Russia deploys in Ukraine T-90M tank latest modernized version of its T-90 MBT

According to video and pictures published on the Internet on May 4, 2022, showing a Russian army destroyed T-90M Main Battle Tank (MBT), Russian armed forces have deployed its latest generation of main battle tanks, the T-90M, to conduct combat operations in Ukraine. The T-90M is a modernized version of the T-90 tank family.
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A Russian army T-90M Main Battle Tank was deployed by the National Guard in the Kharkiv region. (Picture source Russian National Guard)

Previously, the Russian National Guard website published a picture on April 25, 2022, showing a T-90M MBT used for combat operations in the Kharkiv region.

A video was released on the Internet on May 7, 2022, showing a Russian army T-90M Main Battle Tank (MBT) destroyed near Kharkiv, a city in northeast Ukraine. Citing military open sources information, the first T-90M was delivered in 2020 to the 2nd Guards M. I. Kalinin Taman Motor Rifle Division of the 1st Guards Tank Army. The division is deployed in Northeastern Ukraine and approximately 100 T-90M are currently in service amongst Russia's best-equipped units, including those fighting in Ukraine.

The T-90M model 2017 also nicknamed Proryv-3 is an upgraded variant of the export version of the T-90MS Main Battle Tank (MBT) developed and designed by the Russian Company Uralvagonzavod. The T-90M Model 2017 is improved in terms of protection, mobility, and firepower. The tank was tested by the Russian army during the military exercise Zapad-2017 which was held from 14 to 20 September 2017. This tank was upgraded thanks to the combat experience of the Russian armed forces gained during the counter-terror operation in Syria.

The main armament of the T-90M Model 2017 Proryv-3 consists of one 125 mm 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun able to fire standard ammunition but also Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) Refleks NATO Code AT-11 Sniper-B. The main 125 mm armament is stabilized and enables the T-90M to shoot on the move with a high probability of a first-round hit. One of the most important improvements in terms of armament is the use of a remotely operated weapon station mounted at the rear of the commander hatch armed with an NSVT 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

The layout of the T-90M Model 2017 Proryv-3 is similar to all the families of Russian T-90 MBT with a driver at the front, a turret in the center, and a powerpack at the rear. The tank features a new all-welded turret design protected by the Relikt ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) armor fitted at the front and on each side of the turret.

If you need to read more information about the technical features and combat capabilities, visit this link T-90M FACT SHEET.

The T-90M is also protected by soft- and hard-kill active protection systems (APS), which seems similar to the Afganit system installed on the T-14 Armata. According to Russian military experts, the T-90M is also fitted with a modern fire-control system providing tank-type target detection at a range of 5,000 m by day, an enhanced dual-axis gun stabilizer, and an automatic target tracker that can operate in hunter-killer mode.

Russian Army T-90M Main Battle Tank MBT at Army-2018 defense exhibition near Moscow, Russia. (Picture source Army Recognition)