A batch of eight T-90M Proryv tanks has been delivered to the Sevastopolskaya motor rifle brigade of the Western Military District’s Guards armored army, the Defense Ministry’s press office said: “This month, we have received several T-90M tanks. The tank is the perfect vehicle in the family of T-90 tanks and is the most adapted to modern combat,” Armored Army Commander Lieutenant General Sergei Kisel said.

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T-90M Proryv (Picture source: Russian MoD)

The Russian Army is expected to receive over 800 armored vehicles in 2021, including a batch of T-90M tanks. Several of the T-90M tanks will be handed over to the Kazan Higher Tank Command School. After being accepted, the tanks will be prepared to take part in the Victory Day parade 2021 in Moscow. It was reported in early March that Uralvagonzavod integrated into Russia’s Rostec state hi-tech corporation had handed over a batch of T-90M Proryv tanks to the Armed Forces.

The T-90M enjoys characteristics close to the latest Russian T-14 Armata design. It slightly cedes in running characteristics and armor but has got the same firepower. The upgrade installed improved the 2A46M5-01 gun and includes a more powerful diesel engine. The tank operates a Kalina automatic fire control and a Kord-MT remotely operated antiaircraft machinegun. The designers focused on crew survivability: Kevlar antifragmentation screens are installed inside the combat compartment; the bulk of projectiles is kept in a box behind the turret. The armor has been reinforced: "T-90 has stronger armor than T-72," expert Alexey Khlopotov said. "The new modification will have upgraded Relikt protection to strengthen the front armor even more. It is currently the most protected tank except for Armata. The new tank has improved fire controls. The commander operates devices with a good view and a possibility of early detection of the adversary. They are critical in a modern war where he wins who fires first. The pointer has a combined day/night sight which was not installed in previous modifications," he said.

It has been a tradition since Soviet times to deliver new hardware mostly to formations in the Moscow region - Tamanskaya and Kantemirovskaya motorized rifle and tank divisions. They defend the capital city and western borders and are armed to counter advanced armies with the latest hardware. "After T-90M is tested in central Russia, the next batches are likely to go to the southern direction which remains dangerous," Khlopotov said. "A difficult situation emerges at our western borders. US Abrams tanks were redeployed to Europe and NATO held maneuvers with them," he said.

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