The T-90 at a rehearsal for the victory day parade
The **T-90** is a advanced main battle tank in service with the Russian army and the countries the tank is exported to.It is part of an grouping of advanced tanks called the third generation of tanks and has mostly replaced the T-72 in Russian service.The tank started as a type of the T-72B with some features of the T-80U and was accordingly called the T-72BU before being named the T-90.The main weapon of the tank is the 2A46M smoothbore main gun.It also contains secondary weapons in the form of the Kord heavy machine gun on the top of the tank and the PK machine gun next to the barrel.In terms of protection the tank first has sloped armour that is a mix of many different materials that is covered by blocks of explosive reactive armour(ERA).Beyond this it has an active protection system called Shtora-1 which makes some types of missiles not able to guide themselves towards the tank.It has many additional features shared by other advanced tanks such as a the tanks aiming being done by a computer called the 1A45T fire control system.The gun of the tank also will not change its angle when the tank moves because of the 2E42-4 Zhasmin System.Along with this it has a fire suppression system(puts out fires) along with being able to launch 9M119 Svir/Refleks missiles out of the main gun.

Features
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### Firepower

This is the missile the T-90 can shoot
The main firepower of the t-90 is the 125mm 2A46M smoothbore main gun mounted in the turret.the t-90 can also launch beam riding anti tank missiles called 9M119 Svir/Refleks along with a variety of other 125mm projectiles out of the main gun.Its gun is aimed by a computer called the 1A45T fire control system and is stabilized by the 2E42-4 Zhasmin System.The tank has 44 rounds of ammunition with an autoloader that takes about 8 seconds to reload.The ammunition is stored close to the crew in a downward spiral below the turret and has an effective firing range of 4000 meters.

This is the main gun of the T-90
### Protection

This is the left part of the Shtora-1 system
The T-90 is well armoured with the armour consisting of a mix of many different materials that are covered by "bricks" of explosive reactive armour creating a clam shell appearance.It is shorter and smaller compared to other modern tanks at only 2.2 meters tall.Without ERA the tank has the equivalent of 550 mm of armour against APFSDS and 650-850 mm vs HEAT.With kontakt-5 the tank's turret has the equivalent of 800-830 mm of armour against APFSDS and 1,150-1,550 mm against HEAT.However there are some weak spots in the armour like the rear hull (40 mm armour without ERA) and the rear turret armour(20 mm armour without ERA).The gunners hatch,commanders tower and sighting devices have relatively thin armour as well.The middle of the tracks are also a weak spot in an area called the redan where the armour is only 30 mm thick.Along with passive protection(armour) the T-90 also has an active protective system called Shtora-1.Shtora-1 counters SALCOS missiles by a using electro-optical jammer which stops the missiles from guiding and can also counter infra red missiles by using a infra-red jammer and launching smoke grenades from the smoke grenade launchers.

### Mobility and awareness

On roads the T-90 has a maximum speed of 60 km/h(37 mph) and runs on a diesel engine using either gasoline or kerosene.the crew has infra red vision equipment and sensors to help them remain aware of their surroundings.The sights have a narrow field of view adapted to combat at long range.Both the gunner and the tank commander have different sights.The sensors are able to detect missiles,radiation,fire and other tanks.

Variants.
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T-90A - Russian army version of the T-90 with a welded turret.Sometimes called T-90 vladimir because of its chief designer vladimir potkin.

T-90K - Commanders version of the T-90.Equipped with additional communication and navigation equipment.

Map of T-90 operators are in blue.Countries other than russia are solder weaker export versions.
T-90AK -Command version of T-90

T-90AM -The latest version of the T-90A.features a modernized turret and gun along with a anti aircraft gun.

T-90M- Modernized T-90A.It differs from the T-90AM because it is made from T-90A tanks rather than being a new version.

T-90S-Export version of T-90.Lacks infra red "dazzlers" in its shtora-1 system 

T-90SK-Commanders version of T-90S.Contains additional communication and navigational equipment

T-90MS-Updated version of the T-90S.Includes a stronger engine and a steering wheel along with 4 cameras around the tank giving it a 360 degree view.Has the new relikt ERA that covers more of the tank.