MOSCOW ($1=61.50 Russian Rubles) — The largest Russian tank manufacturer UralVagonZavod produced a new batch of T-90M Proryv tanks. The company released a press release saying “an entire echelon of new T-90M Proryv tanks and BREM-1M engineering vehicles” have been delivered to the Russian army. In Russia, one echelon equals an entire train set.
- New T-90M Proryv tanks continue to leave UralVagonZavod for Ukraine
- Russia is creating two repair plants for its damaged tanks
- Burnt tanks return to Russia, repair plants refuse repairs
The information was released on September 9, on the eve of Tanker’s Day, celebrated in Russia. At the moment, the T-90 is considered the best Russian tank, and its modification, the T-90M Proryv, is the most modern of the Russians.
Despite the economic sanctions imposed by Western countries against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, UralVagonZavod continues to produce tanks. In mid-May, we reported that the plant delivered a new batch of T-90M Proryv. The same thing happened again at the beginning of August.
New plants
Two new armored plants may appear at the Ministry of Defense of Russia. This is reported by Ukrinform, referring to the Russian media. Enterprises must be established in the Moscow and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of the Russian Federation defines the main task of these factories as follows: “repair of armored weapons and equipment, automotive equipment for the benefit of defense.”
The 71st plant for the repair of armored cars will appear in Ramensky, Moscow region, and the 72nd plant – in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Rostov region, near the border with Ukraine. It is planned that 365 jobs will be created in the first plant, and 227 in the second.
Most of the damaged equipment is transported by the Russian military to the territory of their country for further repair. After all, Russian repair brigades are not able to carry out the quality aggregate restoration of damaged tanks in real field conditions.
At the same time, the Russians cannot carry out qualified repair and maintenance of their equipment in the occupied territory of Ukraine – such points are constantly under fire from the armed forces of the Ukrainian army.
The tanks are going to Ukraine
According to a statement by the head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Major General Alexander Shestakov, the manufactured combat armored vehicles are going to the front in Ukraine.
Shestakov added that “certain quantities” of BMP-3, BMP-2, BTR-82A, and BTR-80 will be sent to Ukraine as well. He also said that Russia does not have a shortage of tanks, on the contrary – the tank companies are provided with the necessary equipment. Shestakov confirmed that UralVagonZavod currently produces T-90M, T-80BVM, and T-72B3M. Additional armored vehicles such as BMP-3, BMP-2M, and BMD-4M combat vehicles are produced on the production lines.
Т-90М Proryv vs. T-90
According to the designers from Uralvagonzavod, the new T-90M Proryv tank has received a more powerful engine. The standard configuration of the T-90 is powered by a 12-cylinder V-92S2 that provides 1,000 horsepower, while the new version of the tank gets 130 horsepower more power due to the 12-cylinder new V-92S2F engine.
The basic armament has not really changed. Both tank modifications use a 125mm 2A46M smoothbore gun, but the T-90M is a 2A46M-5 model. 2A46M-5 provides the use of new high-power ammunition, as well as a guided missile that allows you to destroy enemy tanks at a distance of up to five kilometers. The secondary armament consists of a 12.7mm Kord Heavy machine gun, and 7.62mm PKMT in both tanks.
One of the main upgrades received by the T-90M is the ability of the tank to have autonomous functions, ie. real-time data exchange with other vehicles. The tank has improved optical sights: a new PNM Sosna-U gunner sight, four video cameras that provide 360-degree coverage, new day and night optical sights, including a thermal camera that detects enemy targets at 3,300 meters.
Last but not least, the T-90M has integrated Russian space navigation GLONASS, as well as inertial navigation systems [INS]. The armor is significantly enhanced by the use of Relikt explosive reactive armor [ERA] that covers more of the tank.
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