T‑90 tanks exposed: Why Russia's armored pride faltered
Reuben Johnson, a former consultant for the Pentagon and various NATO governments in defence technologies, has assessed the T-90 tanks, which the Russians often claim are the best in the world. According to the American expert, such opinions are purely propaganda, and the war in Ukraine has starkly exposed the weaknesses of these Russian machines.
The problems of T-90 tanks in Ukraine arise from several factors. Johnson attributes them to, among other things, a weaker structure than the Russians would like, which has proven inadequate not only in confrontations with modern Western weapons (such as FGM-148 Javelin launchers) but even with small FPV (first person view) kamikaze drones.
T-90 tanks failed in Ukraine: opinion of an American expert
"Western anti-tank weapons like the Javelin, along with drones, have rendered the T-90’s armour and active protection systems ineffective. Poor maintenance, degraded electronics, and reports of reactive armor filled with rubber or empty compartments further highlight its shortcomings. While the T-90 was designed for a different battlefield, the evolving nature of modern warfare has left it ill-suited for the challenges of today’s conflicts," Johnson assessed.
In his analysis, Johnson also recalled videos by Ukrainians showcasing captured T-90 and T-90M models and their inspections. At that time, one could see elements that did not match the aura projected by the Russians around their most valuable tanks, including shortcomings in armour and flawed microelectronics.
Putin's pride failed in Ukraine
The T-90 was referred to as "the world's best main battle tank" by Vladimir Putin, among others. However, the losses suffered by Russian units fighting in Ukraine are considerable. According to data from the Oryx blog, which documents equipment losses of the parties involved in Ukraine, the Russians have already lost 122 T-90M models.
This is the latest tank from the T-90 family, equipped with a 125-millimetre calibre 2A46M-5 cannon with an improved fire control system. It also features modular reactive armour called Relikt (consisting of two layers of blocks) and auxiliary armament in the form of two machine guns - 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm calibres.
Johnson believes that the Russians will face even greater problems with their flagship tanks. The reason is sanctions that have limited access to Western electronics. As it turned out from the inspections by Ukrainians, these were used in the T-90 and T-90M. They are now being replaced (in modernised or repaired tanks) with inferior Russian substitutes.
