T-90S

T-90S

In the second half of the 1990s, the T-90S tank was developed and began mass production at Uralvagonzavod, as a new generation of "rocket-pusher" tanks, incorporating the best of the T-72 and T-80 series of tanks.

The T-90S tank has been developed for the Asian market based on a thorough analysis of the tactics and strategy of using tanks in current combat and on the experience gained from the use of T-72 tanks in user countries, as well as on the results from tests under extreme conditions.
This tank is characterized by the typical Russian school, characterized by light weight, small silhouette with great mobility and powerful armament. The combat weight is 46.5 tons, the crew is made up of 3 soldiers. Using automatic reloading, the tank is capable of firing 7-8 rounds per minute, which represents a considerable advantage compared to tanks of the same generation. A high level of firepower has been achieved through the installation of the 2A46M1 gun with improved ballistic characteristics and the ability to fire PTRS from the gun, the use of more effective ammunition, improved SRP characteristics and shortened preparation for firing.
The improved effectiveness of the tank gun has been achieved through improved weapon system controls, allowing it to more effectively conduct fire on both ground and low-flying targets. PTRS fired from the cannon are guided to the target by a laser beam. The missiles are housed in an automatic reloading magazine. The total firing diameter of the cannon ammunition is 43 rounds, of which 22 are in the autoloader magazine. The cannon is stabilised in two planes. The tank's additional armament consists of a 7.62 mm machine gun coupled to the cannon and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
The tank is equipped with a diesel engine, which has the following advantages over a gas turbine (especially in tropical climates and desert conditions), namely a small power drop at high ambient temperatures, a highly efficient air filter, resulting in greater engine reliability in dusty environments, and 1.8 to 2 times lower fuel consumption. The T-90S tank is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 60 km/h and has a range of 550 km.

The SPR upgrade provides an increase in effective range, stabilized battlefield observation by the commander, including an increase in observation and firing range at night, and control and firing of the cannon and coupled machine gun. The range of observation of the gunner at night has also been increased, including the use of streamlined infrared observation. The automatic SRP consists of a laser sight that allows the PTRS to fire at a target stationary or moving, from a position or while moving, at ranges from 100 to 5,000 m, thereby destroying the target at a greater distance than it is able to effectively use its weapon system.

It also includes a tank protection system jamming semi-automatically guided PTRS, as well as an automatic laser illumination indicator that works in synergy with the smoke grenade throwing system. This system automatically cancels the beams of the laser range finders as well as the laser designators of the PTRS.

The SRP allows the commander to conduct fire with the anti-aircraft machine gun, which is remotely controlled, at air targets and, in a stabilized mode, at ground targets. Reactive armor is installed on the tank to provide effective protection against subcaliber and cumulative missiles. The combination of layered armour and reactive armour has increased the tank's combat capability and increased its ability to survive on today's battlefield.

The new 1,000 horsepower V-92S2 engine provides the tank with high mobility and maneuverability. Air-conditioning has been installed in the tank to increase crew comfort.
The introduction of these innovations and the possibility of future upgrades significantly improves the tank's overall efficiency, operational capability, reliability and manoeuvrability. In overall terms, the efficiency is 1.5 times greater than that of the T-72S tank. The installation of new equipment has increased combat and operational capabilities and increased reliability, while maintaining the dimensions of the T-72S tank, with only a two-ton increase in weight.
However, the improvement in the combat capabilities of the T-90S tank makes the vehicle more complicated, which would seem to make handling and maintenance more difficult, there will be an increase in combat preparation and security requirements, but the overall result of the modernization shows that the unique implementation of this tank modification has not confirmed these hypotheses at all. The T-90S tank is characterized by optimal adaptation to the harsh environment of today's combat, increased reliability of all unit assemblies and systems, excellent mobility and maneuverability regardless of road conditions, including deserts and mountains, and low costs incurred for operator training.

The armament of the tank consists of a 125 mm calibre 2A46M1 gun with a smooth bore barrel, with which is coupled a PKT machine gun of 7.62 mm calibre and a NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun of 12.7 mm calibre. Like all modern Russian tanks, the T-90S is equipped with an anti-tank missile suite. The 9K119 "Reflex" kit uses the 3UBK14 cartridge with the PTRS 9M119 or the new 3UBK20 cartridge with the upgraded PTRS 9M119M tandem warhead. The ammunition supply carried is 43 rounds for the gun, 2000 for the PKT and 300 for the NSVT.

