T-90AM tank: specifications and comparison with analogues

The T-90AM "Proryv" tank and its export version of the T-90SM is the newest modification of the T-90A combat vehicle. Work on its improvement started in 2004. For the first time the prototype of the T-90AM tank was introduced in early September 2011 in Nizhny Tagil at the military range "Staratel". The display of new military equipment was held within the framework of the 13th international exhibition REA-2011.

Improvements information

T-90AM, whose characteristics are now available only in general terms, was created on the basis of the T-90 tank. The developer of the novelty was "Uralvagonzavod." The main object of the modernization of the machine was the old tower, which was replaced by the newest combat module with an improved SOS Kalina, which has a combat integrated information and control system of the tactical link. In addition, T-90AM (photos are presented in the article) is equipped with a modernized 2A46M-5 gun, a new automatic loading device and an anti-aircraft gun T05BV-1 with a remote control. Also replaced the "Contact-V" on the DZ "Relict".

The developers paid special attention to increasing the commander's capabilities with regard to fire control and search for targets equally efficiently, regardless of the time of day. For the first time, the Russian T-90AM tank was equipped with a steering wheel and an automatic gear shift system. It allows you to switch to manual mode, as soon as this becomes necessary.

The T-90AM machine has an ammunition with two stacking groups - one outside and one inside. In this case, 22 shots are located in the lower part of the hull, in AZ, and the rest, as well as charges to them, are in a special armored box that is located on the stern of the tower. Experts have taken care of improving the maneuverability and mobility of the T-90AM (SM) tank. For this purpose, the newest combined night vision devices were installed, as well as a television camera for the rear view of the area.

The new T-90AM "Proryv" tank weighs 48 tons, which is one and a half tons more than the base model, but at the same time it is much smaller than its German or American counterparts. This machine is equipped with a single-block power plant B-93, which has a capacity of 1130 liters. With., Developed on the basis of V-92S2F2. It was also decided to replace the antineutron headband with a more reliable fragmentation fireproof material like the Kyvlar and improve the fire fighting system.

Summarizing the results of the modernization, we can say that the mobility and security of the T-90AM tank have improved noticeably, and the dimensions have remained practically unchanged, so it still remains in the class of combat vehicles up to 50 tons.

Comparison of military equipment

It's no secret that many people are worried about the effectiveness of Russian new tanks in comparison with foreign analogues. For example, take the American M1 "Abrams". But to compare two combat vehicles, you should know that in situations where they converge one on one on the battlefield, in our time there is practically no such situation.

In modern conditions of fighting to survive, the tank crew will have to fight with various enemies, ranging from infantry equipped with anti-tank missiles, and ending with aircraft and helicopters. But despite this, experts are constantly trying to compare military vehicles of the same class with each other. At the same time, some of them believe that a theoretical comparison of tanks is impossible in principle, since even real fighting will not give a definitive answer to the question of who is better. It will be necessary to take into account a lot of other criteria, such as tactics of application, vehicle maintenance, crew training level, interaction of various military units, etc. All this can have much more significance than the technical characteristics of the tanks themselves.

Comparison of T-90 and Abrams

Before we begin to compare the technical characteristics of these combat vehicles, it is necessary to take into account that the T-90 tank was developed 20 years ago and has been modernized several times. Naturally, each new sample significantly differed from the previous one both constructively and in terms of combat effectiveness. The same thing happened with the Abrams tank, which came into service with the US Army in 1980. Therefore, it is only too meticulous to compare all of their parameters with specific modifications that were issued in the same time period.

Technical characteristics and other parameters of the Russian T-90AM tank against the Abrams M1A2 are so far impossible to compare because of the highest level of secrecy around this military equipment. It is only known that the booking of towers in their front part is similarly done - in the pockets available on the front armor, packages of so-called reflective sheets are installed.

Application of technology in combat conditions

The American Abrams tank was already used in the Iraqi military operation Desert Storm. As for the Russian car, its participation in the hostilities has not yet been documented. Although some experts suggest that the T-90 tank had already been tested during the First and Second Chechen companies both in Chechnya and in Dagestan. Others argue that these cars lit up in August 2008 on the territory of South Ossetia during the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

For example, some media reported that the T-90 was seen during the withdrawal of Russian troops from Gori (Georgia). But so far there is no direct evidence of this fact. In addition, the T-90 tank, whose characteristics will be compared with the American "Abrams" below, looks similar to the T-72B, which has the dynamic protection "Contact", which could have caused the error of its identification.

While it is impossible to determine exactly how the T-90AM will prove itself in real battle conditions, since it has not been used anywhere yet.

Design Comparison

It should be noted that the United States and the Soviet Union, and subsequently Russia, have always had a completely different approach to the design of military equipment. It is clear that the American M1 tank is much larger than the T-90. To reduce the size of the machine was due to the refusal of the loader, who in order to perform his duties, approximately 1.7 meters from the height of the fighting compartment. The result of this was the removal of the restriction to reduce the level of the tank. In addition, a denser layout made it possible to make a reliably protected machine with a relatively small weight and a low silhouette, as well as a small cross-sectional and longitudinal cross-sectional area.

The result of such transformations is the fact that the booked volume of Abrams is 19, and the T-90 is 11 cubic meters. But the denser layout has its drawbacks. They are some tightness of tank calculation and difficulty of interchangeability of each other when necessary.

Comparison of protection

Many may think that if the Abrams are much heavier, then the armor on it is thicker, which means it's safer. This is not quite true. Reducing the weight of armor on the T-90 tank helped reduce the booked internal volume, which provided the required level of external protection. Due to the fact that the size of the frontal projection of the Russian car is only 5 m², and the Abrams' - 6, it becomes less vulnerable, since the likelihood of such falling into this part of the technology is very high.

