Russia’s advanced T-90M main battle tanks arrive for troops in Ukraine

Europe, News December 21, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Russia has sent a batch of advanced T-90M ‘Proryv’ (‘Breakthrough’) main battle tanks to Central Military District in the warzone in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on December 20, 2022.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the advanced tanks have arrived for an armored unit of the Central Military District in Ukraine. Russian news agency Tass reported that crews of the tanks are currently practicing firing and exercising to ride new vehicles across terrain obstacles.

“The tank crews are practicing gunnery from the tank’s standard armament from sheltered positions and open sites by direct fire, with the gunfire being adjusted by unmanned aerial vehicles,” Tass reported.

The Ministry commented on a video of Russian military personnel combat training and said that “A batch of advanced upgraded T-90M ‘Proryv’ tanks has arrived for an armored unit of the Central Military District. The tank crews are honing their gunnery and vehicle control skills.”

The statement further added that “Instructors are training the personnel taking into account present-day combat experience. After mastering their interoperability, the tank crews will start accomplishing missions within the Otvazhniye (Courageous) battlegroup.”

The T-90 tank was designed and built by the Urals Design Bureau of Transport Machine-Building a part of the defense manufacturer Uralvagonzavod. Russia’s main battle tank ‘Proryv’ has an advanced multichannel sight system enabling it to employ its armaments at any time of day or night.

*^{Russia’s advanced T-90M main battle tank (L). (Image Credit: Anton Novoderezhkin/TASS)}*

Russia has made several upgrades to make the T-90M tank more lethal and faster. Some of the improvements include introducing a new turret design in the main battle tank and equipping it with the advanced fire control system “Kalina” (with integrated combat information and control systems).

T-90M tanks also have improved armor on the ammunition carousel, an upgraded 2A46M-5 gun, and a remote-controlled anti-aircraft gun.

The tank’s 125mm cannon can fire powerful munitions and missiles and is capable of destroying enemy tanks at a range of up to 5 km. The upgraded autoloader in the T-90M can allow the main battle tank to fire shells more effectively and at longer ranges and the ammunition storage has been moved around the hull to the rear of the turret.

The T-90M also includes the Relikt, the 3rd generation of Russian explosive reactive armor bricks and has an advanced enhanced environmental control system, a powerful 1130 hp V-92S2F engine, and an improved version of satellite navigation systems.