T-90

This article is about the Russian tank. For T90, see T-90 (disambiguation).

T-90
Russian Army T-90S
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	Russia
Service history
Used by	Russia, India
Production history
Designer	Kartsev-Venediktov
Designed	1993
Manufacturer	Uralvagonzavod
Unit cost	35,226,000 RUB $1,371,000 USD
Produced	1995 - Present
Specifications
Mass	46.5 tonnes
Length	9.53 m (31.27 ft)
Width	3.78 m (9.12 ft)
Height	2.22 m (7.28 ft)
Crew	3
Armor	Classified steel-composite-reactive blend
Main armament	125 mm smoothbore gun with ATGM capability; mainly 9M119 Svir
Secondary armament	7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun
Engine	Model 84 V-84 12-cyl. diesel V-92 12-cyl. diesel V-96 12-cyl. diesel 840 hp (626 kW) for Model 84 V-84 12-cyl. diesel engine 950 hp (708 kW) for V-92 12-cyl. diesel engine 1,100 hp (820 kW) for V-96 12-cyl. diesel engine
Power/weight	18.1 hp/tonne (13.5 kW/tonne) for Model 84 V-84 12-cyl. diesel engine 20.4 hp/tonne (15.2 kW/tonne) for V-92 12-cyl. diesel engine 23.7 hp/tonne (17.6 kW/tonne) for V-96 12-cyl. diesel engine
Suspension	torsion bar
Operational range	650 km[1]
Maximum speed	65 km/h[2]

The GPO Uralvagonzavod T-90 is a Russian main battle tank derived from the T-72, and is currently the most modern tank in the Russian Ground Forces and is also in service with various other foreign military operators. The successor to T-72BM, the T-90 uses the gun and 1G46 gunner sights from the T-80U, a new engine, and thermal sights. Protective measures include Kontakt-5 ERA, laser warning receivers, the EMT-7 electromagnetic pulse creator for the destruction of magnetic mines and the Shtora infrared ATGM jamming system.

Development

By 1992, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that it could no longer afford to manufacture two main battle tanks (MBTs) in parallel. Since both the "quality" T-80U and the cheaper "quantity" T-72B were each being built at two different plants, and each plant was critical to the economy of the city it was in, the Government gave small orders to both. Omsk built five T-80Us and Nizhni Tagil 15 T-72s, and both built more in the hopes of winning large export orders. Nizhni Tagil had built a few T-72BMs, T-72Bs upgraded with a third generation add-on Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) called Kontakt-5, which was already in service on T-80U.

To further improve the T-72's export prospects and its chances of being selected as Russia's sole production MBT, the T-80U's more sophisticated fire control system was also added to produce a vehicle designated T-72BU.

The Russian Defense Ministry made a selection of a single MBT in 1995. The T-80 was more expensive and its delicate, fuel-hungry gas turbine engine provided a questionable advantage. In January 1996, Col.-Gen. Aleksandr Galkin, Chief of the Main Armor Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, announced that the T-90 had been selected as the sole Russian MBT. However newer and upgraded T-80s will remain in Russian service for many years with the T-90 due to Russian economic problems.

The T-90 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 thought by Western observers to be 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.

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 mainly due to its lower cost, the T-90 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.

T-90 during a military exercise in Russia.

Production and service history

The T-90 with an 840 hp (630 kW) engine went into low-level production in 1993, based on a prototype designated T-72BU. The T-90 was developed by Russia's Kartsev-Venediktov Design Bureau at the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil. The T-90 features a new generation of Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armor on its hull and turret. Two variants, the T-90S and T-90E, have been identified as possible export models.

By September 1995, some 107 T-90 tanks had been produced, located in the Siberian Military District.

1999 saw the appearance of a new model of T-90, featuring the fully welded turret of the Obyekt 187 experimental MBT instead of the original T-90's cast turret. This new model is called "Vladimir" in honour of T-90 Chief Designer Vladimir Potkin, who died in 1999. It is unknown how this design affects the protection and layout of the turret, or whether the tank's hull armour layout was changed.

