine. Key upgrades include Relikt reactive armor on the hull and frontal plates, protective cages or nets over the turret and rear to counter first-person view (FPV) suicide quadcopters, and integrated anti-drone electronic warfare systems. The tanks retain advanced baseline features such as Sosna-U sights, a 125 mm smoothbore cannon capable of firing laser-guided shells, and a high-power V-92S2F engine. Alongside the tanks, the footage displayed a BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle with similar anti-drone cage protections and an unmodified Belarusian BTR-70MB1 armored personnel carrier. This development highlights the LNA's ongoing efforts to modernize its arsenal and maintain its position as the most organized military force in Libya, amidst the country's continued political division between the eastern-based LNA and the western-based Government of National Unity.