| T-90 | |
|---|---|
 ARussian Army T-90M main battle tank | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Russia |
| Service history | |
| In service |
|
| Used by | SeeOperators |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kartsev-Venediktov |
| Manufacturer | Uralvagonzavod,Heavy Vehicles Factory |
| Unit cost | USD 2.5 million in 1999,[4] USD 2.77–4.25 million in 2011 (varies by source)[5] T-90SM: USD 4.5 million in 2016 |
| Produced | 1992–present |
| No. built | ≈4,000 (2023, seeOperators) 1,400 units of T-90S/SM built in India under license >1000 delivered to other countries |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 46tonnes (45long tons; 51short tons) (T-90) 46.5tonnes (45.8long tons; 51.3short tons) (T-90A) 48tonnes (47long tons; 53short tons) (T-90SM)[6] |
| Length | 9.63 m (31 ft 7 in)6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) (hull) |
| Width | 3.78 m (12 ft 5 in) |
| Height | 2.22 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 3 |
| Armor | Steel-composite-reactive blendAPFSDS: 550 mm + 250–280 mm with Kontakt-5 = 800–830 mm HEAT: 650–850 mm + 500–700 mm with Kontakt-5 = 1,150–1,550 mm[7] |
Main armament | 2A46M 125 mm smoothbore gun with 43 rounds (T-90) 2A46M-2 125 mm smoothbore gun with 42 rounds (T-90A) 2A46M-5 125 mm smoothbore gun with 43 rounds (T-90M) |
Secondary armament | 12.7mmKordHeavy machine gun,7.62mmPKMT |
| Engine | V-84MS 12-cyl. diesel (T-90) V-92S2 12-cyl. diesel (T-90A) V-92S2F 840 hp (617 kW) for V-84MS 12-cyl. diesel engine 1000 hp (736 kW) for V-92S2 12-cyl. diesel engine (T-90A and T-90S) 1130 hp (831 kW) for V-92S2F (T-90M and T-90MS) |
| Power/weight | 18.2 hp/tonne (13.3 kW/tonne) (T-90) 21.5hp/tonne (15 kW/tonne) (T-90A) |
| Suspension | Torsion bar |
Operational range | 550 km (340 mi) (without fuel drums) |
| Maximum speed | 60 km/h (37 mph)[8] (T-90A and T-90MS) |
TheT-90 is athird-generation Russianmain battle tank developed from, and designed to replace theT-72. It uses a 125 mm2A46smoothboremain gun, the 1A45Tfire-control system, an upgraded engine, and gunner'sthermal sight. Standard protective measures include a blend of steel andcomposite armour, smoke grenade dischargers,Kontakt-5explosive reactive armour (ERA) and theShtora infraredanti-tank guided missile (ATGM) jamming system.
The T-90 was designed and built byUralvagonzavod, inNizhny Tagil, Russia. It entered service with theRussian army in 1992.
