In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the much-acclaimed T-90M Tank reveals significant flaws that question its perceived superiority.
Russian President Vladimir Putin touted the T-90M as the world's best tank. Yet, the reality on the battlefield tells a different story. Over 175 T-90M Tanks have already been lost in Ukraine, a staggering figure that raises serious concerns about its design and operational effectiveness.
Design Flaws of the T-90M Tank
The T-90M may represent an improvement over its older Soviet predecessors like the T-72 and T-80, but it's still saddled with critical design shortcomings. One of the most famous—and dangerous—of these flaws is its autoloader system. This system positions all ammunition beneath the crew's compartment, creating a high risk of catastrophic explosions if the tank is struck by enemy fire. Historical data shows that tanks with similar designs have been particularly vulnerable to 'ammo cook-offs,' which can instantly eliminate the crew and render the entire vehicle inoperable.
Moreover, the T-90M displays jarring vulnerabilities to contemporary threats on the battlefield, specifically drone attacks. With the proliferation of kamikaze drones, the T-90M's lack of defensive measures makes it a prime target. Unlike some Western tanks that have developed countermeasures for drone threats, the T-90M currently has no means to detect or neutralize these aerial assaults. As a result, skilled drone operators can exploit the tank's weaknesses, focusing their attacks on vulnerable spots and disabling the tank with relative ease.
Russia's Tactical Mismanagement
Failures in battlefield tactics further exacerbate the T-90M's high casualty rate. Combining armored vehicles with infantry and aerial support is a standard military doctrine known as combined arms warfare. Unfortunately, many instances have shown T-90M Tanks deployed alone, lacking the necessary support to function effectively. The history of warfare teaches us that a lone tank, regardless of its quality, stands little chance against organized enemy tactics.
Combat operations reveal numerous documented cases where T-90Ms have ventured into battlegrounds without the required infantry backing or additional armored support. This misjudgment results in easily exploitable vulnerabilities that contribute to its alarming loss rates.
The Cost of the T-90M Tank
Financially, the T-90M presents a compelling case for production with its estimated cost of around $4.5 million per unit. This lower price relative to Western tanks—such as the M1A2 SEP V3, which can cost over $10 million—means that in a protracted conflict, quantity becomes a factor. However, the ongoing losses demonstrate that sheer numbers don't equate to battlefield success; the T-90M's effectiveness is impeded by operational and tactical deficiencies.
Summing Up the T-90M's Performance
Despite its issues, several inherent advantages make the T-90M appealing compared to its predecessors. Enhanced capabilities such as modern fire control systems enable the tank to engage targets with impressive accuracy at ranges exceeding five kilometers. The inclusion of advanced thermal and night vision equipment marks a significant upgrade. Nonetheless, even these advantages cannot mask the tank's subpar performance in the evolving face of modern warfare.
The T-90M Tank occupies a critical juncture of being neither the top-tier military vehicle as propagated by Russian officials, nor a complete failure. Tactical missteps, coupled with outdated designs and significant vulnerabilities, create a paradox: while still dangerous, the tank does not live up to its reputation in combat.
With ongoing production at peacetime capacity, Russian factories continue to manufacture the T-90M, showing a commitment to quantity despite the mounting evidence of its shortcomings. As Western nations grapple with supplying Ukraine, the T-90M Tank remains a complex variable in the precarious equilibrium of modern warfare, where technological advancements and battlefield tactics are relentlessly evolving.
The ongoing war in Ukraine also underscores broader issues in Russian military technology and strategy, revealing that while the T-90M Tank may be an impressive machine on paper, its real-world application often falls short of expectations.