Russian T‑90M tanks: Vulnerable to drones despite prowess
The best Russian tanks, the T-90M, are becoming a less frequent sight on the battlefield. Moreover, many of these modern machines, worth up to €4.15 million, are falling victim to drones costing even less than €920. We explain how this is possible.
The T-90M tanks, produced in series since 2021, represent the pinnacle of Russian armoured technology, which is increasingly rare to see in Ukraine. According to estimates by analysts from IISS, the annual production of these machines was about 40 units in 2022, and from 2023, that number was expected to increase to about 60-70 units. This means that Russia could have produced up to approximately 180 units.
Meanwhile, as indicated by the group of analysts oryxspioenkop, Moscow has already lost 111 units based on available online photos or recordings. This includes tanks destroyed, abandoned, or captured by Ukrainians. Interestingly, many T-90Ms fall victim to FPV drones, as seen in the video below, ending with a powerful explosion.
T-90M tanks - the pinnacle of the faulty T-72 tank family evolution
The T-90M tanks are produced by thoroughly rebuilding older models like the T-90A or T-72B. This means that once the supply of older machines in post-Soviet stocks is exhausted, the production of new T-90Ms will collapse.
The name T-90 family itself was created as a response to the mass destruction of Iraqi T-72 machines during the Gulf War. To avoid comparisons for marketing purposes, the deep modernisation of the T-72B tank was renamed to T-90A. This evolved into T-90M, which became the mascot of Russian arms fairs, where Vladimir Putin repeatedly praised it.
The main features of the T-90M include implementing a modern fire control system with thermal vision (initially French, but now most likely from other sources) and using a two-layer reactive armour known as Relikt. This is one of several designs worldwide that provides protection against anti-tank missiles with a dual hollow charge warhead and reduces the effectiveness of kinetic penetrators fired by tanks.
However, this is an add-on solution to the main armour, which is essentially still T-72B, potentially with minor modifications. This means there are gaps in the reactive armour that Ukrainian FPV drone pilots can exploit for an attack.
This is significant because the T-90M, like all tanks of the T-72 family, has an autoloader and an ammunition magazine located in the hull. It is not isolated from the crew in any way, and any penetrating hit results in the explosion of 22 shells and propellant charges, culminating in a spectacular turret blow-off.
The Russians are attempting to improve anti-drone protection in the course of the war by adding, for example, specially shaped steel plates designed to detonate the drone's warhead prematurely.
All these changes have increased the tank's weight to even 54 tonnes, necessitating the use of a more powerful engine with 1,250 horsepower. It is one of the most formidable machines Ukrainian forces may encounter on the front.
