T-90

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
T-90A
A Russian T-90 in the parade in Red Square on May 9, 2009

A Russian T-90 in the parade in Red Square on May 9, 2009
General properties
crew 3 (commander, driver, gunner)
length 6.86 m, with cannon 9.53 m
width 3.78 m
height 2.23 m
Dimensions 46.5 tons
Armor and armament
Armor Composite armor , reactive armor
Main armament 1 × 125 mm smoothbore cannon 2A46 M2 with ATGM capability for 9K119 Refleks
Secondary armament 1 × 7.62mm machine gun,
1 × 12.7mm AA machine gun
agility
drive V-12 diesel engine W-92S2
1,000 PS (735 kW)
suspension Torsion bar
Top speed 65 km / h
Power / weight 15.8 kW / t (21.5 PS / t)
Range 375 km, 550 km with external tanks

The T-90 is a main battle tank of the Russian Army . The main battle tank developed by Uralwagonsawod is used together with the T-80 U. Several hundred copies were exported.

history

The first prototype was made in 1989 near Uralwagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil and was named Object 188 . This was a converted T-72 B with the fire control system of the T-80 U and new reactive armor (ERA) of the Kontakt-5 type . Later, improved turret armor and the TSchU-1 Schtora -1 self-protection system were retrofitted. This tank was called the T-72BU , but after the limited success of the Iraqi T-72 in the Second Gulf War, it was given the new name T-90 for marketing reasons. Series production began in 1992. The T-90 was first presented to the public in 1993 at the Kubinka military exhibition.

In 2001 India acquired the license to build 1000 T-90S. From 2016, arrangements were made to purchase a further 464 tanks in kit form from Russia, as the Indian production commissioned in 2006 at Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF) progressed too slowly to reach the planned number by 2020.

The successor to the T-90 in Russia is the T-14 battle tank based on the Armata platform .

technical description

Tub and tower

The tub consists of welded armored steel elements; the cast steel turret developed from the turret of the T-72BU . The tank has the typical low silhouette of Russian tanks, which significantly reduces its hit area. The interior volume of the vehicle is only 11 m³, so the three-person crew has to make do with a very small interior space. In 2000, the T-90A variant with a welded tower was developed, which is named T-90A "Vladimir" in honor of the general designer Vladimir Potkin, who died in 1999 . In 2006, the export version of the T-90A with the designation T-90SA ( Russian Т-90СА ), which received air conditioning, was presented. In 2012, the latest export version called the T-90SM was presented. This variant has been extensively modified. To increase the passive protection, a new tower with reinforced roof armor and an ammunition magazine separate from the crew was scaffolded; In addition, there is new reactive armor “Relikt” on the hull and turret, as well as reinforced side and rear armor on the hull and turret. A modified engine with 1130 hp increases the mobility of the T-90SM, the air conditioning the comfort of the crew in hot regions. The fire control system was equipped with the new main telescopic sight "Sosna-U", a third-generation thermal imaging device and a new panoramic viewing device for the commander. The tank received a remote-controlled weapon station with a 12.7 mm machine gun , which is coupled with the commander's vision device. A new display device for the driver was also installed.

Protective measures

passive

Russian T-90 at a demonstration underwater

The vehicle hull is largely made of armored steel, the front of the hull is reinforced with composite armor . This consists of an inner layer of steel , a middle layer of GRP (Steltexolit) and an outer layer of two layers of armored steel with different degrees of hardness. In addition, elements of the reactive armor of the Kontakt-5 type are attached to the front of the hull .

The turret of the T-90 is made of cast steel . The turret front consists of composite armor. This is housed on the side of the cannon mantle in chambers in the front half of the tower. The composite armor presumably consists of high-strength steels with various degrees of hardness, aluminum and Al 2 O 3 ceramics. In addition, contact 5 elements are attached to the front half of the tower.

The T-90A (T-90SA) and the T-90M (T-90SM) have a welded tower that is equipped with laminate armor and reactive armor of the types "Kontakt-5" or "Relikt".

