A source on new longer rod penetrator plz,all sources give naiza at 550 mm .Also its difficult to increase length of the rod too much with the size of the autoloader unless u change the carousel autoloader.Ofcourse the same works for india's t-72s.
As for the pictures above that is a layer of add-on spaced composite armour enveloping the base turret of type 59.
T-72 already has composite armour built into base turret,doesn't need add on modular packages.Also comparing ERA distribution of t-72 with al zarrar u'll see there is no comparison.The era can be placed all over the tank in t-72 due to greater size.it can also be equipped with heavy ERA bricks in angular sloped fashion which offer great protection against APFSDS rounds,compared to flat era tiles of al zarar.I'll show u pics to illustrate.
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This is the al khalid,note the heavy angular ERA bricks on turret front,this provides great protection as those are heavy ERA tiles and also angled to minimize penetration as penetrator needs to go maximum distance to reach base armour.
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The ajeya.Notice the cone shaped ERA tiles in front armour to minimise penetration.Notice the massive spread of ERA tiles all over the body which will offer great protection all around the tank.If u have seen t-90 you will notice even bigger ERA tiles on frontal turret placed at best angle.
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Notice the great coverage of Heavy ERA.
Now compare these above 3 to al zarrar.
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This is older generation light slab ERA,[even t-72 doesn't have latest ERA of t-90,but its heavy and angled]Worse the al zarrar ERA is not angled,providing minimal protection.Also its not fitted anywhere except front arc and some tiles on hull side.That too there are serious gaps veisible in the picture on the frontal arc between ERA tiles.
As for the modular composite package over the type 59 thats gives it a different box shaped look,this isn't new tech.its old spaced armour package which shouldn't be used in front turret rather in back side of turret.
Here take a look at this pic .
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Al zarrar destroyed with FRONTAL ARMOUR penetrated.This wasn't even done by enemy tanks.It clearly shows the base type 59 turret over which the spaced add on armour was put which has been destroyed.The hollow spaced comosite armour package is obsolete in frontal armour.If taliban can destroy frontal armour of al zarrar then u understand how good its add on armour really is.