T-90 Variants
There are at least three different variants of the T-90. The Russians confirmed the existence of an export variant in June 1996 with varying equipment and engine fits, and Russian promotional materials have discussed both the T-90S (or "C" in the sometimes-used Cyrillic non-translation) and the T-90SK command variant. The T-90K command variant differs in radio and navigation equipment and Ainet remote-detonation system for HEF rounds. There are also occasional references to a T-90E, but these appear to be unsubstantiated.
The modified T-90S is fitted with an increased power multi-fuel 1,130-h.p. diesel engine, giving the vehicle a top speed of over 60 km/h (37 miles per hour) on roads and up to 45 km/h on rough terrain. The 46.5 ton tank's redesigned turret features a modernized 125-mm gun fitted with an autoloader, capable of firing 9M119M missiles, new fire control, navigation and communications systems, and a remotely-controlled mounted 7.62-mm machine gun. It has a crew of three, who are protected by explosive reactive armor and an NBC protection system.
T-90S Sale to India
The Indian Army announced a decision to buy two Regiments worth in early November 1998, to augment it's armored forces on the western border with Pakistan. While Indian Armoured Regiments usually field 45 MBTs, a figure of only 70 tanks was mentioned. In late December 1998 the Indian media announced that the deal would total 200 T-90S. And in January 1999 the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) approved the purchase of 310 tanks in a deal totalling $US 1.176 billion (Rs. 5,000 crore). This was enough to equip five regiments. There was also Indian media speculation that the Army might ultimately acquire 440 T-90S.
In 1999 the T-90 missile system was reported to have performed "poorly" during summer trials in the desert where it will eventually be deployed. Initially, the tank engines worked well, as the trials were being conducted at night. Problems, however, emerged once daytime trials began, with the power packs de-rating and at least one of three tank engines suffering extensive damage in high desert temperatures.
As of mid-2000 India planned to acquire T-90 tanks, based on field trials which had already been completed. Although orders had been placed for the supply of 124 Arjun tanks through the Defence Research Development Organisation, it would be difficult to predict when these orders would be fufilled. Until such time, T-90 tanks would serve to counter Pakistan's T-85 tanks.
The Committee on Security of the Indian cabinet approved a proposal for the outright purchase of 124 T-90 tanks, while the rest 186 would be delivered in semi-knocked down and completely knocked down state for assembly under licence at the Avadi factory in India. A first batch of 10 tanks were delivered in the first week of January 2002, with more to follow soon. The first regiments to be equipped are deployed near the Pakistani border in the Rajasthan desert region and neighbouring Punjab state.
Russia would display a prototype model of its new T-90S tank at the Defexpo 2012 arms exhibition in India later this week, arms firm Rosoboronexport delegation head Viktor Komardin said on 26 March 2012. "This new tank will be the gem of the show," Komardin said. "Its first foreign presentation will be the main event," he added. "The Indian Army already operates the T-90, so its modernized variant - which, by the way is an absolutely new machine - will be of great potential interest to the Indians," he said. The show took place in Delhi from March 29 to April 1, . India has overtaken China as the world's largest conventional arms buyer in the last five years, according to a report from the Swedish Stockholm International Peace Research Institute released in March 2012. India spent $12.7 billion on weapons in that period, 80 percent of which came from Russia. The Indian Army went in for the T-90 tanks earlier, to counter Pakistan’s acquisition of 320 T-80UD tanks from Ukraine, its upgradation of the Chinese T-59 tanks and development of its MBT Al Khalid with help from China.
India is interested in continued licensed production of T-90S tanks, Oleg Sienko, CEO of the Uralvagonzavod Research and Production Corporation, announced 20 February 2013 at the IDEX 2013 Defence Exhibition. Uralvagonzavod is the lead contractor in Russian-Indian tank deal. “We supply the component parts under this programme, and work is continuing successfully. We are discussing further cooperation in this area, because the feedback from the Indian side has been exceedingly positive”, Sienko said He added that “hundreds of tanks have already been manufactured.”
“The Indian side has spent quite serious money on the licensed manufacture of the tanks. They are interested in the contract being transparent, transitioning from semi knocked down assembly to full localisation and the subsequent upgrading of previously jointly manufactured machines. This means that it should be a continuous process,” Sienko said. “Uralvagonzavod and Rosoboronexport have decided to demonstrate a full-scale model of the T-90S Russian tank at IDEX 2013.”
T-90S Sale to Peru
Russia’s Uralvagonzavod plant was prepared to provide Peru with a full-scale specimen of its T-90S, a main battle tank currently on show at a defense expo in Lima, a representative of the manufacturer said on 16 May 2013. Russia’s modified T-90S is currently on display at the SITDEF Peru 2013 defense expo that opened on Wednesday in Lima. The Peruvian military expressed an interest in the tank while visiting Russia last year. “Given the genuine interest of Peru in purchasing T-90-type tanks, Uralvagonzavod is prepared to leave the tank in this country for testing after the exhibition is over,” Alexei Maslov, a manufacturer representative and former Armed Forces general, told RIA Novosti. Maslov said that Russia has good chances of selling the tanks to Peru, which is expected to purchase between 120 and 170 machines of that class.
This project continued to be the focus of Peruvian leaders, but by mid-2014 earned a "medium-term" schedule due to a number of political circumstances, such as the upcoming presidential elections. Peru's Ministry of Defense announced the possibility of buying some 140 T-90S tanks in the future after receiving prototypes of the Russian battle tank for trials in May of 2013 in Lima. Peru currently used 300 AMX-13 French light tanks in addition to 300 obsolete Soviet-made T-55 tanks. Though the T-90S trials have proved successful, a contract to supply the tanks to Peru has not yet been signed. The Peruvian leadership is focused on the project with aims of establishing production of the Russian Kamaz trucks, including military versions, which can potentially be used for civilian purposes.
T-90S Sale to Iraq
Russia will supply Iraq with a large batch of tanks, Vladimir Kozhin, the presidential aide on military-technical cooperation , told Izvestia 20 July 2017. Earlier it was reported that the corporation "Uralvagonzavod" in 2017 will supply Iraq with 73 tanks T-90S / SC. "A decent contract for a large lot, I can not name a specific amount, the number [of tanks] is large," Kozhin told the publication.
According to the newspaper, this is only the first batch of equipment, followed by others. "In this case, we can talk about the delivery of several hundred cars, and the amount of the contract may exceed $ 1 billion." This order is a great help for Uralvagonzavod. "In addition, this contract is a serious foreign policy success for Russia, because the Americans fought in Iraq, and the choice of Iraqi The military eventually fell on the Russian tank, "- quotes the publication of the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan Pukhov.
T-90S is an export version of the T-90 tank. It has powerful armament, a modern fire control system, reliable armored protection and high maneuverability, is designed to fight at any time of the day and in different climatic conditions with tanks, self-propelled guns and other armored objects. T-90SK is the command option.
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