Russian Floor Forces Commander-in-Chief Colonel Basic Andrey Mordvichev has expressed a excessive degree of satisfaction with the nation’s new armoured autos, following three and a half years of intensive fight testing and incremental modernisation. “Superior armour, akin to T-90M tanks, BMP-2M infantry preventing autos with the Berezhok fight module, BMP-3 IFVs and BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers exhibit excessive effectivity within the particular navy operation,” he said, in reference to the continuing battle effort within the Ukrainain theatre towards Ukrainain and supporting Western Bloc and worldwide contractor forces. “Numerous armoured autos, akin to Storm-Okay, Asteis and Ural-VPK have additionally confirmed their value,” Mordvichev added.
The capabilities of the T-90M predominant battle tank have been notably singled out by Russian officers for its superior capabilities, with Deputy Chairman of the Russian Safety Council Dmitry Medvedev beforehand noting in February 2024 that the autos “have confirmed themselves brilliantly throughout the particular op interval.” “Battle commanders that come again from the frontline and order tools, they requested to assist with acquiring the T-90Ms. It’s a excellent weapon,” he added. Medvedev beforehand said in March 2023: “In my view, this [T-90M tank] is now the most effective tank on the planet … It’s definitely higher than Leopard, Challenger, Abrams [tanks], together with by way of its tactical and technical knowledge, even by way of such a part as mass.” Equally robust reward for the tank was given by President Vladimir Putin 4 months later in July, when he cited a report concerning the T-90M’s sturdiness when hitting a roadside bomb, and referred to it as the most effective tank on the planet.
Launched into service in April 2020, after the procurement of the primary ten autos the earlier yr, a number of the T-90M’s most notable options have included a powerful base armour, very large protection utilizing Relikt explosive reactive armour, use of extremely refined new fireplace controls and thermal sights, and an impartial thermal viewer and digital show for the commander. The tank’s firepower additionally improved considerably on its predecessors, with a brand new autoloader and predominant gun permitting it to combine longer armour piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot rounds with a a lot larger penetrative capabilities towards enemy armour. Separation of the tank’s ammunition and crew, and a major enhance within the ranges of safety surrounding the autoloader carousel, have been additionally main contributors to survivability. The tank has nonetheless maintained the low upkeep necessities attribute of the T-72 household of autos, making it considerably simpler to function than Western tanks or than the T-64 or T-80 which might be additionally presently being utilized by each side in Ukraine.
Regardless of its superior capabilities and important enhancements in survivability in comparison with previous autos, the T-90M has taken important losses within the Ukrainian theatre, primarily to assaults by single use drones and loitering munitions. Issues have been raised that even with a major growth of manufacturing, and energetic efforts to refurbish and modernise Soviet constructed T-62, T-72 and T-80 tanks from stockpiles, the Russian defence sector will likely be unable to maintain its tank fleet within the face of continued losses. Ukraine has notably suffered extra acutely from armour shortages, as its supporters within the Western world have remained restricted within the skill to replenish its losses. A big discount in attrition charges for Russian tanks in 2025 in comparison with earlier years, nevertheless, is anticipated to purchase crucial time for T-90M manufacturing charges to additional increase, as is a major increase to survivability that’s anticipated to be offered by the mixing of the Area-M energetic safety system on the T-90M and superior T-72 variants.
