Al-Khalid vs T-72B: how to tell them apart

Two main battle tanks that are easy to mix up at a glance. Here is what tells them apart.

Al-Khalid

Main battle tank, China / Pakistan. In service since 2001

What gives it away

Six road wheels and a low, welded angular turret with a 125 mm smoothbore and an autoloader; looks like a squarer T-72, with side skirts and a remote machine gun on the roof.

Used by

Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco

T-72B

Main battle tank, Soviet Union. In service since 1985

What gives it away

Six large road wheels and a rounded cast turret, but older sights than the T-72B3: no large thermal-sight box on the turret roof.

Used by

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Syria and others

Al-Khalid · T-72B · All guides