Click to see full-size image. (Screengrab\Rostec)
Russia’s state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec said on September 12 that it had delivered new batches of T-90M and T-72B3M main battle tanks to the Russian military, with the vehicles receiving upgraded all-around protection based on feedback from troops operating on the front line in Ukraine.
The deliveries were announced ahead of Russia’s Tanker’s Day, a military holiday being celebrated for the 80th time this year.
Rostec said in a statement that the latest production reflects continued efforts to adapt armored vehicles to battlefield conditions, particularly the growing threat posed by drones.
The tanks are produced by Uralvagonzavod, a Rostec subsidiary and Russia’s main producer of modernized and newly built main battle tanks. The company has previously said that production of the T-90M Proryv, T-72B3M and other armored vehicles has been expanded as the special military operation in Ukraine has increased demand.
Rostec did not disclose how many tanks were included in the latest deliveries, but video footage released by the company indicates that the number is in the dozens.
The company said the new tanks feature improved all-around protection and have been modified in response to reports from Russian service members.
A representative of the Russian Defense Ministry quoted by Rostec said additional protection against unmanned aerial vehicles was among the areas receiving particular attention.
“Protection of the vehicles is increasing. The innovations are aimed, first of all, at preserving the lives of crews,” the representative said. “Additional protection is being developed, primarily against unmanned aerial vehicles.”
The emphasis on drone protection reflects a major change in the battlefield environment since Russia launched its special military operation. Both sides have extensively used small drones for reconnaissance and attacks against armored vehicles, making protection against aerial threats an increasingly important part of tank design and field modifications.
Rostec said the latest tanks also incorporate other equipment intended to help crews operate in combat conditions. The company added that the vehicles have received positive assessments from crews for their ease of operation, maintainability and relatively straightforward training requirements.
Uralvagonzavod CEO Alexander Potapov said the annual Tanker’s Day highlighted the connection between the defense industry and the military.
“Tank crews, design engineers and defense-industry workers are together fulfilling the tasks set before them with distinction,” Potapov said.
The T-90M is the most advanced version of the T-90 family produced for Russia and has been repeatedly presented by Uralvagonzavod as its principal modern tank. The T-72B3M, meanwhile, is a modernization of the Soviet-era T-72, incorporating updated systems and components while retaining the basic design of the original vehicle. Rostec has described both models as among the principal armored vehicles being supplied to Russian forces.
The latest announcement also follows other recent efforts by Uralvagonzavod to improve the protection of armored vehicles against drones.
Earlier this month, Rostec said the company had begun fitting T-80BVM tanks with a new all-around protection system using high-strength steel cables designed to cover the vehicle from multiple directions without significantly restricting crew visibility or the operation of the tank’s sighting systems.
Rostec did not provide technical details of the specific protection modifications installed on the T-90M and T-72B3M in the latest batch.
A Uralvagonzavod test driver said each tank undergoes a road test of at least 100 kilometers before being sent to the military. According to the driver, weapons systems are checked and identified defects are corrected.
“Modern T-90Ms are comfortable for a soldier to fight in,” he said. “Our designers are trying to protect the vehicle as much as possible. Many systems have also appeared that help with operation and tell the crew how to act in an emergency situation.”
The statement comes as Russia continues to rely heavily on its established tank designs while incorporating modifications developed from battlefield experience. Rostec has said the T-90M, T-72B3M and T-80BVM are being continuously upgraded rather than treated as fixed designs, with changes intended to respond to conditions encountered in the special military operation zone.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence
NOW hosted at southfront.press
Previously, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.org.
The .org domain name had been blocked by the US (NATO) (https://southfront.press/southfront-org-blocked-by-u-s-controlled-global-internet-supervisor/) globally, outlawed and without any explanation
Back before that, from 2013 to 2015, SouthFront: Analysis and Intelligence was at southfront.com
