Russia Begins Deliveries of Upgraded T-72B1 MBTs to Laos

T-72B1 'Belyy Orel' (White Eagle) MBT was shipping from Russia to Vietnam's Port and transpot to Laos on road by Lowboy trailer trucks (photo : AAG)

Russia has begun deliveries of upgraded T-72B1 main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF), an LPAF source told Jane’s on 19 December.

“A large batch of T-72B1 ‘White Eagle’ [Belyi Oryol] MBTs was shipped to a Vietnamese port several days ago. The tanks will soon be brought to Laos via tank transporters,” said the source on condition of anonymity, adding that the LPAF is set to receive “several dozen” tanks.The move comes after Laotian Defence Minister Lieutenant General Sengnuan Xayalat told Russian broadcaster Zvezda that the LPAF would receive Russian-made weaponry and platforms, including “new T-72 tanks”.