The National Interest Declared the T-90S Tank a Cult Object

India is the largest foreign operator of the T-90 main battle tank under a deal concluded in February 2001. This is according to military expert Peter Suchiu in an article dedicated to the "25th anniversary of the iconic Russian tank" T-90S "Bhishma."

The T-90S was initially assembled in Russia, then India received the necessary technologies and localized production.

The expert emphasized that the contract with India helped the Russian tank industry. This industry faced great difficulties in the 1990s and early 2000s amid a serious economic crisis. Even now, Russia hopes to cooperate with India, offering assistance in organizing the production of the T-90MS, he added.

Technical characteristics of the T-90S "Bhishma" tank

• Hull length — 6868 mm
• Length with gun — 9530 mm
• Width — 3780 mm
• Weight — 47 tons
• Suspension — torsion bar
• Engine — V-shaped 12-cylinder diesel model V-92S2 with turbocharging
• Road speed — up to 65 km/h
• Armament: 2A46M smoothbore gun, large-caliber machine gun, coaxial machine gun
• Active protection system

The T-90S "Bhishma" is considered one of the most advanced versions of the T-90. It was specially developed for the Indian Army and named after the legendary warrior from the epic poem "Mahabharata."

Suchiu recalled that New Delhi's decision in favor of the T-90 was deliberate. Two years before the contract was signed, 3 T-90S prototypes were tested in the Thar Desert (located in the northwest of the country). The tests lasted for 2 months and proved that the Russian tank is effective for operation in these climatic conditions, he concluded.

Read more materials on the topic:

• Military expert Nozdrachev: T-90 proved its superiority over T-84
• The contract with India saved the T-90 project from collapse and made the tank the best in the world
• T-90 "Breakthrough" not according to regulations: Rostec explained the purpose of the MTU-90M tank bridge