The Soviet main battle tank T-62 was the world's first medium serial tank equipped with a smoothbore gun and with heavy armor. It was developed on the base of the T-55 model with a new U-5TS 115 mm gun. The production period lasted from 1962 until 1975 with over 20,000 vehicles manufactured. This tank was supplied to many allies of the Soviet Union and became famous due to its participation in several local conflicts between 1968 and 2017. In the DPR of Korea the production of a licensed copy of T-62 continued until 1989, being still in service. Also in other countries like Algeria, Egypt, Cuba and Syria the T-62 is still operational today.