In the model range of the Russian armored vehicles there are vehicles that deserve closer attention, both from the military and from the experts in the field of modern tank construction. These machines can be safely attributed to the main battle tank T-90MS. As practice has shown in recent years, the combat vehicle created by Ural tank builders is today one of the best-selling in the world. The reason for such a demand for a domestic tank lies in the design of the armored vehicle and in its high performance characteristics.
The background of the appearance of the tank T-90MS
The appearance in the early 90s of the T-90 tank was a kind of impetus to the development of a new generation of Russian armored vehicles. Using the accumulated production potential and combat experience of using T-72 tanks, Russian designers managed to create a fundamentally new machine. The T-90 tank became the main combat vehicle in the Russian army and was produced in the original version for almost 12 years. In 1999, after the death of the creator of the combat vehicle of the chief designer V.I. Potkin, it was decided to assign the T-90 verbal index "Vladimir". The car turned out so successful that only in 2004 the first work on the modernization of the base model began.
The need for modernization has arisen due to the emergence of increased interest in the Russian tank from foreign buyers. It was necessary not only to improve the base model T-90, but also to make to the design a number of improvements that have appeared in tank design in the new millennium. The huge technological resource of the base tank made it possible to create in the course of modernization a whole family of new armored vehicles, among which export versions of the product stand out.
It should be noted that the export version of the T-90S was developed in parallel with the start of production of the main tank, back in 1992. For a long time, the new T-90S was in the shadow. The situation with the export of another vehicle of this family of the T-80 tank was unclear. Only in 1997, the Russian tank was first demonstrated at the international exhibition of weapons in Abu Dhabi, having received the nickname “flying tank” with a light hand of military experts.
The first serious buyer of the Russian tank was India. First, three vehicles were sent to India for testing. The results obtained during the tests of the T-90S, exceeded all expectations. The final point was the signing of a large supply contract for the Indian armed forces of 310 T-90S modification tanks. In the same year, the Indian side was transferred to the technical documentation for the production of the Indian version of the T-90S "Bhishma" on license terms.
Along with India, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are interested in the car. Under the terms of the 2018 contract, delivery of Russian tanks to Vietnam is scheduled. A total of about 1,500 vehicles of this type have been exported since 2001.
What a wonder tank T-90MS
Based on the increased interest in the export version of the main battle tank T-90, specialists and designers of NPK Uralvagonzavod JSC have developed an improved version of the machine. Today, export is the main direction of production of T-90 tanks. Compared with its predecessor, the new tank with the T-90MS index received a significant enhancement and improvement of the main tank parameters: firepower, protection and mobility. In many ways, the upgraded vehicle resembles the German main tank "Leopard 2", which was created in the same years. Export modification of the Russian MBT "Vladimir" T-90MS "Tagil" by 2009 managed to pass all types of tests and received the right to mass production.
According to military experts, the new modification is an optimal combination of "price-quality". The new tank "Armata" is still experiencing the difficulties of adolescence, while the basic model T-90 is already well developed in terms of production and run-in field conditions. The cost of armored vehicles today is the key. Tanks are a massively applied military vehicle, so when developing a new combat vehicle, it relies on mass, mass production. Here it is important to emphasize that the contract value of a Russian tank varies in the range of 2.5-2.6 million dollars.
For reference: The cost of the German main tank "Leopard 2" is about $ 10 million.
In comparison with foreign models, the Russian tank compares favorably in the price range, but you should not consider Russian development a cheap option. The production technology and the introduction of technical innovations allowed not only to improve the tactical and technical characteristics of the Russian development, but also to reduce the cost of mass production of the T-90MS. Such events are aimed at creating favorable conditions for buyers under export contracts.
The main design features of the tank T 90MS
The design of the new MBT T-90MS has absorbed all the best that is in the global tank building at this time. The main feature of the new machine was the tower. Now this is no longer a tank tower in the usual sense, but a full-fledged combat module. Inner space of the tower received the best ergonomics. The crew of the combat vehicle now feels much more comfortable inside the tower. All unnecessary parts, components and mechanisms are removed from open access. From the tower constructive removed all flammable elements and coatings. Wiring laid in the line, now taking up much less space inside the tower.
The internal space of the tower has undergone dramatic changes. For the convenience of the crew in the tower installed automatic loader. There is also a fire control system and a remote control unit for automatic weapons. On the new model, the reserve ammunition is stored in the aft of the tower, which speeds up the process of submitting the next batch of shots to the fighting compartment.
A new gunner’s sight arrived on the tank’s equipment, which now has sight and thermal channels. In other words, the crew of the combat vehicle can now recognize the target at a distance of up to 5 km. To accurately determine the distance to the target laser rangefinder is used. It should be noted the main weapon of an armored vehicle. The T-90MS tank is equipped with a 125-mm smooth-bore gun 2A46M5 with a chrome-plated barrel. This innovation has significantly increased the life of the gun barrel. The gun is additionally equipped with an ejector and has a heat shield in which a system for controlling the thermal bend of the barrel is installed.
Artillery armament tank complements automatic weapons. In the tower along with the gun is a twin 7.62 mm machine gun. An anti-aircraft machine gun of 7.62 caliber is mounted on the roof of the turret, which can be replaced with a more powerful weapon.
The machine, unlike its predecessors, has a circular protection. Today, the tank is equally well protected from all sides, including the upper and side of the hull. Strengthened armor protection of the stern of the tank - the Achilles heel of all tanks. Modern combat is often conducted in conditions of close urban development, so the T-90MS designers have taken steps to create an effective tank protection from all angles. For this purpose, lattice screens are additionally installed around the perimeter of the armored body.
The power plant of the tank is impressive. On the T-90MS tank there is an upgraded diesel engine produced by the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, whose power was increased to 1,130 hp. The propulsion system provides an armored vehicle with high speed: on a highway up to 80 km / h, on rough terrain up to 30 km / h. Cruising is 325 km and 520 with mounted fuel tanks. The new Russian tank is equipped with an automatic gearbox, which provides the driver with more freedom of action while driving. Now, while the car is moving, the driver-mechanic does not need to switch attention from the turning levers to the gearshift lever. For independent power supply of the tank, a generator of electricity is installed in the design, which provides power to all important machines even when the main engine is off.
Eventually
The new export version of the domestic tank "Vladimir" was a real breakthrough in modern tank building. Having achieved significant improvements in the basic combat characteristics of the machine, domestic tank builders have created not only a new product that is attractive to foreign buyers, but also provided a foundation for the future. A large number of similar tanks, delivered abroad, will soon need to be modernized. The export version of the T-90MS is a finished product for the subsequent implementation of a large-scale upgrade of earlier versions.
