T-72S is a full-tracked fighting vehicle with powerful armaments, reliable armor protection, and high maneuverability. The tank carries three crews. This tank is equipped with a 125mm smooth-bore gun stabilized in elevation and azimuth, a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT machine gun, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. The tank is provided with high-accuracy laying and sighting devices, as well as an automatic loading gear ensuring a highly effective rate of gun fire.

• The anti-aircraft machine gun is provided with sighting and laying equipment that makes it possible to fire both at aerial and ground targets.
• The tank is also equipped with a dynamic protection system which improves its protection from high-explosive armor-piercing projectiles.
• T-72S is equipped with devices designed to protect the crew and inner equipment from shock waves in case of a nuclear explosion as well as against radioactive dust when moving over contaminated terrain.
• The tank is provided with underwater stream-crossing and entrenching equipment (the latter being designed for cuts digging) as well as the means to protect it against napalm-type incendiary fuels.
• Provisions are also made for installation of mine-clearing equipment for the purpose of crossing a minefield.
• To ensure concealment, the tank is provided with smoke screen and smoke grenade launcher systems.
• In order to extinguish fire inside the tank, it is fitted with an automatic fire-fighting system.