- Designed and authorized by the renowned designer kbdavz. Beginning its development in 1967, the T-72 emerged as a formidable force on the battlefield, showcased for the first time on November 7, 1977, during the grand parade commemorating the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution. Designed for large-scale operations in Europe, the T-72 epitomized the Soviet strategy of massed, cost-effective armored assaults.