How Russian tanks T-90 "Abrams" М1А1 / А2 won
Vladimir Kozhin, an assistant to the president of the Russian Federation for military-technical cooperation, in an interview with Izvestia reported on the conclusion of a contract between Russia and Iraq for the supply of tanks to the Iraqi army. It is clear that the concept of state secrets has not been canceled, but it was previously reported that Uralvagonzavod would supply the 73 tank to Iraq this year. Tanks of two modifications - T-90C and T-90SK (commander version). Kozhin responded evasively. "A decent contract for a large lot, I cannot name the specific amount, the number of [tanks] is large."
Further, Izvestia cites the words of the director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan Pukhov: "In this case, we can talk about the delivery of several hundred cars, and the contract amount may exceed $ 1 billion. This order is a great help for Uralvagonzavod." The contract is a serious foreign policy success of Russia. After all, the Americans fought in Iraq, and the choice of the Iraqi military eventually fell on the Russian tank. "
So, the country whose armed forces are waging a real war, chose not the raging American tank, but the Russian T-90. Why? Is this a victory for our technology? Foreign game? The economic aspect? Good job specialists Rosoboronexport? Why did the "great" Abrams not attract the attention of Iraqis? "Top of tank building" lost the old Soviet T-72, modified in "backward Russia"?
Indeed, if you look history the appearance of the T-90, it is clear that this tank is a direct continuation of the traditions of the Soviet tank construction. It is the Soviet! So, it can fight and be intensively exploited in the most severe conditions. The T-90 was created in the 90s of the last century and is indeed a deeply modernized version of one of the best tanks of the last century, the T-72.
Americans, and indeed Western military experts, often doubt the "modernity" of a Russian tank. Some speak directly about the "decline of the Soviet school of tank design." In one edition, I once read that Russians, except for T-34, did not create anything interesting.
I will not compare all the characteristics of "tops of tank building" and "outdated Russian." This is quite a tedious task and is interesting, for the most part, for specialists. But even comparing is difficult to do.
What is so attractive about the Russian tank Iraqis? I'll start with weapons. With an updated version of the 125-mm smooth-bore gun 2A46М4. High accuracy gun, with built-in alignment system and quick-release barrel. It is stabilized in two planes and charges automatically. That in terms of battle is a huge plus. The machine gives the rate of fire in 7-8 shots per minute! And this is for most foreign tanks a dream. I think ammunition should be mentioned.
Ammunition includes artillery shots of increased power: sub-caliber, high-explosive fragmentation, cumulative. The capabilities of the tank gun to combat ground and low-flying air targets are enhanced by using a guided weapons complex: a laser-guided cumulative rocket is fed into the barrel by the automatic loader and fired from the barrel of the gun.
Many readers have seen footage posted by fighters in Syria of successful hits on various tanks in Syria and Iraq. I am sure that they did not ignore the shots of the use of American anti-tank missiles according to T-90. Those, when after the traditional "Allahakbar" went "oooh, Shaitan Arba" ... There was a hit. The crew experienced several unpleasant moments. And then? Tank under its own power left the position. Why?
The fact is that in modern T-90, if we compare them with the first versions of T-72, the reservation has increased by 3 (!) Times. Armor has become special, "semi-active." And if you look closely, then the "active". Due to the built-in armor dynamic protection. So far, as experts say, it is in the T-90 (of the tanks that are in service) that the proportions of weight restrictions and the level of reservation are perfectly observed. This is really important for a breakthrough tank! Mobility...
But we can not say that the tank is fully protected. Alas, but in the Soviet cars and their descendants, the problem of booking the driver’s viewing device and weapons installation sites was not solved. There is no active armor. But there are other remedies. "Blind-1" and others.
Abrams should be mentioned here. And how is he? After all, this "miracle of tank building" is clearly not one of the breakthrough tanks. It was created exactly as anti-tank weapons. The English Channel to protect from the "Soviet tank armadas." Therefore, the booking is serious. And weight ... not for tank attacks.
Many probably noticed the similarity of these machines with those that our great-grandfathers burned in the fields of the Great Patriotic. Yes, Abrams did in many ways absorb the German school of tank building, the German approach. But back to booking. Abrams are booked on the "English" scheme. Thick armor plates outside and inside. And between them are metallic and non-metallic materials. They destroy the cumulative jet. "Forehead" is armored thoroughly. However, there is a small nuance that makes such a reservation “passable” for a competent artilleryman. Even with small caliber guns. Inadmissibly large gaps between the armor of the tower and the hull. good hit and ...
It seems to me that during this war, Iraq saw the advantages and disadvantages of the machines. I can not say that Russian tanks are "head on" above American ones. Likewise, and vice versa, American is better than Russian. They are comparable. But in a particular battle, they can have or lose their advantages.
But here in the first place came other factors. And economic and political. Russian tank is cheaper. Not by much, but still. And with large volumes of purchases the amount becomes impressive. And this, you see, is a rather serious incentive for choosing a product.
Further, the Americans are already launching another sanctions campaign for Iraq. And this threatens to disrupt the supply of not only the tanks themselves, but also spare parts. Abrams can turn into trash simply because of breakdowns and inability to maintain.
And finally, the nature of the hostilities that Iraq is leading today shows the need to have breakthrough tanks. Tanks capable of rapid movement. Tanks that would combine firepower and maneuver. Tanks capable of independently performing combat missions without a huge "army" of support units.
The contract, even in already known figures, is impressive. Uralvagonzavod will be fully loaded and will be able to modernize production capacity at the expense of its profits. However, according to some media, we are talking about hundreds of cars! And the cost of the contract is estimated by experts in the 1 $ billion region.
No matter how Western "friends" would bury our defense industry, no matter how "liberals and democrats about raw materials economy and the need to direct funds to the development of the social sphere" roared "on TV screens, there is a breakthrough in the production of competitive products. Including in the field of military production. But MAKS was not over yet ... We will learn a lot about new orders there too.
It seems to me that the world is gradually, not as fast as we would like, beginning to understand the difference between "is" and "will", between "opposed" and "able to confront", between reality and virtuality ...
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