The fire control system (SRP) 1A45T is quite new. It is actually a modification of the SRP 1A45 that was built into the T-80U/T-80UD. The SRP is designed to effectively conduct long-range aimed gun fire with both conventional ammunition and PTRS, both on the move and from a position, at moving and stationary targets, day and night, with fire controllable by both the gunner and the commander. The infrared night vision system is designated TO1-KO1.

For night operations, the gunner's station is equipped with the TPN4-49-23 "Buran -PA" sight or the newer "Agava-2" system. The "Buran-PA" sight can detect targets at night up to a distance of 1200m in passive mode or 1500m in active mode. It is claimed that the "Agava-2" system can conduct fire up to a distance of more than 2500m.

Fire guidance against aerial targets is provided by the 1EC29 anti-aircraft machine gun control system, stabilised in the vertical plane. The NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun is used to aim the PZU-7 sight when firing at aerial targets. The remote electromechanical control of the anti-aircraft machine gun allows the commander to conduct effective fire against aerial targets, as well as lightly armored targets and live fire.
Among the very important design features of the T-90S tank is its increased level of protection, which has been achieved in several ways. These include, for example, advanced multi-layer armour technology for all exposed areas of the tank, also using the first dynamic armour protection. On the front of the hull, the most advanced solution of the above technology, the so-called "built-in dynamic armour protection", is applied. This type of protection - known in the literature as "Contact-5" - solves the problem of significantly reducing the irreparable damage to the tank when hit by anti-tank means with cumulative effects. According to Russian experts, the built-in protection is lighter in weight than conventional types, low in cost, less difficult to manufacture, and simple in terms of installation and operation.
The tank is also equipped with the TSU-1-7 "Stump" optoelectronic jamming set. The kit is designed for individual tank protection against PTRS hit with semi-automatic laser homing, for jamming of homing systems of adversary's PT assets using laser range finders and irradiators, and also for jamming of semi-automatic homing systems based on the principle of tracking the trail of PTRS as they fly to the target.

This set consists of laser irradiation detectors, an electrical voltage converter, two control panels, a microprocessor to control the operation of the set, throwers with aerosol and smoke grenades and finally two powerful infrared optoelectronic jammers TSU-1-7 and their modulators. The throwers are based on the 902V "Tucha" system. The cloud created by the aerosol grenades is difficult for laser irradiators and guidance systems to penetrate.
Another device to increase the likelihood of battlefield survival of the T-90S and its crew is the 3EC13-1 "Inej" high reaction speed anti-aircraft system. Firefighting is provided by the high response rate firefighting system. The firefighting system provides fire detection and discharge of extinguishing medium into the tank's endangered compartments within 150ms. The tank is also perfectly protected against the effects of radiation, chemical and biological weapons.

The likelihood of tank destruction in the event of an anti-tank mine or anti-tank landmine explosion is reduced by the tank minesweeper.

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In the August (July) 2017 ordered Iraq 73 machines T-90S (including veliteľskej version of the T-90SK) on doplnenie summon weaponry. Vo februári (February) 2018 confirmed Iracké the ministry of defence the supply of 36 machines and dňom 06.06.2018 sa started prezbrojovanie two práporov 35. the itty-bitty energizer brigade 9. obrnenej divízie. Pretty 39 machines T90S/T-90SK for this brigade nahrádza tanks M1A1M Abrams, ktoré sa presúvajú to 34. obrnenej brigáde 9. obrnenej divízie (where nahrádzajú tanks T-72. Preškolenie osádok and obslúh prebieha under the leadership of inštruktorov of the Russian federácie.

Source: www.janes.com
www.defence24.pl

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As a result of the huge losses of tank equipment during the Russian-Ukrainian war, Russia was forced to deploy not only obsolete T-62M tanks, but also T-90S machines for export to foreign customers. In mid-September 2022, a video surfaced showing new T-90S vehicles in "Indian" configuration that were to be transferred to the armament of the Russian military. Then, in early October, one of these tanks, pictured below, apparently appeared in Ukraine.

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