Russia Is Running Out of All Its Best Tanks

Why is Russia Losing T-90 Tanks?

Overview of the T-90 Tank

• The T-90 tank is considered a key asset in Russia's ground forces, with President Putin calling it "the best tank in the world."

• Despite its reputation, Russia has deployed the T-90 sparingly and has lost over 100 tanks in recent conflicts.

Questions Surrounding Deployment and Effectiveness

• Key questions arise regarding why Russia is losing so many T-90s and why their deployment has been slow.

• The video aims to explore these questions while also discussing what makes the T-90 special.

Specifications and Features of the T-90

Design and Mobility

• The T-90 was introduced in 1992 by Uralvagonzavod, featuring a crew of three and significant dimensions (31.2 feet long, 12.4 feet high).

Firepower Capabilities

• Equipped with a 125mm 2A46M smoothbore gun, which includes a thermal sleeve for improved accuracy and longevity.

• The gun can fire various types of ammunition including armor-piercing rounds, enhancing its versatility on the battlefield.

Anti-Tank Missile System

• Features the 9M119 Refleks anti-tank guided missile system with an impressive range (328 to 13,123 feet), effective against armored targets.

Defensive Systems

• Protection includes explosive reactive armor (ERA), conventional armor plating, and the Shtora-1 defensive suite for threat detection.

Maneuverability and Additional Features

Engine Performance

• Powered by an 840-horsepower engine that allows for substantial mobility; capable of deep water fording using a snorkel system.

Global Adoption

T-90M Tank: Capabilities and Challenges

Overview of T-90M Enhancements

• The T-90M tank features an upgraded engine with 1,130 horsepower, surpassing the base model's 840 horsepower.

• It is equipped with the PNM Sosna-U gunner view system, enhancing all-weather capabilities and targeting tracking.

• New upgrades include enhanced explosive reactive armor (ERA), a new steering wheel, and a removable turret bustle for additional ammunition storage.

• The T-90M can reach speeds of up to 37.2 miles per hour and has a cruising range of approximately 341.7 miles.

Market Appeal and Performance in Ukraine

• Despite its advanced features, the T-90M has underperformed in the ongoing Ukraine war, leading to significant losses for Russia.

• As of July 16, 2024, reports indicated that Russia lost over 100 T-90Ms since the conflict began; however, actual losses may be much higher due to unrecorded incidents.

Comparative Losses

• Oryx reported that Russia has lost a total of 3,235 tanks during the war; Ukrainian sources claim this number could be as high as 8,227.

• If Ukrainian estimates are accurate, it suggests that more than 200 T-90 tanks have been lost in combat.

Design Limitations

• Martin J. Dougherty notes that the T-90 combines elements from both the T-72 and T-80 but was not designed to counter modern top-down attack weapons used by Ukraine.

Tactical Inefficiencies

• The lack of defenses against newer weaponry like NLAW missiles has made Russian tanks vulnerable on the battlefield.

Crew Training Issues

• Poorly trained crews contribute significantly to tank losses; effective operation requires highly skilled personnel which many Russian units lack.

Command Failures

• Reports indicate tactical ineptness among Russian commanders during operations such as the failed assault on Vuhledar in February 2023.

Increased Deployment Strategy

T-90M Tank Production and Losses in Ukraine

Overview of T-90 Variants and Production

• The discussion begins with the manufacturing of several hundred more T-90 variants since the onset of the Ukraine war, citing increased losses as evidence.

• David Axe highlights that Russia's losses of older T-62 tanks peaked in October 2022, followed by T-80s in June 2023, and currently, T-90 losses are peaking.

• The argument posits that Russia relied on older tanks initially to buy time for producing more advanced T-90 models.

Current Production Estimates

• The production rate of T-90Ms is debated; reports suggest Russia may be delivering around 130 units annually as of late 2023.

• The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) indicates at least 231 to a maximum of 267 T-90Ms were built from April 2020 to May 2024.

Analysis of Delivery Rates

• In January through December 2023, deliveries totaled approximately 70 tanks, significantly lower than the pre-war estimate of 130 per year.

• It’s suggested that pre-war production included exports; thus, current production might have been scaled back due to ongoing conflict.

Upgrades and Tactical Implications

• Many incoming T-90Ms could be upgraded versions of older models like the T-90A, which would reduce production times but risk depleting stockpiles.

Impact on Combat Effectiveness

• As older tank stocks diminish, more modern T-90Ms are deployed into combat. However, they face challenges against Ukrainian defenses such as NLAWs and potentially untrained crews.

Ukrainian Countermeasures Against T-90M Tanks

Innovative Strategies Employed by Ukraine

• Ukraine has developed novel tactics to counteract what is considered "the best tank in the world," including effective use of NLAWs for top-down attacks.

• A notable instance involved M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles successfully engaging a T-90M using unconventional methods despite being outmatched.

Tactical Engagement Example

• In January 2024 footage shows M2 Bradleys circling a stationary T-90M; one acted as a decoy while another engaged directly with armor-piercing rounds until ammunition ran low.

• When faced with limited firepower, crew members switched tactics targeting the tank's optics instead—demonstrating adaptability under pressure.

Outcome and Lessons Learned

Tactics Against the T-90M: Ukraine's Innovative Warfare

Exploiting Vulnerabilities in the T-90M

• Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted Russia's T-90M tanks using clever tactics that exploit their vulnerabilities, contrary to expectations of the tank being invulnerable.

• A notable instance involved UAVs attacking a T-90M, where one kamikaze drone struck the engine while another targeted the turret, leading to significant damage and immobilization.

• After failed attempts to set the tank ablaze, a skilled Ukrainian pilot executed a precise strike between the turret and hull, resulting in the tank catching fire.

The Role of Various Weapons

• Ukraine has effectively utilized NLAWs, M-2s, and UAVs against T-90Ms, demonstrating that these weapons can counter what was once considered "the best tank in the world."

• Reports indicate that many losses stem from inadequate training among Russian crews and poor tactical decisions during engagements with better-trained Ukrainian forces.

Capturing Valuable Assets

• In May 2024, soldiers from Ukraine’s Hunter Brigade captured an operational T-90M after it was abandoned during a failed Russian assault.

• This incident highlights severe lapses in Russian command and control as they left valuable assets unguarded on the battlefield.

Production and Losses of T-90Ms

• Despite maintaining production levels of 70 to 130 units per year, Russia faces increasing losses due to effective Ukrainian countermeasures against its newer tanks.

• The limited role of T-90Ms in Ukraine is compounded by their vulnerability to modern weaponry like NLAWs and UAV attacks.

Introduction of Newer Tanks: The T-14

• Russia claims its new tank model, the T-14, is superior but has deployed it sparingly due to high costs and concerns over its performance compared to earlier models like the T-90M.

• Limited production rates (less than 50 per year) hinder widespread deployment; thus far, it remains behind frontlines rather than engaging directly with Ukrainian forces.

T-90M Tank: A Case Study in Modern Warfare

Analysis of the T-90M's Performance in Ukraine

• The effectiveness of military equipment, such as the T-90M tank, is heavily dependent on crew training and operational tactics rather than just technological superiority.

• The discussion raises questions about whether Ukraine has successfully exploited vulnerabilities in the T-90M or if its failures are primarily due to Russian tactical shortcomings.

• The conversation suggests that even advanced tanks can be rendered ineffective if they face threats for which they were not designed, highlighting the importance of adaptability in warfare.

• There is an implication that Russia's lack of proper training for its crews may have contributed significantly to the T-90M's underperformance on the battlefield.