The front armor of the T-90 and T-90S offers a level of protection of 800–830 mm RHA equivalent against KE projectiles and 1150–1350 mm RHA equivalent against shaped charges .

active

An infrared spotlight from the Schtora system with a protective cover attached

Russian T-90s are serially equipped with the electro-optical defense complex TSchU-1 Shtora-1 ("curtain"). The fully automated system consists of four parts: in addition to the computer system, it includes two infrared spotlights on the front of the tower, smoke candles and a laser warning sensor. Infrared searchlights attached to the tower can be switched on manually and emit an overlaying false infrared signature in order to deceive IR-guided missiles. In the event of a laser targeting, the tower automatically swivels into the threat axis and triggers the smoke cannons. In this way, an aerosol cloud is generated within a few seconds, which is supposed to make target tracking in the optical as well as in the IR range impossible. Tests have shown that the probability of a hit is reduced to a third to a quarter with semi-automatic guidance systems. This applies to western weapons such as HOT , TOW , MILAN , Trigat , M47 Dragon , AGM-114 Hellfire and Copperhead , as well as to eastern weapons such as 9K11 Maljutka , 9K113 Konkurs , 9K116 Kastet and 9K135 Kornet . However, not all export customers ordered this system.

Drive and driving system

Diesel engine W-92

Because of the greater weight, the power of the W-46 diesel engine of the T-72 no longer met the requirements. Therefore, the diesel engine W-84 MS with 618 kW (840 PS) was installed in the first models . From 2004, the tanks were equipped with the W-92 S2 engine with 740 kW (1,006 hp) built in the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. In the version exported to India, a 735 kW (999 hp) engine is used. The T-90's support roller drive is largely similar to that of the T-72. It consists of six rollers with torsion bars and three support rollers on each side. After a short preparation, the T-90 can go underwater. Water hazards up to 4.50 m deep can be overcome in this way. It is able to cross trenches up to 2.80 m wide and height obstacles up to 0.85 m. Under the bow there is a digging aid the width of the tub, which can be folded down to push out positions. An electromagnetic or mechanical mine clearing device can also be installed. At the rear there are two brackets for carrying a recovery beam. This, together with two special ropes, enables the tank to be recovered. The tank can inject diesel into the exhaust system to fog itself.

Armament

2A46M-1 tank cannon

Various versions of the 125 mm smoothbore cannon were installed during production . The versions 2A46M-2 (L51) and the new, extended 2A46M-5 (L55) are most frequently used . The cannon is fully stabilized. The two-part ammunition is automatically loaded from a loading carousel, the loader is not required. The combat set is 42 rounds for the 125 mm cannon, 22 of which are in the loading carousel, the rest in racks in free spaces in the interior. The ammunition is divided into the cartridge for the propellant charge and the projectile. The cartridge is a partial burn-up charge, of which only a metal case base remains after being fired. This is ejected by the loading machine during reloading through a hatch in the rear wall of the tower. The practical rate of fire is around seven to nine rounds per minute. In comparison, a well-trained loader in tanks without an automatic loader achieves reload times of less than five seconds (around twelve rounds / min) under ideal conditions. Refilling the loading machine is easy and relatively quick; manual loading when it fails is time-consuming.

As with all Russian tanks up to the T-90, the ammunition is housed in the combat compartment of the tank. If the armor penetrates in the combat compartment, there is a risk that this ammunition will ignite and explode. This means the death of the crew as well as the total failure of the tank.

The following types of ammunition are available for the 125 mm smoothbore cannon:

A normal combat set consists of the following types of projectiles:

  • 15 pieces of APFSDS bullets of the type BM-42 , penetration 590–630 mm armored steel at 2000 meters
  • 6 pieces of HEAT shells of the type BK-29M , penetration 650–750 mm armored steel
  • 15 pieces of FRAG-HE shells of the type OF-19 or OF-26
  • 6 pieces 9K119M tubular rockets, range 5000 m, penetration 650–700 mm armored steel

The following ammunition can optionally be fired:

  • HEAT grenade BK-21M with a shaped charge, lined with a uranium insert , penetration 550–750 mm armor steel
  • HEAT grenade BK-27 with triple hollow charge, penetration 700–800 mm armor steel
  • APFSDS bullet of type BM-29 and BM-32 with DU penetrator

