Ukrainian drones expose vulnerabilities in russia's prized T‑90M tanks
The T-90M tanks, praised by Vladimir Putin as the best machines in the world, are essentially "upgraded" T-72s, which pose deadly risks for the crew. A direct hit can transform the tank into a blazing inferno.
In the Donetsk region, the well-known "Madyar's Birds" squad of Ukrainian drone operators released footage showing a Russian T-90M tank, likely hit by an FPV drone controlled via fibre optics, which, despite its heavy armour, spectacularly exploded. The drone may cost more than $1,000, while the T-90M tank is estimated to cost $4.5 million.
The cumulative jet from the drone ignited the propellant charges not only in the ammunition storage but also in the barrel, causing this unit's last shot. Interestingly, this time the turret was not blown off, because apparently, the hatch on it was open, allowing the energy from the burning propellant charges to escape. The intense fire and white smoke also confirm their ignition.
T-90M tank - "upgraded" T-72B with French optoelectronics
The T-90M tanks, introduced into service in 2021, are an advanced version of the T-90A tanks from the 1990s, essentially evolving from the T-72B family. The T-90 name was primarily a Russian marketing strategy to avoid comparisons of the "new design" to the T-72 family tanks that were heavily destroyed during the Gulf War.
The T-90M tank was also highlighted as a star of the Russian arms industry in the years leading up to the full-scale war in Ukraine and was frequently praised by Vladimir Putin.
A significant feature of the T-90M tanks was their modern fire control system with French-made thermal imaging. However, these units are becoming less common as newly produced tanks use alternative solutions with somewhat inferior capabilities.
The second notable feature is the two-layer Relikt reactive armour, which offers protection against double-charge warhead missiles and reduces the effectiveness of kinetic penetrators fired by other tanks. However, this is an overlay on the existing armour, which is still the old T-72B. It is impossible to achieve complete coverage of the existing tank's armour, leaving gaps in protection that are exploited by Ukrainian drone operators.
Much like the T-72, the T-90M features an autoloader with ammunition stored in the hull, where two of the three crew members are seated directly above. Consequently, any breach of the armour can cause a spectacular chain reaction of 22 shells and propellant charges.
