Function: Latest Russian production Main Battle Tank (MBT).





Description: The T-90 MBT represents a combination of the T-72 and T-80 designs, drawing from the best of both to achieve a more modern product. While the fire control system on the T-90 represents the latest in Russian design and is an improvement over the T-80, the T-90 uses the same V-12 diesel powerplant found in the late model T-72s, sacrificing speed for range and automotive reliability. The T-90 also retains the use of the 125mm smoothbore cannon and automatic loader, feeding ammunition from a 22 round circular magazine around the turret ring. In addition the T-90 continues to use the 9M119 Refleks (NATO AT-11 SNIPER) cannon launched, laser guided ATGM found on the late model T-80s. The T-90 also uses the Shtora-1 countermeasures suite as well as the ARENA hard kill Anti-Missile defensive system. Though currently the most modern tank fielded in the Russian army and available for export, production rates remain low as the T-90 is seen as an interim solution until the next generation of Russian MBT is fielded.





General Characteristics, T-90 Main Battle Tank



Manufacturer:

Nizhnyi Tagil, Russian Federation





Transmission:

Automatic





Engine:

V-84MS Liquid cooled V-12 diesel engine producing 840 horsepower





Length. Gun Forward:

31.7 feet (9.66 meters)





Width:

11.8 feet (3.60 meters)





Height:

7.21 feet (2.20 meters)





Combat Weight:

46.5 tons





Cruising Range:

403 miles (650 kilometers)





Speed:

Maximum: 43 mph (70 kph)



Cross Country: 30 mph (48 kph)





Obstacle Crossing:

Trench: 9.35 feet (2.85 meters)

Slope: 30 degrees







Fording:

Without preparation: 6 feet (1.8 meters)



With Snorkel: 16.4 feet (5 meters)





Crew:

A three-man crew composed of a driver, gunner, and tank commander





Armament:

Main: 125mm 2A46M-1 main gun



Secondary: One 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun (commander's station), one 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun





Ammunition:

43 125mm cannon rounds (combination of kinetic energy (SABOT), High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) shaped charge, High Explosive-Fragmentation (HE-FRAG), cannon launched AT-11 ATGM)



300 12.7mm machine gun rounds



2,000 7.62mm machine gun rounds





Sensors:

Shtora-1 countermeasures suite



ARENA active anti-missile defense system





Introduction Date:

1993