T-90 Main Battle Tank

The T-90 main battle tank, the most modern tank in the army arsenal, went into low-level
production in 1993, based on a prototype designated as the T-88. The T-90 was developed
by the Kartsev-Venediktov Design Bureau at the Vagonka Works in Nizhniy Tagil.
Initially seen as an entirely new design, the production model is in fact based on the T-
72BM, with some added features from the T-80 series. The T-90 features a new
generation of armor on its hull and turret. Two variants, the T-90S and T-90E, have been
identified as possible export models. Plans called for all earlier models to be replaced
with T-90s by the end of 1997, subject to funding availability. By mid-1996 some 107 T-
90s had gone into service in the Far Eastern Military District.

Derived from the T-72, the GPO Uralvagonzavod T-90 is the most modern tank currently
in service with the Russian Army. Of conventional layout, the T-90 represents a major
upgrade to every system in the T-72, including the main gun. The T-90 is an interim
solution, pending the introduction of the new Nizhny Tagil MBT which has been delayed
due to lack of funding. Produced primarily mainly due to its lower cost, the T-90 it will
probably remain in low-rate production to keep production lines open until newer designs
become available. Several hundred of these tanks have been produced, with various
estimates suggesting that between 100 and 300 are in service, primarily in the Far East.

The T-90 retains the 125-mm 2A46-series main gun of the T-72 and T-80 which is
capable of firing APDS, HEAT and HE-FRAG projectiles as well as time-fuzed shrapnel
projectiles. The Refleks 9M119 AT-11 SNIPER laser-guided missile with a hollow-charge
warhead is effective against both armored targets and low-flying helicopters. The missile,
which can penetrate 700-mm of RHAe out to 4000 meters, gives the T-90 the ability to
engage other vehicles and helicopters before they can engage the T-90. The computerised
fire control system and laser range-finder, coupled with the new Agave gunner's thermal
sight, permit the T-90 to engage targets while on the move and at night. However, this
first generation system is probably not as capable as current Western counterpart systems.
The tank is fitted with precision laying equipment and an automatic loader to guarantee a
high rate of gun fire. Secondary armament includes a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun
and 12.7mm machine gun mount to for air and ground targets.

The T-90 features the low silhouette of the earlier Russian tanks, with a low rounded
turret centered on the hull, and is fitted with combined passive and active defenses which
make the T-90 one of the best protected main battle tanks in the world. The glacis is
covered by second generation explosive reactive armor [ERA] bricks, as is the turret.
This ERA gives the turret an angled appearance, with the ERA bricks forming a "clam
shell" appearance. ERA bricks on the turret roof provide protection from top-attack
weapons.

The T-90 is equiped with the TShU-1-7 Shtora-1 optronic counter measures system which
is designed to disrupt the laser target designation and rangefinders of incoming ATGM.
The T-90 is also equipped with a laser warning package that warns the tank crew when it
is being lased. Shtora-1 is an electro-optical jammer that jams the enemy’s semiautomatic
command to line of sight (SACLOS) antitank guided missiles, laser rangefinders and
target designators. Shtora-1 is actually a soft kill, or countermeasures system. It is most
effective when
used in tandem
with a hard kill
system such as the
Arena. During the
International
Defense
Exposition
(IDEX) held in
Abu Dhabi in
1995, the system
was shown fitted
to a Russian MBT.
The first known
application of the
system is the
Russian T-90
MBT that entered
service in the Russian Army in 1993. Shtora-1 is currently installed on the T-80UK, T-
80U, T-84 and T-90 MBTs.

The Shtora-1 system comprises four key components, the electro-optical interface station,
which includes a jammer, modulator, and control panel; a bank of forward-firing grenade
dischargers mounted on either side of the turret that are capable of firing grenades
dispensing an aerosol screen; a laser warning system with precision and coarse heads;
and a control system comprising control panel, microprocessor, and manual screen-laying
panel. This processes the information from the sensors and activates the aerosol screen-
laying system. Two infrared lights, one on each side of the main gun, continuously emit
coded pulsed infrared jamming when an incoming ATGM has been detected. Shtora-1 has
a field of view of 360-degrees horizontally and -5 to +25-degrees in elevation. It contains
12 aerosol screen launchers and weighs 400kg. The screening aerosol takes less than 3
seconds to form and
lasts about 20
seconds. The screen
laying range is
between 50-70
meters.

