Know Your Enemy: The T-90M – A Key Russian Tank in Modern Armored Warfare
Derived from the famous T-72, the T-90 entered service in the 1990s as the Russian Federation’s Main Battle Tank. Developed by Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil, it is a continuation of the Soviet program, while introducing technical breakthroughs.
The ultimate war machine and embodiment of an aggressive, mechanized military doctrine, the T-90 stands at the heart of Russian theaters of operations. Long perceived as a modernized relic of the Cold War’s T-72s, this Main Battle Tank is making a strong comeback in a context marked by clashes in Ukraine and the reconfiguration of regional strategic balances. Since February 24, 2022, the date of the Russian armed forces’ invasion of Ukraine, the T-90 has returned to the forefront. This tank, the spearhead of the Russian Army, is a key element of armored engagements in contemporary conflicts. Its performance, weaknesses, and ability to adapt to new operational doctrines are being closely scrutinized by defense experts.
Derived from the famous T-72, the T-90 entered service in the 1990s as the Russian Federation’s Main Battle Tank. Developed by Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil, it is a continuation of the Soviet program, while introducing technical breakthroughs. It is the direct successor to the T-72BU, with which it shares a common base, but it incorporates improved composite armor, electronic countermeasures, and more powerful fire control. The T-90A version, which entered service in the early 2000s, introduced French thermal imaging systems from Thales, significantly enhancing its nighttime and degraded conditions capabilities. However, it is the T-90M “Proryv-3” (breakthrough) version that marks a true modernization of the tank.
The T-90M, unveiled to the public in 2017 and introduced into operational units from 2020, is much more than a simple update. Equipped with the 125 mm 2A82-1M gun (the same as the T-14 Armata), it gains improvements in firepower, accuracy, and versatility. This barrel is capable of firing the latest generation of armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) shells, as well as anti-tank missiles fired from the gun, such as the 9M119M Invar-M.
The Kalina fire control system, coupled with latest-generation thermal optics, allows the gunner and commander to simultaneously acquire targets, a capability known as “hunter-killer.” The crew also benefits from Relikt-type dynamic reactive armor, which is much more effective against shaped charge or kinetic energy ammunition. Some models are also equipped with the Arena-M active protection system, although its operational use remains limited. A modernized engine compartment, an automatic fire extinguisher, a remote-controlled machine gun station, and an inertial navigation system complete this modernization. The T-90M is thus designed to survive on a battlefield saturated with drones, artillery, and anti-tank missiles.
Since its first appearance in Chechnya in the 2000s, the T-90 has been seen in several conflict zones: in Syria, during the Russian intervention in 2015, it was deployed to protect strategic installations and Russian special forces. It was also used in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the Azerbaijani armed forces. But it is above all in the context of the war in Ukraine that it is being put to the test. The T-90M appeared in large numbers from May 2022 onwards, with the first deliveries to the front line being confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to independent observers such as Oryx, more than 180 units have been lost or damaged to date. Feedback from the field is mixed. On the one hand, crews praise the accuracy of the firing system and the robustness of the frontal armor. On the other hand, its lateral weaknesses, the lack of accompanying infantry, and the constant threat of Ukrainian FPV drones have reduced its survivability. Several videos showing targeted destruction are circulating on military social media.
Uralvagonzavod, the main manufacturer, has reportedly increased its production rate to nearly 300 T-90Ms per year since 2023, according to estimates by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). However, not all tanks produced are immediately deployed: a significant proportion remain in storage or are used for training, while others are sent for modernization or maintenance. Russia has also signed several export contracts with India (T-90S Bhishma), Algeria, and Vietnam. India assembles the tanks locally under license, with more than 1,000 units in service with its armed forces.
As of September 2025, open-source intelligence tracking by Oryx—widely regarded as the most reliable and conservative source for confirmed equipment losses in the Russia-Ukraine war due to its requirement for visual evidence (photos or videos)—documents 187 visually confirmed losses of Russian T-90 main battle tanks (MBTs) since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. These losses include all variants of the T-90 family (42 T-90As, 134 T-90M, 11 T-90S, and 1 T-90AK) and encompass vehicles that were destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured by Ukrainian forces. Oryx explicitly notes that the true total is significantly higher because not all losses are captured on camera, particularly in areas with limited media access or during rapid retreats.