The T-90 has its origins in aSoviet-era program aimed at developing a replacement for theT-64, T-72 andT-80 series of main battle tanks (MBT). The T-72 platform was selected as the basis for the new generation of tank owing to its cost-effectiveness, simplicity and automotive qualities. TheKartsev-Venediktov Design Bureau from Nizhny Tagil was responsible for the design work and prepared two parallel proposals—theObject 188, which was a relatively simple upgrade of the existing T-72B tank (Object 184), and the far more advancedObject 187—only vaguely related to the T-72 series and incorporating major improvements to the hull and turret design, armor, powerplant and armament. Development work was approved in 1986 and the first prototypes were completed by 1988. The vehicles resulting from theObject 187 program have not been declassified to this date.[9]
The Object 188 was engineered by a team under V.N. Venediktov. The biggest change was the integration of the T-80U's 1A45fire-control system. The Object 188 was initially designated as the T-72BM. The first four of these were delivered for trials in January 1989. An improved variant (called Upgraded T-72B[10]) was delivered beginning in June 1990. In March 1991, theSoviet Ministry of Defense recommended that the Army adopt the Object 188. Work on the Object 187 was simultaneously stopped for unknown reasons.[11]
Russian tank production dwindled in the years before and after the breakup of the Soviet Union. TheKharkov tank plant belonged to the newly independentUkraine, theChelyabinsk Tractor Plant ended production in 1989, andKirov inLeningrad in 1990. In the two remaining tank plants atOmsk andNizhni-Tagil, state orders all but ceased in 1992. Around the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defense decided it would commit to eventually producing just one tank type.[12]
During the 1980s, the Soviet military had ordered T-64s, T-72s and T-80s, then in simultaneous production from rival tank design firms. Though all three tanks had similar characteristics, they each required different components, which contributed to the Army's logistical burden.[12] Though both Nizhni-Tagil's T-90 and Omsk's T-80U had their merits, the T-80'sgas turbine engine was notorious for its high fuel consumption and poor reliability. Additionally, Russian T-80s suffered heavy losses in their first combat use during theFirst Chechen War. Meanwhile, the T-90 was spared media criticism as it was not deployed in Chechnya, and its new name distanced it from the T-72, which was also lost in large numbers in the conflict.[13]
In January 1996, Colonel GeneralAleksandr Galkin, chief of the Main Armor Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense, said the Russian Armed Forces would phase out T-80 production in favor of the T-90 (Galkin reversed his position later that year, claiming the T-80U was a superior tank). Production of the T-80 at Omsk persisted until 2001, mainly for the export market.[13]
The principal upgrade in the T-90 is the incorporation of a slightly modified form of the T-80U's more sophisticated 1A45TIrtysh fire control system and an upgraded V-84MS multi-fuel engine developing 840 hp (618 kW).[14] The T-90 was manufactured at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, with low-level production being carried out since 1992 and virtually ceasing towards the end of the 1990s for the native market. Around 120 T-90 tanks were delivered to the Russian Ground Forces before production of an upgraded version was resumed in 2004.[15]
By September 1995, some 107 T-90 tanks had been produced, located in theSiberian Military District.[16] Later, another U.S. report said that "..with only 150 built by mid-1998, the Siberian Military District's21st Motor Rifle Division received [some of] these MBTs and formed a tank regiment (T-90s were also issued to the 5th Don Guards Tank Division in Buryatia)."[17] However, the 21st MRD had already been reduced to the status of a motor-rifle brigade by this time, and then was reduced to a storage base in 1997.
Facing tapering domestic orders, Uralvagonzavod received government approval to export the T-90 in the mid-1990s. The designers at Uralvagonzavod created a new, welded turret that offered improvements in protection and internal space in the same period. In 1997, India signaled interest in the T-90 in response to Pakistan's acquisition of 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks. India'sHeavy Vehicles Factory inAvadi was already license-manufacturing the T-72 under the name "Ajeya".[18]
The first 42 complete Indian tanks were delivered in 2001 and were designatedT-90S (Object 188S), still equipped with the older cast turrets of the early series[19] (this exhausted the remaining stocks of cast turrets warehoused at Nizhny Tagil) and powered by the V-84 engine making 840 hp (618 kW).[citation needed] In 2002, 82 vehicles were delivered, now equipped with the new welded turrets and the V-92S2 engine, generating 1,000 hp (735 kW). The initial contract stipulated the following batch of 186 tanks, now officially calledBhishma, to be completed in India from Russian-supplied kits, and then gradually replaced with domestically manufactured parts. Delays in domestic production compelled the Indian authorities to place an additional order for 127 complete vehicles from Uralvagonzavod.[20]
In 2005 the Russian army resumed delivery of the T-90, requesting the "original" specification for the vehicle with a cast turret. But with the new order numbering 14 tanks, and the large capital investment required to set up production of new cast turrets, the Russian Ministry of Defence agreed on a new configuration very close to the Indian T-90S, which was expeditiously accepted into service without any trials as theObject 188A1 orT-90A.[21] 2005 saw delivery of 18 new tanks – enough to equip approximately five tank platoons. These new Russian tanks were powered by the V-92S2 engine, carried a T01-K05Buran-M gunner's sight (passive-active night-vision channel with an EPM-59GMirage-K matrix and a maximum observation distance of 1,800 m) and were protected by the most recent Kontakt-5 reactive armor with 4S22 explosive tiles.