Currently, there are 272 T-90 tanks serving in the Russian Ground Forces's 5th Guards Tank Division, stationed in the Siberian Military District, and seven T-90 tanks in the Navy. Some 60 new T-90 tanks will join the russian army during 2008.

The Russian Federal Service for Defense Contracts (Rosoboronzakaz) announced in July 2008 that a new tank, (which rumour has previously referred to as the T-95), is planned to enter service after 2010. The T-90 is expected to remain in service until 2025, while older T-72 and T-80 tanks are being phased out.

In service with India

The T-90S version is in service with the Indian Army, and the local production of T-90S Bhishma tanks started in India in 2006 or 2007. Bhishma (also spelled 'Bishma') is a warrior from the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In 2001, India bought 310 T-90S tanks from Russia, of which 120 were delivered complete, 90 in semi-knocked down kits, and 100 in completely-knocked down kits. T-90S were made by Uralvagonzavod and the uprated 1,000-hp engines were delivered by Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. These tanks however did not feature Shtora active protection system though there are reports that a separate contract for shipment of a modernized version of this suite is being discussed. The T-90 was selected because it is a direct development of the T-72 which India already employs, simplifying training and maintenance. India bought the T-90 after the delay in production of the domestically developed Arjun main battle tank, and to counter Pakistani deployment of the Ukrainian T-80UD in 1995–97.

The deal between India and Russia, estimated at a value of USD $750 million, also included the complete transfer of T-90 technology and weapon systems to India. With Russian and French assistance, India developed an improved version of T-90S, known as the Bhishma. However, India has reported that problems have arisen with the French-designed thermal sights used on the T-90 due to intense desert heat. In 2006, the Indian Government awarded the Ordnance Factory Board a USD $2.5 billion deal to manufacture 1,000 T-90 Bhishma tanks for the Indian army. On October 26, 2006, India signed another deal with Russia for 800 million USD for 330 T-90S tanks.

Models

• T-90 - Original production model.
  • T-90K - Command version of the T-90.
  • T-90E - Export version of T-90.
  • T-90A - Russian army version with welded turret, V-92S2 engine and ESSA thermal viewer. Sometimes called T-90 Vladimir or T-90M.
    • T-90S - Export version of T-90A. Sometimes called T-90C (Russian Cyrillic letter es looks like a Latin c). Tanks are found with two different turret armour arrays.
      • T-90SK - Command version of the T-90S. It differs in radio and navigation equipment and Ainet remote-detonation system for HEF rounds.
      • T-90S "Bhishma" - modified T-90S in Indian service.

Variants

• BREM-72 - Armoured recovery vehicle.
• MTU-90 - Bridge layer tank with MLC50 bridge.
• IMR-3 - Combat engineer vehicle.
• BMR-3 - Mine clearing vehicle.

Operators

• Russia – about 280 active service. Another 60 tanks are expected to enter service in 2008. 1,100 total including 300 T-72s modernized to T-90 standards.
• India – 310 T-90S "Bhishma" in service. 340 T-90S "Bhishma" to be purchased from Russia, 1,000+ T-90S "Bhishma" to be manufactured in India.
• Saudi Arabia – Reported by Russian daily Kommersant to be in negotiations to buy 150 T-90.

Armament

The T-90's main armament is the 2A46M 125 mm smoothbore gun. This is a highly modified version of the Sprut anti-tank gun, and is the same gun used as the main armament on the T-80-series tanks. It can be replaced without dismantling the inner turret and is capable of firing armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT-FS), and high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) ammunition, as well as 9M119M Refleks anti-tank guided missiles. The Refleks missile has semi-automatic laser beam-riding guidance and a tandem hollow-charge HEAT warhead. It has an effective range of 100 m to 6 km, and takes 17.5 seconds to reach maximum range. Refleks can penetrate ~950 mm of steel armour and can also engage low-flying air targets such as helicopters.

The Kord 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun can be operated from within the tank by the commander and has a range of 2 km and a cyclic rate of fire of 650-750 rounds per minute with 300 rounds available. The PKT 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun weighs about 10.5 kg while the ammunition box carries 250 rounds (7000 rounds carried) and weighs an additional 9.5 kg.

