Despite being considered the most potent Main Battle Tank, the T-90 hasn’t performed admirably in Ukraine.
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine rages on, the presence of main battle tanks (MBTs) along the front lines has remained
constant
. Both Kyiv and Moscow deploy armored vehicles as they add protection for their crews and make the weapons mounted in them more lethal by their mobility. A range of MBTs, including World War II relics and Cold War-era platforms have seen use in the ongoing war. However, many of these aging tanks have suffered at the hands of lethal unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other modern anti-tank weaponry. While Moscow has lost thousands of its armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles over the last three-plus years of warfare, its troops continue to rely on the T-72, T-80, and T-90 series of MBTs.
The T-72
The
T-72,
Similar to numerous military systems employed by Russian forces nowadays, this system originated during the Cold War era. Currently, tanks from the Soviet period remain operational within the armed forces of over thirty countries, rendering it one of the most extensively utilized Main Battle Tank designs globally. Throughout the years, the
T-72
Has received multiple modernization upgrades. The most recent version, the T-72B3 model, comes fitted with an improved fire control system, a 2A46M5 125mm smoothbore cannon, and advanced thermal imaging capabilities. Despite these enhancements aimed at boosting its defensive measures, the T-72 continues to face challenges when confronted with anti-tank weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine.
The T-80
Partly based on previous Soviet models, the T-80 tank bears resemblance to its T-72 ancestor. Although this main battle tank originally faced problems related to fuel consumption, subsequent upgrades led to a version fitted with a new engine and enhanced protective features. Notably, the T-80 boasts Kontakt-1 Explosive Reactive Armor.
incorporated
into the platform and is designed to detonate anti-tank missiles before they can pose a serious threat. The T-80 was envisioned to go up against the West, but the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR delayed the MBT’s first combat deployment to the 1994 Chechen Wars.
The T-90
As part of the third generation of Russian tanks, the
T-90
The latest T-90M version, referred to as Proryv-3, boasts advanced features surpassing those of earlier models from the Soviet era. This particular iteration comes equipped with an upgraded cannon capable of firing High Explosive (HE), High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), or Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) projectiles using 125mm ammo. Consequently, it exhibits greater lethality compared to previous versions. Furthermore, the T-90M offers improved functionalities over its predecessors.
countermeasures
have been enhanced, such as its Shtora-1 suite which offers a laser warning system, automated smoke emitters, and infrared jammers. Despite being considered one of the deadliest Main Battle Tank models (excluding the T-14 Armata), the T-90 hasn’t performed admirably in Ukraine. Open-source intelligence from Oryx indicates that Russian forces have reportedly lost over 175 T-90 tanks during this conflict.
Given Moscow’s significant losses of tanks, it seems strange that the country’s most recent
T-14 Armata
The series has seen limited deployment in the conflict. Certain experts suggest that the T-14 might not be performing as well as the Russian government claims, which could explain why this supposedly “cutting-edge” system is no longer being used extensively in combat.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin
The National Security Writer for The National Interest serves as an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and previously held the position of Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. Her work has been featured in numerous outlets such as The NationalInterest, Jerusalem Post, and Times ofIsrael. Follow her onTwitter:
@MayaCarlin
Carlin has had more than 1,000 articles published in recent years covering different aspects of defense matters.
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