T-90MS is a modernised version of the T-90 main battle tank (MBT) built by Uralvagonzavod. The modernised tank is being proposed for the Russian Army and potential export customers. It is also referred as Tagil or Proryv. It has a number of improvements and improved operational capabilities over the original T-90.
The main armament of the T-90MS tank is a 125mm 2A46M-5 high accuracy gun. This gun has longer range than the previous 2A46M gun of the baseline T-90. It fires APFSDS, HE and HE-FRAG rounds. The Tagil also fires 9K119 Refleks (NATO designation AT-11 Sniper-B) anti-tank guided missiles in the same manner as ordinary munitions. These missiles have a range of 4-5 km and can also engage low-flying helicopters. A total of 40 rounds a carried for the main gun. .
The tank has the capacity to carry up to 40 rounds of 125mm ammunition. The MBT is also armed with a 7.62mm 6P7K anti-aircraft machine gun on a remotely controlled weapon station mounted on top of the turret to destroy stationary and moving targets. It can carry 2,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 800 cartridges. Six smoke-grenade dischargers are also fitted on each side of the turret.
This combat machine has new composite armor as well as built-in Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) in place of the previous Kontakt-5. The Tagil is fitted with side skirts with built-in Relikt ERA. It provides protection against tandem warheads and reduces penetration of APFSDS rounds by over 50%. There is also a countermeasures system, which triggers smoke grenade dischargers once the tank is being illuminated by a laser beam. This system significantly reduces the chance of being hit by enemy anti-tank guided weapons with semi-automatic guidance. As usually this tank is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. Interior is lined with spall liner.
The Kalina fire control system of the T-90MS incorporates the multichannel main gunner’s sight consisting of sighting and thermal channels, laser range finder and in-built laser control channel. The fire control system also incorporates parallel sight with dependent sighting channel. The tank can identify targets at a minimum range of 2,000m during day and 1,000m at dusk. The T-90MS also consists of a digital ballistic computer featuring weather and topographical transmitting units and a barrel straightness monitor. The automatic target tracking is autonomously secured from the gunner’s and commander’s stations by implementing gunner-hunter mode.
The T-90MS Tagil is powered by a new V-92S2F turbocharged diesel engine, developing 1 130 hp. Engine is coupled with an automatic transmission with 7 forward and 1 reverse gear. The tank features torsion bar suspension integrating six hydraulic vane-type shock absorbers, as well as six road wheel and three track support rollers per side. It can accomplish a speed of 60km/h and a range of 550km. It can ford at a depth of 1.8m, while its maximum fording depth with USCE is 5m.
