Georgia has received the first 11 of the 120 upgraded T55 tanks ordered from the Czech Republic. This is the first significant arms purchase by Georgia. All of its previous deliveries were gifts from Russia or leftovers from the Soviet era. The tanks were upgraded by the Czechs for service in their own Army. While they retain the original 100mm rifled cannon, they have extra armor, banks of 81mm smoke grenades, a computerized fire control system, an upgraded diesel engine, improved suspension, new tracks, and long-range fuel tanks.--Stephen V Cole