The years 2006–2007 saw the delivery of 31 T-90A tanks each, now fitted with entirely passive ESSA main gunner's sights supplied by Peleng inBelarus and using the 2nd-generation thermal camera Catherine-FC fromThales, and improved 4S23 ERA tiles. The joint venture established on the basis of JSC Volzhsky Optical and Mechanical Plant (VOMZ) and Thales Optronics, produced Catherine-FC thermal imaging devices, which were further used to develop "ESSA", "PLISA" and "SOSNA-U" sighting systems produced for the Russian armoured vehicles, including T-72B3 tanks and export versions of T-90S (exported to India, Algeria and Azerbaijan). Since 2012, Russia was able to produce 3rd-generation Catherine-XP cameras based on QWIP matrix technology.[22]
In 2012, the Russian-made commander combined sample supervisory-sighting system"T01-K04DT/Agat-MDT" was presented to the public at the International Forum Engineering Technologies 2012. According to Krasnogorsky Zavod plant, Agat-MDT has the ability to install (for further modernization) in the sight the newly developed domestic UPF format 640×512 by 15 microns, which makes possible in the future to extend the range of target identification at night to 3.5–4.0 km without modifications to the sight.[23]
In 2016, the Krasnogorsk plant finished testing theIrbis-K night-vision sighting system for the T-80U and T-90, with first deliveries planned for 2017. Completion of the Irbis-K, the first Russian-producedmercury cadmium telluride (MCT) matrix thermal sight, addressed a disadvantage of Russian tanks relative to their Western counterparts. The Irbis-K can identify targets at ranges up to 3,240 meters during day and night.[24]
In 2007, there were about 334 T-90 tanks of various types serving in the Russian Ground Forces'5th Guards Tank Division, stationed in the Siberian Military District, and seven T-90 tanks assigned to the marines.[25] Since 2008, the Russian army has received 62 tanks annually, suspending orders in 2011.
After the cancellation of theT-95 in 2010, Uralvagonzavod began the OKR Armata (Armament) design study. The study resulted in the Object 148 based on the T-95 (itself based on the Object 187). The Russian Army curtailed T-90 orders beginning in 2012 to prepare for the arrival of the new tank.[26] In July 2021, Industry and Trade MinisterDenis Manturov said the tank, designated theT-14 Armata, will enter serial production in 2022.[27]
Deliveries of upgraded T-90M tanks started in April 2020 to the Guards Tank Army of the RFWestern Military District. The T-90M ‘Proryv’ (‘Breakthrough’) has received a principally new turret, the 2A46M-5 gun, and a more powerful engine. The Proryv is outfitted with a new multi-channel sighting system that allows employing weapons at any time of day or night and it can exchange data with other vehicles in real time.[28] A new batch was delivered in March 2021.[29] According to Ukrainian intelligence sources, manufacturing of T-90s was slowed because of the effect ofInternational sanctions since the start of theinvasion of Ukraine.[30][31][32] An article fromForbes magazine in early October 2023 suggested a rise in T-90M's production based on the increasing amount of T90 losses in Ukraine.[33]
The UK-basedInternational Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimates that annual production of T-90M tanks could reach up to 90 units in 2024. Analysis suggests, however, that the majority of these T-90Ms are likely upgrades of older T-90A models rather than newly built tanks.[34] Sources indicate that over 200 T-90Ms have been delivered since the war in Ukraine started.[35] The UK-basedMilitary Watch Magazine reported in September 2024 that efforts to surge the production rate to well over 1000 per year had fallen far short, with the output remaining uncertain with some reports indicating that over 300 T-90Ms would be delivered throughout the year.
