Of the 2100 T-55 tanks supplied to NVA by the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Poland, nearly 300 were upgraded to the T-55AM2 standard.

The T-55AM2 was fitted with a modern fire control system with a ballistic calculator, calculating such things as air pressure, air temperature, the weight of ammunition, reduced velocity for tube wear, and so on. It was also fitted with a laser rangefinder.

Much like the T-72M the T-55AM2 had additional ‘bazooka skirts’ added giving it improved protection versus enemy anti-tank guided missiles and other man-portable anti-tank weapons such as Carl Gustav and LAW (light anti-tank weapon).