Russian state defense conglomerate Rostec has announced deliveries of new batches of main battle tanks to the army, including T-90M, T-80BVM, and T-72B3M models. The equipment is being upgraded based on combat experience from the war against Ukraine and feedback from military personnel.
Since 2022, Russia has lost 11,894 tanks, 24,486 armored combat vehicles, 40,825 artillery systems, and 1755 MLRS in the war against Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.
The T-90M “Proryv” is currently presented as Russia’s most advanced serial-production tank. It is a deep modernization of the T-90, which itself is based on the Soviet T-72B platform. Russia also continues to reference the prospective T-14 “Armata,” but its serial production is effectively absent.
T-90M as main Russian MBT: modernization over new production
According to open-source data, the T-90M is equipped with a 2A46M-5 gun, “Relikt” explosive reactive armor, and the “Sosna-U” fire-control system, along with 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, as per UNIAN.
Despite improvements over older vehicles, the T-90M retains many limitations common to Soviet and post-Soviet designs. One key issue is its low reverse speed, which limits the crew’s ability to quickly disengage from danger without exposing the tank's vulnerable rear.
During the war against Ukraine, T-90M tanks have reportedly been damaged or destroyed by significantly older and cheaper weapons systems, which were not originally expected to be highly effective against such vehicles.
Modernization under wartime conditions: EW, protection, survivability
Rostec claims that the vehicles are being adapted to modern battlefield conditions: electronic warfare systems have been improved, protection of the upper hemisphere and engine-transmission compartment has been enhanced, and the focus is on increasing survivability and crew safety.
Legacy platforms remain backbone of army
In parallel, upgraded T-80BVM and T-72B3M tanks continue to be delivered. These are heavily modernized Soviet-era platforms that remain the backbone of Russia’s armored forces due to large existing stockpiles. Despite upgrades, they retain the structural limitations of older generations.