Like other modern Russian tanks the 2A46M in the T-90 is fed by an automatic loader which removes the need for a manual loader in the tank and reduces the crew to 3 (commander, gunner and driver). The autoloader can carry 22 ready-to-fire rounds in its carousel and can load a round in 4-5 seconds. It has been suggested that the automatic loaders on modern T-90 tanks have been modified to take advantage of newer ammunition such as the 3BM-44M APFSDS, which like the US M829A3 penetrates armour better than the previous shorter rounds. Additionally the T-90 features the Ainet fuse setting system which allows the tank to detonate HE-FRAG rounds at a specific distance from the tank as determined by the gunners laser range finder, improving performance against helicopters and infantry.

Fire control on the T-90 includes the PNK-4S/SR AGAT day and night sighting system mounted at the commanders station which allows for night time detection of a tank sized target at ranges between 700 and 1100 meters depending on the version of the sight. Early models of the T-90 were equipped with the TO1-KO1 BURAN sight but later models (T-90S) were upgraded to use the ESSA thermal imaging sight, which allows for accurate firing to a range of 5000-8000 m using the CATHERINE-FC thermal camera produced by Thales Optronique. The gunner is also provided with the 1G46 day sighting system which includes a laser range finder, missile guidance channel and allows tank-sized targets to be detected and engaged at a range from 5000 m to 8000 m. The driver users a TVN-5 day and night sight.

Protection

T-90S Bhishma of the Indian Army on display

The T-90 is fitted with a mixture of conventional steel armour plating, composite armour and explosive reactive armor (ERA). The glacis and the centered low profile turret of the T-90 are covered by the third generation Kontakt-5 ERA and these ERA blocks give the turret its distinctive angled "clam shell" appearance. ERA bricks are also located on the turret roof and provide protection from top-attack weapons. The turrets forward armour package in addition to the ERA and steel plating contains a composite filler sandwiched between upper and lower steel plates, the composite armour takes advange of exotic construction materials like ceramics and plastics to lower weight and improve protection when compared with steel plate.

The T-90 is equipped with the Shtora-1 (Russian: Штора-1 or "curtain" in English) countermeasures suite, produced by Elektromashina of Russia. This system includes two infrared jammers on the front of the turret, four laser warning receivers, two 3D6 aerosol grenade discharging systems and a computerized control system. The Shtora-1 warns the tank's crew when the tank has been 'painted' by a weapon-guidance laser and allows the crew to slew the turret to face the threat. The infrared jammer, the TShU1-7 EOCMDAS, jams the semiautomatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance system of some anti-tank guided missiles. The aerosol grenades can be used to mask the tank from laser rangefinders and designators as well as the optics of other weapons systems. Indian T-90S tanks are not equipped with the Shtora-1 countermeasures suite.

In addition to the passive and active protection systems the T-90 is also fitted with nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) protection equipment, KMT mine sweeps and an automatic fire fighting system.

During a reported test conducted by the Russian military in 1999 the T-90 was exposed to a variety of RPG, ATGM and APFSDS munitions. When equipped with Kontakt-5 ERA the T-90 could not be penetrated with any of the APFSDS or ATGM used during the trial and outperformed a T-80U which also took part.

See also

• 125 mm smoothbore rounds
• Black Eagle tank
• List of tanks
• List of Soviet tanks
• M-2001, M-95 Degman
• P'okpoong-Ho

References

• Mallika, Joseph (2004) “Issue Brief No. 19: T-90S ‘Bhishma’”. Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. URL accessed 2006-07-24.
• Sewell, Stephen "Cookie" (July–August 1998). "Why Three Tanks?" Armor 108 (4):21. (PDF format)

External links

• T-90S Main Battle Tank — Bharat Rakshak
• Uralvagonzavod, manufacturer's English-language home page (Russian, T-90 English page)
• The T-90 tank by the Federation of American Scientists
• T-90S Main Battle Tank at the Armor Site
• Main battle tank T-90: Firing sample
• Main battle tank T-90 at GlobalSecurity.org
• T-90S is a Dud, it can’t fire far enough