An early variant of the export-oriented T-90S allegedly saw combat action during the1999 Chechen invasion of Dagestan instead of being delivered to India. The tank's survivability againstrocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) is disputed.Gordon L. Rottman writes that T-90s were "frequently" knocked out by three or four hits from aRPG-7. He adds that Chechens found a way to compromise T-90s fitted withexplosive reactive armor: they would fire an RPG-7 from close range (within 50m) to trigger the explosive reactive armor protection, and then re-attack the exposed tank armour underneath with two or more RPG hits, again from close range.[36]
On the other hand,Moscow Defense Brief gives the example of one T-90 that remained in action despite being hit by seven RPGs. The journal concluded that with regular equipment, the upgraded T-90 seems to be the best protected Russian tank, especially with the implementation of Shtora-1 andArena defensive systems.[28]
The T-90A was deployed toSyria in 2015 to support the Russian involvement in theSyrian Civil War.[37]
In September 2020, aRussian T-90 was accidentally hit by ananti-tank guided missile (ATGM) during exercises held in Russia'sAstrakhan region causing serious damage to the vehicle.[38]
During thewar in Donbas stage of theRusso-Ukrainian War in the summer of 2014, elements of the Russian136th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade equipped with T-90A tanks conducting operations inLuhansk Oblast of Ukraine were identified in social media posts, and locations of their photographs were geolocated by open-source investigators.[39]
During the full-scaleRussian invasion of Ukraine beginning in February 2022, by 12 May, a T-90 was reported to have been destroyed by a SwedishCarl Gustaf man-portable anti-tank grenade launcher inKharkiv.[40]
During this conflict, the T-90 has faced and been destroyed by many types of anti-tank missiles, including modern "top attack" missiles such as the American-producedFGM-148 Javelin and the Anglo-SwedishNLAW.[41][42] The Arena system has not appeared in Ukraine and it is unclear if the system has met expectations.[43]
In January 2024, in fighting aroundStepove, twoBradley Fighting Vehicles (BFV) from theUkrainian 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade engaged a T-90M. The tank was disabled by the Bradleys, and its crew escaped before aFPV drone destroyed the tank.[44][45]
In late September 2024, reports backed by images shared on social media showed a destroyed T-90M that lackedRelikt ERA. The ERA bricks had been replaced by "construction bricks".[46]
As of 6 February 2025,Oryx blog had documented that Russia had lost at least 178 T-90s since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (visually confirmed), including 42 T-90A (of which 29 were destroyed, 3 abandoned, 10 captured), 1 T-90AK (captured), 11 T-90S (9 destroyed, 1 abandoned, 1 captured) and 124 T-90M (73 destroyed, 15 damaged, 29 abandoned, 7 captured).[47]
In early February 2016,Syrian Army forces began using T-90As in combat.[48] A video was leaked on the internet which showed a T-90 survive a direct frontal turret hit by aTOW missile in Aleppo.[49] The Kontakt-5 reactive armor discharged the TOW warhead before impact.[48] Two Syrian Army operated T-90 were captured by HTS militias while ISIS fighters captured a third in November 2017. A rebel operated T-90 was recaptured by Syrian government forces while the second was reportedly destroyed in combat by a T-72. Another 5 Syrian Army operated T-90 tanks were knocked out or heavily damaged and 4 others suffered hits, according to recorded material.[48]
Azerbaijan used their T-90S tanks during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. One T-90 was damaged and captured byArmenian forces.[50] At least two were confirmed destroyed in the initial phases of the war, being the first ever proven total loss of the combat vehicle.[1][2]
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The T-90SBhishma (named afterthe guardian warrior in theMahabharata) is a vehicle tailored for Indian service, improving upon the T-90S, and developed with assistance from Russia and France. The tanks are equipped with the French Thales-built Catherine-FC thermal sights.[51] They use RussianKontakt-5explosive reactive armour,[52] in addition to the primary armor, which consists of laminated plates and ceramic layers with high-tensile properties. The new welded turrets first developed for the Indian T-90S Bhishma have more advanced armour protection than the early cast turrets.[53]
The later T-90M features the 'Kaktus K-6' bolted explosive reactive armour (ERA) package on its frontal hull and turret-top (the T-90S has 'Kontakt-5' ERA), is fitted with an enhanced environmental control system supplied by Israel's Kinetics Ltd for providing cooled air to the fighting compartment, has additional internal volume for housing thecryogenic cooling systems for new-generationthermal imagers like theTHALES-built Catherine-FC thermal imager (operating in the 8–12 micrometre bandwidth).[54][55]
As of 2013, India planned to have 21 T-90 tank regiments by 2020, with 45 combat tanks and 17 training and replacement tanks per regiment.[64] In 2020s, the numbers were revised and increased to a planned strength of 1,657 T-90 tanks.[65]
In 2005, deliveries began for an initial order of 185 tanks forAlgeria. These are known as theT-90SA ("A" is an acronym for Algeria).
