The Russian tank’s manufacture Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) displayed publicly for the first time a new version of T-90 main battle tank during the demonstration of newest armored vehicles in honor of the tanker’s day on the territory of the 33rd combined-arms training range.
The upgraded version of T-90 main battle tank is called T-90M. The new tank will likely feature many of the technologies developed for Russia’s revolutionary T-14 Armata.
The T-90M will also incorporate advanced defensive systems such are slat armor, active protection systems and new reactive armor. The T-90 main battle tank is an armed with a fully-stabilized longer 2A46M-4 125 mm smoothbore gun. This gun is also used to launch 9K119 Refleks (NATO designation AT-11 Sniper-B) anti-tank guided missiles, in the same manner, as ordinary munitions.
Secondary armament consists of a coaxial PKT 7.62 mm machine gun and a roof mounted remotely-controlled NSVT 12.7 mm machine gun, used against both ground and air targets.
- Crew – 3 men
- Maximum road speed – 60 km/h
- Range – 500 km
The T-90M is equipped with a 1,000 hp power pack, which includes a B-92C2 engine.
According to Chief of the Main Armored Directorate of the Russian Defence Ministry Lt. Gen. Alexander Shevchenko, the modernized T-90M tank has entered state trials.
“The directorate had to speed up the design of new armored fighting vehicles and modernization of old ones in line with combat experience obtained in Syria”, he said.
Supplies of the modernized T-90M tank to the Russian military may begin in 2018.
