Russia resorts to outdated T‑62M tanks amid reserve depletion
On social media, recordings have appeared showing yet another transport of Russian tanks heading towards Ukraine. There is no doubt that these are old T-62M tanks whose capabilities and equipment we recall.
The T-62 tanks are from the 1960s, and the T-62M seen in the footage are modernised variants from the 1980s. Although they feature composite armour blocks on the turret and hull and Kontakt-1 reactive armour bricks, these machines present very low combat value nowadays. As analysts increasingly point out, sending them to the front confirms the problems Russians are facing with depleting tank reserves.
T-62M tanks on their way to the front
The footage, likely recorded by Russians living near the army's railway line, shows that the tanks have been fitted with distinctive canopies.
This type of solution is meant to increase protection against FPV (first-person view) drones, which are very frequently used during the war in Ukraine (by both sides of the conflict).
In reality, as numerous battle recordings have repeatedly confirmed, the effectiveness of such structures is minimal. FPV drones provide live, real-time feedback to the pilot until the point of impact. They often operate on a kamikaze basis – the explosive charge detonates upon impact.
Tank with low combat value
Currently, tanks like the T-62M protect the crew against automatic cannon fire used in some infantry fighting vehicles. Their armour is not resistant to modern anti-tank weapons.
They are also very outdated in terms of offensive capabilities. The T-62M tanks use a 115 mm cannon. However, very importantly, they do not have thermal imaging or passive night vision, making them useless for night attacks.
Russians' problems with tanks
Why are the Russians deciding to send such tanks to the front? As noted by, among others, Polish defence analyst Jarosław Wolski, there is a specific pattern in the transports of Russian tanks to the front. They include ancient units (T-62M, T-62, and even T-55) or the latest tanks from the T-90 family. The Russians lacked spare parts for many "middle-aged" tanks and could not restore their stockpiles as quickly as they could until recently.