The Cyprus House Defence Committee approved funds in January 2009 for the purchase of 41 Russian-built T-90 tanks. The money was included as part of the 2009 defence budget.Cyprus already operates the Russian-made T-80 tank.[78] In March 2010 it was reported that Cyprus had opted for 41 additional T-80s instead of purchasing T-90s.[79]
AnonymousVenezuelan defence sources said that presidentHugo Chavez "wants to replace his army's obsoleteAMX-30 main battle tanks with between 50 and 100 Russian-built T-90 main battle tanks", according to an October 2008 article by analyst Jack Sweeney.[80] In September 2009 a deal was announced for 92 T-72s only.[81]Saudi Arabia was reported, in July 2008, by Russian dailyKommersant to be in negotiations to buy 150 T-90 tanks.[82]Lebanese Defence Minister Elias El Murr met with Russian Defence MinisterAnatoly Serdyukov in December 2008, when they discussed the possibility of a transfer of military equipment including T-90 tanks.[83][84]
In February 2010, an arms deal was signed betweenLibya and Russia. Details of the sale were not immediately released, but a Russian diplomat stated that Libya had wanted 20 fighter planes, air defence systems, and may also be interested in purchasing "several dozen" T-90s, and modernising a further 140 T-72s. However, after Libya'scrackdown on anti-government protesters in early 2011, the United Nations enacted an international arms embargo on Libya resulting in the cancellation of Russian arms deals.[85][86]
In April 2013,Rosoboronexport requested for the entry of the T-90S in an upcoming tender by thePeruvian Army for main battle tanks.[87] Peru sought to acquire between 120 and 170 tanks to replace its agingT-55 tanks. The T-90 was tested against theM1A1 Abrams from theUnited States, theLeopard 2A4 offered from theSpanish Army, Leopard 2A6s formerly operated by theDutch Army, and T-64s andT-84s offered by Ukraine. By September 2013, only the T-90S, the Russian T-80, the Ukrainian T-84, and American M1A1 were still competing.[88]
Vietnam and Iraq signed contracts for at least 150 T-90S/SK tanks in 2016.[89]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Autoloader animation onYouTube |
The T-90's main armament is the2A46M 125mmsmoothbore tank gun. This is a highly modified version of theSprut anti-tank gun, and is the same gun used as the main armament on the T-80-series tanks. It can be replaced without dismantling the inner turret and can firearmour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS),high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT-FS),high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) ammunition, and9M119M Refleks anti-tank guided missiles. The Refleks hassemi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) laserbeam riding guidance and atandemshaped charge HEAT warhead. It has an effective range of 100 m to 6 km, and takes 17.5 seconds to reach maximum range. Refleks can penetrate about 950 millimetres (37 in) of steelrolled homogeneous armour (RHA) and can also engage low-flying air targets such ashelicopters.[citation needed]
TheNSV 12.7mm (12.7×108)remotely controlledanti-aircraftheavy machine gun can be operated from within the tank by the commander and has a range of 2 km and a cyclicrate of fire of 700–800 rounds per minute with 300 rounds available (the NSV was replaced by theKord heavy machine gun in the late 1990s). ThePKMT 7.62mm (7.62×54mmR)coaxial machine gun weighs about 10.5 kg while the ammunition box carries 250 rounds (2,000 rounds carried) and weighs an additional 9.5 kg.[citation needed]
Like other modern Russian tanks the 2A46M in the T-90 is fed by anautomatic loader which removes the need for a manual loader in the tank and reduces the crew to 3 (commander, gunner, and driver). The autoloader can carry 22 ready-to-fire rounds in its carousel and can load a round in 5–8 seconds.[citation needed] It has been suggested that the automatic loaders on modern T-90 tanks have been modified to take advantage of newer ammunition such as the3BM-44M APFSDS, which like the USM829A3 penetrates armour better than the previous shorter rounds. HEAT rounds that can be fired from the 2A46M includes the3BK21B (with adepleted uranium liner),3BK29 (with a credited penetration of 800mm RHA equivalency), and the3BK29M (with a Triple-tandem charge warhead). Additionally the T-90 features the Ainetfuse setting system which allows the tank to detonate3OF26 HE-FRAG rounds at a specific distance from the tank as determined by the gunner'slaser rangefinder, improving its performance against helicopters andinfantry.[90] Accurate firing range of the HE-Frag-FS 10 km, APFSDS 4 km.[91]
