Ukrainian drones reveal flaws in 'Putin's pride' T‑90M tanks on the battlefield
In 2011, Vladimir Putin viewed one of this tank's prototypes. The designers stressed the numerous benefits of the vehicle, leading it quickly to earn the nickname "Putin's pride". But, the war in Ukraine has demonstrated it's not invulnerable. For months, images and footage that verify the destruction, or at the very most minor damage, done to each T-90M have been systematically surfacing.
In this instance, the T-90M was scarred by FPV drones. While the damage is plain, it's likely not a total loss for the Russians. Journalist and military analyst Jarosław Wolski said in his latest analysis dedicated to FPV drones their potency is sometimes exaggerated by those observing the war in Ukraine from outside.
T-90M hit by a Ukrainian drone. The effects can be seen with the naked eye
"The ability of FPV drone fire and submunition dropping is slightly better than the typical effectiveness of handheld anti-tank weapons. Nevertheless, on average, a vehicle must be hit 4 to 6 times to take it out of combat or destroy it. Of course, videos show fortunate hits resulting in drone impact and vehicle explosions, but instances where a series of attacks can be seen show that even accurately controlled FPV drones usually demand 4-6 strikes. Handheld anti-tank weapons used in Chechnya or Donbas from 2014-2015 needed roughly 5-8 hits, demonstrating that guided weapons are more effective, but there is still no assurance of a clean kill." He posted this on his profile on Service X.
T-90M - the best Russian tank
The British Ministry of Defence recently revealed since the Ukraine war's outbreak, Putin's army has already lost around 2600 tanks and approximately 4900 other armored vehicles. The most significant blow is eliminating the most advanced machines from further engagement, including the T-80BWM with an advanced thermal imaging observation system and the T-90M.
The first T-90M units only entered service in 2020. These tanks have a 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun of 12.4 cm caliber and an improved Kalina fire control system. The additional armament includes two machine guns - 0.762 cm and 1.27 cm caliber.
The T-90M benefits from 1340 horsepower engines, providing more power than previous versions and a maximum speed of up to 40 miles per hour. Their structure is strengthened with Relikt reactive modular armor, which safeguards the hull and turret, and rod armor protects the vehicle's rear. However, the Ukraine war exposed certain flaws in the T-90M, such as a weak roof.