The Russian tank is equipped with "reflective sheets" made of steel, and "Abrams", beginning with a certain modification, is made of depleted uranium. This material has a high density (19.03 g / cm³), so with a relatively small thickness of the plate it provided a literally explosive character of the destruction of the cumulative jet.

T-90 tank, in addition to traditional, also has a complex of dynamic protection. This is not the case with most modifications of Abrams. "Contact-5" is a dynamic defense of Russian tanks, working both against armor-piercing sub-caliber charges and cumulative weapons. This complex delivers the strongest lateral impulse, which allows to destroy or at least destabilize the core of the BPSS before the impact on the main armor begins.

According to Russian manufacturers, the front armor of the T-90A tank easily withstands the hit of the most commonly used in the West BOPS. For this purpose, a special experimental demonstration was conducted. The T-90 tank, the characteristics of which were tested back in 1995 at the Kubinka training ground, were fired upon by another machine. Six Russian cumulative projectiles were fired at it from a distance of about 200 m. As a result of the shelling, it became clear that the frontal armor had successfully passed the tests, and the tank was able to independently reach the observation deck.

In turn, US officials said that the frontal armor of their M1A1 machine also successfully withstood the shelling that the Iraqi military carried out from the T-72 tanks. True, these were obsolete BPSS, withdrawn from the arsenal in the early 70's. last century.

Comparison of weapons and ammunition

As you know, the main weapon of this military equipment is a cannon. The Russian machine has a 125-mm smooth-bore tank gun 2A46M / 2A46M5. Abrams is also armed with a standard 120 mm M256 cannon for NATO. As you can see, there is some difference in the caliber, but despite this, both guns have similar characteristics. However, it should be noted that the effectiveness of tank fire directly depends on the used ammunition.

Russian T-90 tank, "Breakthrough", probably, can also fire, using four types of ammunition: high-explosive, armor-piercing, sub-caliber, cumulative missiles and guided missiles. Abrams also has a standard kit, consisting of only two types of ammunition: cumulative and armor-piercing-subcaliber.

To combat enemy technology, mostly obsolete BPSS ZBM-44 and ZBM-32, having cores of tungsten and uranium alloys, are used. Not so long ago, more advanced shells were developed that could withstand the frontal armor of the best Western tanks. Among them - and ZBM-48 "Lead".

The main ammunition of "Abrams" is a shot of the M829A3 with an armor-piercing sub-caliber projectile, which was adopted in 2003.

Comparison of power plants

Immediately need to say that in both cars they are fundamentally different. T-90A and T-90SA tanks are equipped with a 1000-strong diesel engine, while Abrams has a 1500-strong gas turbine made in one block with a hydromechanical automatic transmission. The specific engine power of the T-90 and Abrams engines is 21 and 24 liters, respectively. C./t. The Russian machine has a largely large reserve of travel (550 km), rather than the American (350 km). This was due to increased fuel economy of the diesel engine compared to the more insatiable gas turbine.

The T-90 power plant has another very important advantage - it is high reliability and unpretentiousness. Take at least a test of machines in the Indian Desert of Tar, where there was not a single engine failure. As for the American M1A1 tanks participating in Operation Desert Storm, in three days that they were moving along the sands, out of 58 units 16 were out of order. And all this happened because of damage to the engines. If we compare the labor intensity of the maintenance of the engines of these machines, then to replace it, teams of qualified technicians will need: Russian - 6, and American - only 2 hours.

The drawback of the transmission of Russian cars lies in a rather low speed of reverse - only 4.8 km / h, and for American vehicles it reaches 30 km / h due to the installation of a hydrostatic transmission. The fact is that the serially produced T-90 tanks are equipped with a mechanical transmission on the basis of an already obsolete turnstile scheme, where its duties are assigned to step-by-step on-board transmissions. "Abrams" is equipped with a hydrostatic transmission, as well as turning mechanisms, which have a digital automatic control system.

Overall rating

Based on the available data on technical and other characteristics of the T-90 and Abrams tanks, it can be concluded that the main advantages of the Russian machine in comparison with the American one are:

• Good protection, which includes the dynamic system "Contact", as well as CEPE "Shtora-1";
• The availability of firing on a target guided missiles at a distance of up to 5 thousand meters;
• A greater number of types of ammunition, including OV-projectiles (including those already prepared by striking units and remote undermining);
• An excellent rate of fire, which is maintained throughout the battle, provided by the use of A3;
• A decent depth of overcoming water obstacles, a good range and excellent mobility;
• Unpretentiousness and high reliability during operation.

Abrams also has its advantages. It:

• Strong protection;
• Automation of combat control facilities, which provides the inflow of various data in real time;
• Reliable isolation of the crew from the location of the ammunition;
• Good maneuverability;
• High level of specific power.

Expert opinion

In 2012, the press published an article by V. Stepanov, who is a doctor of technical sciences and general director of JSC VNIItransmash. It spoke about the analysis of methods of comparative evaluation of technical characteristics of tanks. And, above all, here were estimates of the military-technical level indicator (VTU) of the best combat vehicles, including Russian T-90A and T-90MS, as well as M1A2 and M1A2 SEP.

VTU was calculated on several indicators: security, operational capability, firepower and mobility. Then performance indicators of all the above machines with a certain reference tank. He was chosen T-90A, which means that his WTU = 1.0. The data of American machines M1A2 and M1A2 SEP were estimated at 1.0 and 1.32, respectively. The VTU indicator of the new T-90MS tank Tagil was determined as 1.42. The calculations can have a slight error of no more than 10%. From this we can conclude that there is a real closeness between the levels of the best foreign analogues with the Russian T-90A and its modernized model - the T-90AM tank.