Fire-control system of the T-90 showed the following features of combat shooting during state testing. Heavily armoured targets at ranges of up to 5 km were hit by tank T-90 on the move (up to 30 km/h) with a high probability of hit with the first shot. During state testing made 24 launches of missiles at ranges of 4–5 km and they all hit the target (all missile launches were made by inexperienced professionals). An experienced gunner at speeds of 25 km/h hit 7 real armoured targets located at ranges of 1,500–2,500 m and 54sec.[92][93]
Fire-control system on the T-90 includes the PNK-4S/SR AGAT day and night sighting system mounted at the commanders station which allows for night time detection of a tank sized target at ranges between 700 and 1100 metres depending on the version of the sight. Early models of the T-90 were equipped with the TO1-KO1 BURAN sight but later models (T-90S) were upgraded to use the ESSAthermal imaging sight, which allows for accurate firing to a range of 5,000–8,000m during day and 3,300m during night, using the CATHERINE-FCthermal camera produced byThales Optronique. The gunner is also provided with the 1G46 day sighting system which includes a laser range finder,missile guidance channel and allows tank-sized targets to be detected and engaged at 5 to 8 kilometres (3.1 to 5.0 mi). The driver uses a TVN-5 day and night sight.[citation needed] In 2010, Russia started licensed production of Thales-developed Catherine FC thermal cameras for T-90M tanks, a Russian daily said.[citation needed] These thermal imagers are also present on T-90M "Bhishma" built in India under licence.[citation needed]
In 2012, the Russian-made combined sample of commander supervisory-sighting system T01-K04DT/Agat-MDT was presented to the public. According to Krasnogorsky Zavod (plant), Agat-MDT has the ability to be installed (for further modernization) in the sight of the newly developed domestic UPF format 640×512 by 15 microns, which is possible in the future to extend the range of target identification at night to 3.5–4.0 km without sight modifications.[23] In 2016, the Krasnogorsk plant finished testing theIrbis-K night-vision gunner's sighting system for the T-80U and T-90, with first deliveries in 2018.[94] Completion of the Irbis-K, the first Russian-produced mercury-cadmium-telluride (MCT) matrix thermal sight, will bridge a gap with the leading NATO countries in this area. The Irbis-K can identify tank targets at ranges up to 3,240 meters during day and night.[24]
The Russian-made thermal imaging device not only meant that Russian tanks would no longer need to be equipped with foreign parts, but it also meant that complete tank modernization was cheaper.[citation needed] Furthermore, there will be no decrease in demand for theT-72 and the T-90 in the next few years.[citation needed] The new tank gunner's heat-vision sight Irbis-K and the commander's combined sighting and observation system Agat-MDT can be supplied to T-72, T-80 and T-90 upgraded versions (T-72B3M, T-80BVM, T-90M...), replacing the Thales Catherine-FC thermal camera.[citation needed]
Theprime mover is theV-92S [es]diesel engine, built in the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. Different models of the T-90 tank are powered by various motors in its initial models, like the V-84MS 618 kW (840 hp)four-strokeV-12piston engine, uprated 1,000 hp (750 kW) engines and 1,250 hp (930 kW) engines made by Uralvagonzavod and are delivered by Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. The Т-90S with 1,000 hp (750 kW) engine can attain a top speed of 60 km/h on the road and up to 45 km/h on rough terrain. The T-90 tank has a typical drivetrain arrangement, with a rear placed engine and transmission. The 1,000 hp (750 kW) engines are V-92 four stroke, 12 cylinder,multi-fuel diesel while the 1,250 hp (930 kW) engine is V-96. The T-90 export version i.e. modified T-90S is fitted with an increased power multi-fuel 1,000 hp (750 kW) diesel engine withturbochargers. The tank has anair conditioning system for work in hot places.[citation needed]
