The T-90 is an interim solution, pending the introduction of the new Nizhny Tagil MBT which has been delayed due to lack of funding. Several hundred of these tanks have been produced, with various estimates suggesting that between 100 and 300 are in service, primarily in the Far East. However, this first generation system is probably not as capable as current Western counterpart systems. The tank is fitted with precision laying equipment and an automatic loader to guarantee a high rate of gun fire. Secondary armament includes a coaxial 7.62mm PKT machine gun and 12.7mm machine gun mount to for air and ground targets.
ERA bricks on the turret roof provide protection from top-attack weapons.
The T-90 is also equipped with a laser warning package that warns the tank crew when it is being lased. Shtora-1 is actually a soft kill, or countermeasures system. It is most effective when used in tandem with a hard kill system such as the Arena. The first known application of the system is the Russian T-90 MBT that entered service in the Russian Army in 1993. This processes the information from the sensors and activates the aerosol screen-laying system.