The top-of-the-range model T-90-M is equipped with the latest technology. The tank could also be of great interest to western armies.
The rapid offensive of the Ukrainian army in Kharkiv, in the north-east of the country, brought numerous successes. Large areas were retaken, and the Ukrainian army looted a brigade’s worth of military hardware from the fleeing Russians. One of the biggest surprises was the discovery of a single T-90M main battle tank. It’s just one of at least 380 tanks captured since the start of the war, but it’s extremely useful. What is a T-90-M tank and why is it important?
The confiscation of a weapon can provide valuable information about the state of opposing military technology. This is also why countries try to protect their weapons in war. American efforts to examine the T-72 during the Cold War failed on multiple occasions until a ruthless Romanian arms dealer sold a T-72 to an American agent in 1987, ostensibly as scrap metal. The deal was later uncovered by the KGB and made public.
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The coveted T-72 had been in service for 14 years before the Americans finally had a chance to examine it. By that time, however, it was obsolete. The T-90-M, on the other hand, has only been in service for two years.
The T-90-M – also known as the Proryv-3, meaning “breakthrough” – is Russia’s premier main battle tank. It is a further development of the previous model T-90, which came onto the market in the early 1990s. Both models, of which the army owns several hundred, are vastly superior to the Soviet tanks, which are still widely used in both Russia and Ukraine.
The T-90-M tanks were not used in the first attack. Some pundits suspected they were being held back for a possible war with NATO – until they surfaced a few months into the war.
The armor has several layers of protection. The outermost is a “magic cloak” called a nakidka. It is made of an unknown material that, according to Russian sources, can shield both heat and radio signals. This coating theoretically protects the T-90-M from NATO radars, which locate Russian vehicles from a long distance. It also hinders the use of guided anti-tank missiles that use thermal imaging to lock onto their targets.
In addition, the tank features an Afghanit active protection system that fires projectiles to intercept close-range attacks. Any attack on the T-90-M tank must also penetrate its explosive-reactive armor, which is used by many Russian tank models and which can prevent the detonation of anti-tank missiles. Last but not least, the armored shell of the T-90-M is a closely guarded secret.
However, the T-90-M tank is not invulnerable. Ukrainian forces have already destroyed one, but capturing it is far more useful. If you manage to disassemble and analyze a top-of-the-line Russian main battle tank, it will be easier to capture more T-90-M in the future. The captured tank features not only a high-tech defense system, but also the latest Russian offensive weapons, including a computer-controlled fire control system and a cannon that can fire guided missiles.
The captured example of the T-90-M will give military analysts an opportunity to scrutinize Russia’s claims regarding its capabilities. And as the war in Ukraine continues, other sources of information will emerge. The West has already gained access to a number of Russian radar, reconnaissance and combat vehicles and their valuable secrets. Fleeing Russian soldiers should be more careful about what they leave behind.
The article first appeared in The Economist under the title “Why the capture of a Russian T-90M tank matters” and was translated by Andrea Schleipen.
“Ukraine captures Russian T-90M tanks – a veritable military bonanza” comes from The Economist.