The T-90 has a "three-tiered" protection system. The first tier is thecomposite armour in the turret, consisting of basic armour shell with an insert of alternating layers of aluminum and plastics and a controlleddeformation section.[citation needed]
The second tier is third generation Kontakt-5explosive reactive armour (ERA) bricks which degrade the penetrating power of kinetic-energy APFSDS ammunition. These bricks give the turret a distinctive angled "clam shell" appearance. ERA bricks are also located on the turret roof to protect against attacks from above. The turret's forward armour package, in addition to the ERA and steel plating, includes Russian composite armour sandwiched between upper and lower steel plates. Composite armour offers lower weight and better protection than steel-only armour.[citation needed]
The third tier is aShtora-1 (Russian: Штора-1 or "curtain" in English)countermeasures suite, produced by Elektromashina of Russia. This system includes two electro-optical/IR "dazzlers" (i.e.active infrared jammer) on the front of the turret (which gives the distinctive "Red Eyes"), fourlaser warning receivers, two 3D6'smoke' grenadedischarging systems and a computerised control system. The Shtora-1 warns the tank's crew when the tank has been 'painted' by aweapon-guidance laser and allows the crew to slew the turret to face the threat. The infrared jammer, the TShU1-7 EOCMDAS, jams the semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance system used by some anti-tank guided missiles. The smoke grenades are automatically launched after Shtora detects that it has been painted. The smoke grenades are used to mask a tank from laser rangefinders and designators, and the optics of other weapon systems. Indian T-90S tanks are not equipped with the Shtora-1 countermeasures suite.[citation needed] They will be equipped with the Land Electronic Defence SystemLEDS-150.
In addition to the passive and active protection systems, the T-90 is also fitted with nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection equipment, KMTmine sweeps and anautomatic fire suppression system.[citation needed] TheEMT-7electromagnetic-counter mine system can also be installed on the T-90.[95] EMT-7 emits anelectromagnetic pulse to disable magnetic mines and disrupt electronics before the tank reaches them. TheNakidka signature reduction suite is also available for the T-90. Nakidka is designed to reduce the probabilities of an object to be detected byinfrared,thermal, radar-thermal, andradar bands.[96]
During a reported test conducted by the Russian military in 1999 the T-90 was exposed to a variety of RPG, ATGM, and APFSDS munitions. When equipped with Kontakt-5 ERA, the T-90 could not be penetrated by any of the APFSDS or ATGM used during the trial and outperformed a T-80U which also took part.[97][98][unreliable source?] During combat operations in Dagestan, there were witness accounts of one T-90 sustaining seven hits from RPGs, and remaining in action.[99]
T-90M and T-90MS mounts the more advanced "Relikt" ERA.[100] Relikt defends against tandem warheads, while reducing the penetration of APFSDS rounds by over 50 percent.[101] It can be installed instead of Kontakt-1 or Kontakt-5.[102]
| Model | ERA | vsAPFSDS[citation needed] | vsHEAT[citation needed] |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-72M | None | 335–380 | 450–490 |
| T-72M1 | None | 380–400 | 490 |
| T-72A | Kontakt-1 | 360–400 | 490–500 |
| T-72B/T-72S (produced after 1985) | Kontakt-1 | 400–500 | 500–550 |
| T-72B (produced after[103] 1988)[104][105][106] | Kontakt-5 | 690–800 | 940–1180 |
| T-90[107] | Kontakt-5 | 800–830[107] | 1150–1350[107] |
| T-90A/T-90S | Kontakt-5 | ≈870–910 | ≈1250–1450 |
| T-90M/T-90MS | Relikt | 1100–1200 | ≈1900 |
The T-90A / T-90S turret uses a stronger steel alloy, giving an approximately 10–15% increase in the protection level given from the steel elements of the armor array; as the array from many aspects is not wholly steel, the overall increase in protection is less than this margin over these areas.[108][109] Protection values will decrease somewhat against Tandem HEAT or penetrators with precursor tips. These measures are not as effective against heavier, newer generations of E.R.A. such as Relikt.
