Click to see full-size image. (Screengrab/Rostec)
Major armor manufacturer Uralvagonzavod has delivered a new batch of T-90M, T-80BVM, and T-72B3M main battle tanks to the Russian military, Russia’s state corporation Rostec announced on May 9.
The large tank delivery took place on the eve of the 81st anniversary of Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.
Rostec noted in a statement that the tanks were upgraded based on real combat experience gained from the special military operation in Ukraine.
The tanks were equipped with improved anti-drone electronic warfare systems, as well as with additional protection for the engine-transmission compartment, according to the corporation, which noted that work is ongoing on further development of protection – both passive and active – as well as on improving the operational and technical characteristics of tanks.
“At one time, the legendary T-34 fully met the requirements of the era. It became not just a combat vehicle – a tank of Victory. And today, in combat, our T-72, T-80, and T-90 also meet modern challenges, combat conditions, and new threats. But these are different tanks. Time will pass, new tanks will appear in response to new threats, but they will be made on the basis of what we are creating now. And our children and grandchildren will talk about today’s T-72s, T-80s, and T-90s just as we talk about the T-34,” said Alexander Potapov, the General Director of Uralvagonzavod.
Uralvagonzavod ramped up tank production after the start of the special military operation, and last year production reached a peak, with plans projecting further increase for this year.
While the manufacturer is modernizing older T-72 and T-80 tanks to T-72B3M and T-80BVM standards, the production of brand new T-90M is the main focus.
The T-90M is a heavily upgraded version of the T-90. The tank features a modernized “all welded” turret with the new advanced fire control system Kalina and the new Irbis-K gunner’s sight. The turret is also equipped with four video cameras that provide a 360° view of the environment for the commander.
The tank is armed with an upgraded 2A46M-5 125 mm smoothbore gun capable of firing laser-guided Refleks anti-tank missiles as well as a coaxial PKMT 7,62 mm machine gun and the UDP T05BV-1 remote weapon station with a Kord 12,7 mm machine gun.
It is also equipped with an upgraded AZ-185M2 autoloader which can be loaded with the larger and more effective armor-piercing rounds Svinets-1 and Svinets-2.
The sides and rear of the T-90M hull and turret are completely protected with Relikt new generation explosive reactive armor blocks.
The tank is powered by a new 1130 hp V-92S2F engine coupled with automatic transmission. It is also equipped with an enhanced environmental control system and GLONASS satellite navigation systems.
The T-72B3M and T-80BVM are equipped with many of the modern system installed in the T-90M, most notably the Relikt reactive armor package.
It is unknown how many such tanks are today in service with the Russian military, but the number is believed to be in the thousands.
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