Like the T-64 and T-80 , the T-90 can fire laser-guided missiles from the 125 mm cannon. The weapon system is named 9K119 Refleks ( NATO code name : AT-11 Sniper). The 9M119M Invar missile is loaded into the barrel like ordinary ammunition while the target object is sighted with the main 1G46 rifle scope. After the launch, a solid-fuel motor ignites while the control surfaces are unfolded and the missile approaches the target in the laser beam channel. The range of the weapon system is 5000 m, the hit probability is around 90%. The 4.5 kg tandem shaped charge penetrates 900–950 mm armor steel and 800–850 mm behind reactive armor.

In addition to the main weapon, the T-90 has a coaxial 7.62 mm PKT MG with 2000 and a 12.7 mm Fla-MG cord with 300 rounds of ammunition.

Fire control systems

The T-90's 1A45T Irtysh fire control system was adopted from the T-80. It is equipped with the stabilization system 2Eh42 and the ballistic computer 1W528 . The gunner has a periscope rifle scope 1G46 with laser rangefinder and the 9S515 steering unit for the 9K119-Refleks guided weapon system. A stabilized active / passive infrared riflescope of the type TPN-4 Buran-PA or AGAWA-2 with a connection to a monitor for the commander is also available. At night, fire fighting is possible at a maximum fighting distance of up to 1300 m. The fire control system includes a digital ballistic computer unit and environmental sensors. Only around every tenth T-90 in the Russian armed forces is equipped with a thermal imaging device. The successors T-90A are all equipped with the thermal imaging riflescope ESSA.

The commander has a rotatable dome and five corner mirrors as well as a vertically stabilized periscope TKN-4S with day and passive infrared night channel. The commander can hand over targets to the gunner and independently take control of the armament.

commitment

The T-90 was first used on a small scale during the Dagestan War in 1999. A group of eight to twelve T-90s destined for export to India were used in this conflict. A T-90 received seven RPG hits during combat ; the vehicle remained operational anyway.

The T-90 was also used in the context of the Russian military operation in the civil war in Syria from November 2015, where it was also fired at with TOW missiles from US production in February 2016 during the Battle of Aleppo .

Versions

T-90SM during a demonstration in 2012
T-90A
MTU-90 unfolding the bridge segments
BMR-3M
  • T-90 (Object 188): Standard version, also called T-72 BU. With further developed composite armor and reactive ERA armor of the Kontakt-5 type . Guidance system 9S515 for guided weapons 9K119 Refleks. Combat weight 46.5 tons .
  • T-90K: command tank with navigation system and extensive radio equipment.
  • T-90E: Simplified export version of the T-90 without the Schtora-1 guided missile defense system.
  • T-90S (Object 188S): Export version with CATHERINE-FC thermal imaging device from Thales with an ESSA riflescope from the Belarusian company PELENG and 1A4GT fire control computer . Equipped with a V12 diesel engine W-92S2 with 735 kW. Can be equipped with TShU1-7-Schtora-1 guided missile defense system.
  • T-90SK: Command tank with navigation system and extensive radio equipment.
  • T-90A Vladimir (object 188A): the second generation of the T-90 since 1999. With welded tower with new laminate - composite armor and modified reactive armor.
  • T-90SA (Object 188SA): Export version of the T-90A. With CATHERINE-FC thermal imaging device and W-92S2 diesel engine with 735 kW and air conditioning .
  • T-90AK: Command tank with navigation system and extensive radio equipment.
  • T-90A1 (Object 188A1): Introduced in 2004. Like T-90A, but retrofitted with an improved loading carousel, self-sealing fuel tanks, ESSA rifle scope .
  • T-90M: Introduced in 2011. With PK PAN -360 ° commander's periscope with thermal imaging device, a PNM Sosna-U rifle scope for the shooter and a new Kalina fire control computer with GLONASS navigation system. Equipped with an improved gearbox with automatic transmission and a W-93 (W-92S2F) diesel engine with 1130 hp. With the new electro-optical self-protection system Schtora-2 with 360 ° protection. With new, angular additional armor on the turret and reactive armor of the Relikt type . With new side skirts with composite armor. Cage armor is attached to the turret and hull rear . With a new 125 mm 2A82 cannon . Ammunition supply 40 rounds; 22 in the loader, another 18 rounds are housed in the turret rear in the separate ammunition bunker. This has exhaust openings. The 12.7 mm Fla-MG was replaced by the remote-controlled UDP-TO5BW-1 weapon station with 7.62 mm MG. Combat weight 49 tons .
  • T-90M 2017: First tested on the Sapad 2017 military maneuver . Improved T-90M with reinforced front armor and new Proryw-3 cage armor on the turret. With an improved 125 mm gun of the 2A82-1M type with an ammunition reserve of 43 rounds. The new remote-controlled weapon station is equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun with 300 rounds.
  • T-90SM: Export version of the T-90M. Equipped with 2A46M-5 cannon.
  • T-90IN: Export version of the T-90A for India . With CATHERINE FC thermal imaging device and W-92S2 diesel engine with 735 kW and 125 mm smoothbore gun 2A46M-5 Rapira . Without Schtora guided missile defense system.
  • BMR-3M: Mine clearing tank , based on the T-90 chassis with KMT-7 mine clearing rollers and an electromagnetic transmitter for triggering mines with magneto.
  • MTU-90 : Bridge-laying tank on T-90 chassis.

