The Russian Ministry of Defense has published a new propaganda video that shows some of its tanks meant for the war in Ukraine. It turns out that the T-90S, a main battle tank that was originally designed for export, is also serving in Ukraine.
The T-90S was developed as an export version of the tank. Image credit: Vitaly V. Kuzmin via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The T-90 is a family of modern main battle tanks produced in Russia since 1992. The T-90 was designed to replace the T-72, but of course, it didn’t replace anything and the T-72 is still the spine of the Russian armoured forces. The T-90M Proryv, sometimes derisively referred to as Putin’s pride, is technically the most advanced tank in the Russian forces, since the T-14 Armata simply does not exist.
There are several versions of the T-90. The T-90S was developed specifically for export to India, Turkmenistan and Algeria, among other countries interested in the T-90 platform. However, in 2023, these export tanks appeared in Ukraine instead. And now the number of T-90S tanks in Ukraine is increasing. One has to wonder if this means that the Russian forces are lacking tanks.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russia has lost at least 2,600 main battle tanks in Ukraine. Other sources indicate that Russia actually lost more than 3,000 main battle tanks since the beginning of the invasion in February 2022. Russia boasts that it produces tanks in large quantities and quickly, but the truth is that many tanks are now being pulled from long-term storage.
The T-90S tanks that Russia is throwing at Ukraine were most likely produced for other countries, but Russia has no other choice and uses them itself. Maybe the orders are going to be late? There is another explanation – some analysts claim that the buyers could have rejected those tanks due to manufacturing defects.
T-90S (Indian complectation) in service in the Russian Armed Forces with typical field upgrades.
No, it’s not Rosoboronexport that got generous and handed over RF military modern tanks from export orders – It’s a different story here, during the fulfillment of contracts some… pic.twitter.com/fLaal8eruZ— Andrei_bt (@AndreiBtvt) February 9, 2024
T-90 tanks are supposed to be modern, with active armour protection, electronic warfare systems and everything that the Russian military industry can offer. But even these tanks are shielding themselves against kamikaze drones with cope cages. They don’t work, because the FPV drones are very maneuverable and can dive under those grilles quite easily.
At least two T-90S tanks were already destroyed in Ukraine. But the T-90S should not be underestimated. The T-90S has a powerful 125 mm gun and a powerful 750 kW engine. It may also have the Tshu-1 self-defence system, which is an IR device that blinds some anti-tank missiles (not all T-90S have it). The Kontakt-5 dynamic armour protection is also supposed to protect the T-90S from total destruction. In addition, T-90 tanks in Ukraine are increasingly seen with jammers, which are supposed to disrupt drones.
Written by Povilas M.
Sources: Tech.wp.pl, Wikipedia