The T-90 is
powered by the V-
84MS 618 kW (840
hp) four-stroke V-12
piston multi-fuel
diesel engine, which
can also run on T-2,
TS-1 kerosene and
A-72 benzine. This
engine results in a
power to weight
ratio of only 18.06
hp/ton, considerably less than that of the T-80. The tank crew can prepare fording
equipment within 20 minutes to negotiate 5 meter deep water obstacles. The tank is also
fitted with the NBC protection system and mounted mineclearing equipment.

VARIANTS

There are at least three different variants of the T-90. The Russians confirmed the
existence of an export variant in June 1996 with varying equipment and engine fits, and
Russian promotional materials have discussed both the T-90S (or “C” in the sometimes-
used Cyrillic non-translation) and the T-90SK command variant. The T-90K command
variant differs in radio and navigation equipment and Ainet remote-detonation system for
HEF rounds. There are also occasional references to a T-90E, but these appear to be
unsubstantiated.
As of mid-2000 India planned to acquire T-90 tanks, based on field trials which had
already been completed. Although orders had been placed for the supply of 124 Arjun
tanks through the Defence Research Development Organisation, it would be difficult to
predict when these orders would be fufilled. Until such time, T-90 tanks would serve to
counter Pakistan's T-85 tanks.
 Specifications
Dimensions
Length 9.53 - 6.86 meters
Width 3.78 meters
Height 2.225 meters
clearance 0.47 meters
Weight 46.5 - 50 metric tons
Armored volume 11.04 m3
turretvolume 1.85 m3
Crew 3
840 hp V-84MS diesel
1,000 hp V-84KD turbo-supercharged diesel
Engine
1,000 hp V-85 diesel
1 kW AB-1-P28 auxiliary power unit
Max Road Speed 65 km/h
Max cross-country
45 km/h
Speed
Power/Weight 18 - 20.0 hp/tn
Ground Pressure 0.938 kg/sq.cm
Range 550 - 650 km
Obstacle negotiation
Fording depth 1.2 m on the move/5 m with OPVT (snorkel)
Trench width 2.8 m
Vertical obstacle 0.8 m
Maximum gradient 30°
Weapons
Main Weapon 125mm 2A46M-2 smoothbore
Stabilization 2E42-4 Zhasmin
Rate of fire 6-8 rounds/min
Ammunition 43 rounds (22 in carousel)
Ammunition Types APFSDS, HEAT, HEF
ATGM through
9M119M Refleks-M (AT-11 Sniper-B)
125mm
 Coaxial PKT 7.62mm (2000 rounds)
Machine Guns Remotely-controlled AAMG mount Utjos NSVT
12.7mm (300 rounds)
12 902B 82mm mortars with 3D17 smoke grenades
Smoke Screens
smoke discharger
Equipment
TO1-PO2T Agava-2 TI (target id range 2.5 km)
Night Vision
TPN-4-49-23 Buran-PA (target id range 1.2/1.5 km)
1A45T Irtysh computerized system with 9S515 missile
Fire Control
guidance system
Onboard sights
PNK-4S sight includes TKN-4S Agat-S day/night sight
Commander
(target id range 800 m (day)/700 m (night))
1V528-1 ballistic computer
1A43 rangefinder/sight
Gunner
1G46 laying device
DVE-BS wind gauge
Driver TVN-5 IR night viewer
R-163-50U
Radio
R-163-50U + R-163-50K (T-90K)
Navigation TNA-4-3 (T-90K)
Shtora-1 EOCMDAS
Jammers
Dazzle painting
NBC, 3ETs13 Inej auto-fire-fighting equipment,
self-dig-in blade,
Other
air conditioning,
KMT-6 mine clearing equipment (optional)
laminated front, side and top armor behind Kontakt-5
Front & side armor
ERA
vs APFSDS: 550 mm + 250-280mm with Kontakt-5 =
Front armor rating, 800-830mm
mm RHA vs HEAT: 650 mm + 500-700mm with Kontakt-5 =
1,150-1,350mm