The timing of the deployment of additional "Breakthroughs" in parts of the Western Military District will depend on the fulfillment of the state defense order, the Izvestia newspaper reportedMOSCOW, September 20.
/tass/. The latest T-90M "Breakthrough" tanks will be additionally delivered to parts of the Western Military District (ZVO). This was reported by the newspaper "Izvestia" with reference to a source in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. This decision is associated with the need to respond to the strengthening of NATO units stationed on the western borders of the Russian Federation.
"The number of the newest T-90M tanks in the composition of the ZVO will be increased. A fundamental decision on the supply of the latest combat vehicles has already been made. The timing of the deployment of additional "Breakthroughs" will depend on the fulfillment of the state defense order. The T-90M will be used both for rearmament of existing military units, and will be transferred to newly formed ones," the publication reports.
According to experts, according to its characteristics, the most modern representative of the Russian tank building in service - the T-90M - is almost identical to the "tank of the future" T-14 "Armata", only slightly inferior in driving performance and armor protection.
Tank Capabilities
The main battle tank T-90M "Breakthrough" was created by the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (part of the Uralvagonzavod Corporation as part of the Rostec State Corporation). The combat vehicle is the most advanced in the T-90 family.
Due to the deep modernization of the machine in comparison with the previous representatives of the line, the tank can be considered completely new. For example, a completely new turret was installed on the T-90M, which made it possible to significantly improve protection, increase the internal reserved volume, place new equipment and, moreover, improve the working conditions of the crew. The tank is equipped with a modular complex of dynamic protection of the third generation "Relict", as well as lattice anti-cumulative screens that protect the sides and stern from being hit by anti-tank missiles and grenades. Measures were also taken to increase the survivability of the tank - in particular, the new turret allowed to redistribute the ammunition by transferring some of the shots to the ammunition box behind the turret. The characteristic box has become one of the elements that allow you to recognize a new tank.
The main armament of the tank is a 125-millimeter cannon, which provides the use of new high-efficiency ammunition - for example, armor-piercing sub-caliber ammunition or a guided missile 9M119M developed by the Tula Instrument Design Bureau. The 9M119M can destroy both tanks with modern dynamic protection, but also low-flying targets, including helicopters. Also, to combat manpower, the tank is capable of firing high-explosive shells of remote detonation.
The T-90M is equipped with a new multi-channel all-day sight, which allows the use of weapons at any time of the day, and a digital fire control system with a high degree of automation. The sight is able to recognize a tank-type target through the sight channel at a distance of 5,000 m. The T-90M is equipped with an improved weapon stabilizer in two planes and an automatic target tracking system with the implementation of the hunter-shooter mode (when the commander conducts reconnaissance of targets, and then passes them to the gunner, who independently destroys them).
The vehicle is also integrated into the Constellation-M2 network-centric tactical control system, which allows data exchange with other tanks, a command post, and unmanned reconnaissance vehicles in real time.
The T-90M is equipped with a 1,130 hp diesel engine, which provides the car with high speed characteristics, fuel efficiency and a large power reserve. Additionally, the tank is equipped with a diesel generator that allows you to power the on-board equipment in the parking lot. The tank has a thermoelectric air conditioning system. The use of the Peltier effect in it simplifies the design, allows increasing the reliability of the system under ultra-high shock and mechanical loads, and expanding the operating temperature range.
"Flying Tank"
The car was nicknamed the "flying tank" for a trick that was often repeated at various dynamic shows.
"It looks very impressive. The car accelerates to maximum speed, jumps on a specially made slide and literally takes off above the ground. A few meters of flight through the air, and then a heavy landing, as befits a multi-ton monster. But the crew manages to fire a gun, and then, without slowing down, continue moving," military expert Dmitry Litovkin told TASS. - The audience is delighted, and experts have a reason to think. After all, they were shown the energy of the car, the work of the suspension, as well as the stabilizer of the tank gun. This means that the 46-ton machine will go into battle even after landing, and it can shoot at the target even in flight and will definitely hit it."
Litovkin also recalled that at one of the exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), the designers of the T-90M even offered to arrange a direct tank duel of the Russian car with the American M1 Abrams tank. "As direct witnesses of this story tell, the designer of the American car, Philip Lett, first lit up with the opportunity to compare tanks, even in a "training", but quite real battle, but he was quickly pulled back by his superiors. You never know what can happen, and an American, like a Russian, is moving forward for export," the expert said.
The T-90M weighs only 46.5 tons, which is 12 tons less than the French Leclerc and the German Leopard-2. Also, the Russian tank is 10.7 tons lighter than the American Abrams M1A1 and M1A2 and 16 tons lighter than the English Challenger-2. The side profile of the T-90 is the lowest of all its Western competitors. Squatness makes it possible to make a tank not only inconspicuous on the battlefield, but also to transport it along European railways, which you can't do with foreign tanks - they cling to the upper edges of railway tunnels with towers.
Combat use
The first batch of upgraded tanks entered the army in the spring of 2020. The T-90M is included in the list of military equipment taking part in Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The Rostec State Corporation told reporters that the analysis of the results of the use of equipment in its military, feedback from the military will help in the creation of new promising weapons, as well as in the modernization of existing equipment.
