Russian export tanks T-90S unexpectedly appeared in Iraq in the same marching column with American M1A1SA Abrams. The footage went viral on social networks and messengers.
T-90S tanks ended up in Iraq as part of a major defense contract concluded in 2017.
It is curious that Iraq preferred to diversify its tank fleet after the experience of operating American M1 Abrams, choosing the T-90S for their reliability and efficiency in desert conditions.
According to open information, Russia was supposed to supply Iraq with 73 T-90S model tanks and the T-90SK command modification. The first batch of 36 units arrived in the Middle Eastern country in February 2018, and the second in June of the same year, the Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade clarified.
The delivered tanks were equipped with additional dynamic protection units instead of the «Shtora-1» complex, which increased their resistance to anti-tank weapons specifically in urban combat.
It is known that the T-90S is equipped with a 125-mm smoothbore gun with a firing range of up to 5 km. The hull of the combat vehicle is protected by multi-layered armor with «Kontakt-5» dynamic protection, and engines with a power of 1000 hp accelerate the tank to 70 km/h.