User states

Current users

Indian T-90S
Turkmen T-90SA
  • AlgeriaAlgeria Algeria - 185 tanks were delivered to Algeria between 2006 and 2008, followed by 120 more in 2012 to 2013. In 2014 the country agreed to assemble around 200 T-90s. As of January 2018, there were 400 T-90SA (T-90A) in service.
  • AzerbaijanAzerbaijan Azerbaijan - In 2011 the delivery of 100 tanks was agreed in 2014 they were delivered. As of January 2018, there were 100 T-90S in service.
  • IndiaIndia India - As of January 2018, at least 1025 T-90S (labeled "Bhishma") were in service.
  • IraqIraq Iraq - From 2017 onwards 73 ordered T-90s will be delivered, which should be completed on schedule in 2018.
  • RussiaRussia Russia - As of December 2018, at least 319 T-90 / K, T-90A and 31 T-90M were in service with the Army in 2017 .
  • SyriaSyria Syria - From the autumn of 2015, allegedly used Russian tanks of the type entered Syria. In spring 2016, up to 80 pieces are said to have been used. As of January 2018, an unknown number of T-90 and T-90A were in service with the Army .
  • TurkmenistanTurkmenistan Turkmenistan - As of January 2018, there were 4 T-90S in service, out of 10 T-90S that were delivered in 2010. Another order for 30 T-90S was confirmed in 2011.
  • UgandaUganda Uganda - As of 2011, the country received 44 units of the type. As of 2018, there were 44 T-90S in service.
  • VietnamVietnam Vietnam - In July 2017, Vietnam ordered 64 T-90S / SKs valued at approximately $ 250 million for the Vietnamese People's Army . It was delivered by March 2019.

Former user

  • Korea NorthNorth Korea North Korea - By January 2018, 1 T-90S was decommissioned, which was procured in 2001 for test purposes to develop the M-2002 tank from it.

See also

literature

  • Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tanks today and tomorrow - concepts - systems - technologies. Report-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main u. a. 1999, ISBN 3-932385-04-7 .
  • Andrew W. Hull, David R. Markov, Steven J. Zaloga : Soviet / Russian Armor and Artillery Design Practices. 1945 to Present. Darlington Productions et al. a., Darlington et al. a. 1999, ISBN 1-892848-01-5 .