The actual level of protection provided by the T-90 was questioned after some of these models were destroyed or captured during theRusso-Ukrainian War.[110]
The T-90 has an unknown issue that causes it to become disabled via the turret spinning uncontrollably. Currently there is no concrete understanding of what precisely causes this issue, but a theory by a former tank commander of the British Army, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, states: "It’ll likely be a combination between inexperienced crews and poor electronics."[111]
Variants
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Algeria: 600+ T-90SA as of 2024[130]
Armenia: 1 T-90A as of 2024[131]
Azerbaijan: 93 T-90S as of 2024[132]
India: Around 1,300 T-90S tanks in service as of 2025.[65]
Iraq: 73 T-90S as of 2024[133]
Russia: 100 T-90A and 120+ T-90M in service, plus an unknown number of T-90 and T-90A tanks in storage as of 2024[134][135]
Syria: Unknown number of T-90 and T-90A tanks in service as of 2024[136]
Turkmenistan: 4 T-90S as of 2024[137]
Uganda: 44 T-90S as of 2024[138]
Ukraine: Operates an unknown number of T-90A and T-90M tanks captured from Russian forces during theRussian invasion of Ukraine[139][140]
Vietnam: 64 T-90S as of 2024[141]
Tahrir al-Sham: Prior to theNorthwestern Syria offensive in November 2024, at least two were captured from theSyrian Army, one was recaptured by Syrian government forces and the other was disabled.[142][143] During the Northwestern Syria offensive, at least one T-90A tank was captured.[144][145]
Artsakh: 1 T-90S prior to the2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh[146]
Egypt: In June 2020, Egypt signed a deal with Russia to acquire 500 T-90MS tanks, under a deal that would include local assembly and manufacture.[149][150]
Kuwait: Looking to acquire 146 T-90MS tanks as replacement forM-84. Contract could be signed after being approved by the National Assembly.[151] Russian Presidential aide confirmed that Kuwaiti contract could be signed by the end of 2017,[needs update][152] but the acquisition was postponed in 2019.[153]
Malaysia: The tank was in the tender for Malaysia, but they selected the Polish tankPT-91M in 2002.
Pakistan: Planned to acquire 600 battle tanks and considered the T-90 but instead opted for the ChineseVT-4.[154][155][156]
United States: 1 T-90A.[157] The T-90A was first spotted in the middle of April 2023, at aLouisiana truck stop.[158] The tank itself was likely captured byUkrainian forces during theKharkiv counteroffensive in 2022 and was in Ukrainian service before being shipped to the United States.[159] APentagon spokesperson stated that its destination isAberdeen Proving Ground for evaluation purposes.[157](Azerbaijan) This is the first reliable case of the destruction of the machine of this model. Previously, T-90S tanks (an export version of the T-90 tank, which is in service with the Russian army) took part in the Syrian conflict, but their destruction was not reported. Several of these combat vehicles of the Syrian army were hit by militants, but did not lose their combat capability
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| Main battle | |
|---|---|
| Light /medium | |
| Prototypes, experimentals | |
Background:History of the tank,Tank classification | |
