Uralvagonzavod has published unique archival footage of the T-90S tank being tested in the extreme conditions of the Indian Thar Desert. The 1999 materials demonstrate how three prototypes covered over 2000 kilometers off-road in two months, confirming the reliability of domestic armored vehicles in the harshest climatic conditions.
The video captures the stages of complex tests that took place in the summer of 1999. Crews and equipment faced a series of trials: steep dunes up to 30 meters high, monotonous sandy expanses, sudden dust storms, and then a sharp contrast in the form of tropical forests with high humidity. Even at night, the engines did not have time to cool down completely: the ambient temperature did not drop below 30 degrees Celsius. A sudden hurricane rain provided a special test of the tightness and stability of the control systems, which the tanks survived without a single breakdown.
Operators during the tests reported that at an air temperature of 45 degrees, all systems were functioning normally.
The experience gained then became the foundation for the development of a new generation tank — the T-90M/MS "Proryv", capable of operating effectively in both hot deserts and extreme northern conditions.
The design changes between the T-90S and T-90M turned out to be radical. Uralvagonzavod engineers completely redesigned the tank's armament, installing an updated 125-mm 2A82-1M gun, increased engine power to 1130 hp, modernized the Afghanit active protection system, and radically improved the ergonomics of the fighting compartment.
Read more materials on the topic:
- Uralvagonzavod delivered a new batch of IMR-3M engineering tanks based on the T-90 to the troops
- "India uses our cars, airplanes": Putin named the Russian military equipment that is in demand in the partner country
- Russia has exported more than a thousand T-90 series tanks
