T-90M Main Battle Tank's Combat Power Upgraded: Ural Locomotive Plant Will Enhance the "Breakthrough" Series with a New "Sprint" Model

Report by "Army Recognition" Magazine: Russia Breaks Through Against Sanctions, Continuously Strengthening Armored Forces

Image: The new generation of Russian main battle tanks — T-90M2 "Sprint - 1".

The Ural Locomotive Plant (referred to as the "Ural Vehicle Plant") has officially announced that it has delivered another batch of T-90M "Breakthrough" main battle tanks to the Russian Armed Forces. Western intelligence agencies have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the relevant on-site footage, which clearly shows that these tanks were loaded at the production site in Nizhny Tagil and then transported to the front lines via railway flatcars.

Alan Self, editor-in-chief of the "Army Recognition" group, pointed out that this delivery is not an ordinary frontline supply of advanced armored equipment, but a significant event. This open-source intelligence (OSINT) expert stated that this is a public symbol of the Russian defense industry's ability to withstand pressure and maintain stability. For nearly four years, the Russian defense industry has been operating under heavy international sanctions imposed by Western countries, yet it has achieved extremely remarkable results.

The core objective of this armored equipment delivery is to maintain the numerical advantage and technological leadership of the Russian armored tank forces. Western open-source intelligence analysts emphasized that the T-90M main battle tank has become one of the iconic pieces of equipment representing the technical strength of the Russian defense industry. This model is a deeply modernized version of the classic T-90 tank platform, and its development has fully incorporated the practical combat experience of armored equipment from various regional conflicts throughout the 21st century.

"Army Recognition" noted in its special commentary that the core upgrades of the T-90M main battle tank include: a next-generation enhanced protection system ("Calcite" explosive reactive armor), a modernized 125 mm smoothbore gun with an automatic loader, integration of the "Kalina" fire control system, adoption of a high-power V-92S2F diesel engine, and digital communication components that can connect to a common tactical network.

In real combat environments, compared to earlier models such as the T-72B3 and T-80BVM, the T-90M demonstrates superior firepower, mobility, and digital protection levels. In frontline operations, this tank often operates in coordination with electronic warfare suppression equipment, reconnaissance drones, and supporting protection systems.

Currently, some tanks have been equipped with the **"Mangal" electromagnetic jamming device**. This device can alter the flight path of first-person view (FPV) drones and effectively defend against top-attack munitions such as the "Javelin" and "Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon" (NLAW). Additionally, mobile electronic warfare systems are deployed on the tanks to interfere with or disable the guidance systems of drones. Observations also indicate that some tanks are equipped with infrared radiation suppression devices aimed at reducing the probability of being detected by heat-seeking flying weapons.

Open-source intelligence analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) revealed that Russia plans to start mass production of the T-90M2 model (commonly known as "Sprint - 1"). This is a highly classified tank improvement model, and its specific tactical and technical specifications have not yet been identified by Western intelligence agencies. It is speculated that by 2028, the total production of T-90M and T-90M2 may exceed 400 units. The ISW estimates that between 2027 and 2029, Russia plans to produce more than 1,100 new and modernized tanks.

These data fully demonstrate the long-term development ambitions of the Russian defense industry — its goal is not only to maintain the current scale of armored equipment but also to rebuild tank reserves based on 2022, preparing for potential future conflicts. Moreover, these armored combat vehicles are not limited to combat deployment; they are also important symbols of Russia's industrial strength and military strategic stability on the global stage.

To achieve large-scale production, all Russian defense manufacturing plants have switched to a three-shift continuous operation mode, significantly increasing production efficiency. For example, according to assessment data, the Ural Vehicle Plant produced 60 to 70 T-90M tanks in 2022; the production increased to approximately 140 to 180 units in 2023; and by 2024, the number may have approached 300. Although specific production data remain confidential, the growth trend is clear.

One of the core contents of the Western sanctions against Russia is a complete ban on the export of certain key equipment, electronic components, optical instruments, and thermal imaging systems — all of which are critical components for the production of advanced armored equipment like the T-90M. However, contrary to the expectations of the Western bloc, the Russian defense industry has successfully restored all supply chains, including supplies through friendly country channels. Additionally, "Army Recognition" magazine pointed out that Russian domestic companies have fully committed to developing related replacement products, and their developed optical instruments, electronic equipment, and high-end micro-electronics have already completely replaced Western-made components.

In fact, the continuous delivery of T-90M main battle tanks not only marks the resilience of the Russian defense industry under sanctions but also proves that it has completed comprehensive adaptive adjustments to various challenges.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7592938567429571082/

Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.