Web links

Commons : T-90  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ India to Buy Over 450 Russian Tanks Worth $ 2Bln - Reports , The Moscow Times, April 9, 2019
  2. ↑ India's Cabinet Committee on Security approves procurement of 464 T-90MS tanks , Jane's April 8, 2019
  3. ↑ In comparison, the engine compartment of the Leopard 2 is already 7.3 m³
  4. ↑ a b Танк Т-90C модернизированный. Т-90CM. In: uvz.ru. УралВагонЗавод, archived from the original on February 26, 2015 ; Retrieved January 21, 2015 (Russian, T-90SM on the manufacturer's website).
  5. ↑ T90 Specs. In: globalsecurity.org. Retrieved June 12, 2015 .
  6. ↑ Модернизированный танк Т-90С "Тагил" во всей красе. In: topwar.ru. September 10, 2011, Retrieved June 12, 2015 (Russian).
  7. ↑ See Rolf Hilmes: Kampfpanzer. Technology today and tomorrow. Report Verlag, p. 59.
  8. ^ Stefan Kotsch: - Fire control system of the T-90S. In: Das Panzerdetail. kotsch88.de, May 8, 2012, accessed on January 21, 2015 .
  9. ^ Russian Army Operations and Weaponry During the Second Military Campaign in Chechnya.
  10. ↑ Российские Т-90А - уже в Сирии. In: vestnik-rm.ru. November 12, 2015, accessed November 24, 2015 (Russian).
  11. ↑ Российские войска взяли штурмом позиции повстанцев вблизи Латакии. In: military-informant.com. November 23, 2015, accessed November 24, 2015 (Russian).
  12. ↑ Thomas Gibbons-Neff: WATCH: US-made missile goes up against one of Russia's most advanced tanks. Washington Post February 26, 2016
  13. ↑ New information & pics of modernized T-90
  14. ↑ T-90M Model 2017 MBT. In: armyrecognition.com. Armyrecognition, accessed October 30, 2017 .
  15. ↑ Russia unveils the new T-90M "Proryv-3" main battle tank. In: defense-blog.com. Defense Blog, January 14, 2017, accessed October 30, 2017 .
  16. ^ Algeria receiving additional T-90 tanks , defenseweb, January 8, 2016
  17. ↑ Algeria has 200 T-90 MBT kits on order , Jane's February 24, 2015
  18. ↑ a b c d e f g The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): The Military Balance 2018 . 1Location = London edition. Routledge, 2018, ISBN 978-1-85743-955-7 , pp. 325 (English, as of January 2018).
  19. ↑ Azerbaijan could buy 100 additional main battle tanks T-90 from Russia , armyrecognition.com, May 24, 2014
  20. ↑ Iraq Receives 36 T-90S Tanks From Russia , defenseworld.net, February 20, 2018
  21. ↑ Iddon, Paul: Iraq plans to shore up its ground forces with Russian T-90 tanks. In: RUDAW. rudaw.net, July 30, 2017, accessed on September 3, 2019 .
  22. ^ The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): The Military Balance 2018 . 1st edition. Routledge, London 2018, ISBN 978-1-85743-955-7 , pp. 194 (English, January 2018, 350 T-90 / K and T-90A).
  23. ↑ Константин Богданов: "Терминатор-2": день приемки. In: ИЗВЕСТИЯ. iz.ru, March 22, 2018, accessed on January 4, 2019 (Russian, including 31 T-90s in service will be modernized to the T-90M version).
  24. ↑ Т-90М "Прорыв-3" поступит в войска уже в этом году. In: ООО «ВО-медиа» - Военное обозрение. topwar.ru, March 31, 2018, accessed January 4, 2019 (Russian).
  25. ↑ Russian-Made T-90 Tank Goes Through Baptism by Fire in Syria. In: Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency - Sputnik International. sputniknews.com, February 7, 2016, accessed September 3, 2019 .
  26. ↑ Russia to sign contract to sell tanks to Algerians, Turkmens. In: Hürriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacılık A.Ş. - Hürriyet Daily News. hurriyetdailynews.com, December 15, 2012, accessed September 3, 2019 (English, among others).
  27. ↑ Uganda displays T-90, Type 85 tanks , defenseweb.co.za, July 31, 2017
  28. ↑ Vietnam confirms order of russian t-90-tanks ( memento from July 26, 2017 in the Internet Archive )
  29. ↑ Russia completes delivery of T-90S / SK tanks to Vietnam , Jane's March 28, 2019
  30. ↑ M-2002 P'okpoong-ho. In: GlobalSecurity.org. globalsecurity.org, accessed on September 3, 2019 (English, among others).