TEL AVIV, (BM) – Egypt’s readiness to assemble Russian T-90MS tanks is seen in Israel as a “very alarming step,” the Israel Defense resource reported June 29, citing sources in the Israeli Ministry of Defense, learned BulgarianMilitary.com
Read more: Hundreds of Russian T-90 tanks are deployed to help al-Assad and Iran in Syria
We are talking about reports of a contract under which Egypt intends to receive about 500 Russian T-90MS tanks. According to media reports, the assembly of tanks will be carried out in Egypt from car kits supplied from Russia.
In addition, it is alleged that the assembly of Russian tanks will be handled by an Egyptian factory that previously assembled American Abrams tanks. It has already been reported that it is planned to expand its production capacities, although already now it is capable of producing up to 60 combat vehicles annually.
Sources of the portal from the Ministry of Defense of Israel claim that if these media reports correspond to the real situation, then these are very alarming signals that threaten regional Israeli interests.
As BulgarianMilitary.com reported, the Russian main battle tank T-90MS retains the status of the most sought-after tank in the global arms market. It is an export version of the T-90M Breakthrough tank, which is already being put into service with the Russian Army.
Background
As we reported on June 27 Moscow and Cairo signed a contract for the supply of hundreds T-90MS tanks for the Egyptian army. The agreement provides for the transfer of technology and the organization of joint production of military vehicles in Egypt.
Read more: US named the advantages of the Russia’s T-90 over America’s Abrams
“The organization of production of the T-90MS will allow Egypt to acquire technologies for creating tanks and armored vehicles, enriching the already existing experience in the joint production of M1A1 Abrams tanks with the American side, which has been ongoing since 1992,” the minister wrote.
Al-Wazir stressed that this deal will provide an opportunity to significantly increase Egypt’s military power in the region, making it the largest operator of T-90MS tanks. At the same time, Egypt will be the first state to simultaneously produce Russian and American tanks.
We remind you that Egypt has numerous tank troops. Of more or less modern combat vehicles, Cairo has 34 T-80U tanks and 1,100 M1A1 Abrams. 840 T-54/55 units and 260 Ramses II tanks (American modernization of the T-54/55) are in storage. Of the 500 T-62 units, only 200 are in service, the remaining are in storage. There are still 300 old American M60A1 and 850 M60A3.
India also ordered 400 Russian T-90S tanks in beginning of March
India decided to buy another 400 Russian T-90S tanks, which are produced in the country under license. This was announced by the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTS) of Russia Dmitry Shugaev.
“The Indian armed forces made a decision to increase the purchase of T-90S tanks, which they produce under license, and last year we signed a license agreement to extend the license until 2028, by another 400 pieces,” he said on the air Russia- 24.
In early February, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov announced that Russia had signed a contract with India to extend the T-90S licensed production program until 2028.
Read more: India Makes an Order for an Additional Purchase of Russian T-90 Tanks
T-90 – the main tank of the Russian army. The machine is manufactured at Uralvagonzavod. The first modification of the T-90 was adopted in 1992.
US named the advantages of the Russia’s T-90 over America’s Abrams
In the United States, the tactical and technical characteristics of the Russian T-90 tank were compared with Western models. Comparison was done by journalists from the specialized publication The National Interest.
The authors of the article called the T-90 a Kalashnikov assault rifle among Russian tanks. Western experts noted that the combat vehicle has multi-level protection, is easily modernized and in demand in the armed forces of different countries.
Journalists pointed out that the T-90 production used the traditional approach, so they are squat and low profile, which, in their opinion, makes tanks less vulnerable on the battlefield.
If we compare the Russian combat vehicle with the Western tanks M1 Abrams and Leopard, then it wins due to its compactness. An obvious plus of the Russian tank is the presence of a gun loader, which reduced the crew to three people, while in Western tanks there is a fourth crew member – a loader.
The first batch of the latest T-90M tanks came into service at the Russian Army
BulgarianMilitary.com reported on April 13 that the first batch of modernized T-90M tanks came into service at the Russian Armed Forces.
The commander of the army, Lieutenant General Sergey Kisel, said that “the first deliveries of the modernized T-90M tanks to the guards tank army of the Western Military District, deployed in five regions of Russia, began in April”.
He clarified that several T-90M came into service in the Taman mechanized infantry division, also part of the army.
Read more: The first batch of the latest T-90M tanks came into service at the Russian Army
According to the commander, the 1st Guards Tank Army of the Western Military District completed its command training, fire exercices and managing in combat conditions of the new tanks. “In the tank army there are several dozen varieties of simulators: for training crews of the T-80, T-72B3, T-90 tanks,” Kisel explained.
Combat firing from new tanks is planned to be carried out during the control check for the winter training period.
Russia is using T-90 tanks in Syria and Libya
Russia, Syria and Iran have deployed hundreds of tanks in Syria and are likely preparing to launch large-scale military operations in the country, as we reported on April 25.
T-90MS – Also known as T-90SM
T-90MS – Also known as T-90SM, it is an updated version of the T-90S. It is equipped with a 1,130 hp engine, a PNM Sosna-U gunner view, a UDP T05BV-1 RWS with a 7.62 mm machine gun, GLONASS, inertial navigation systems, new Relikt explosive reactive armour (ERA) that covers more of the tank, and a steering wheel.
A new removable turret bustle is included, which provides storage for eight additional rounds. The T-90MS is ready for serial production. 4 video cameras provide a 360° view of the environment, while the tank is more connected to command. The T-90MS has an upgraded thermal imager that can detect tanks over 3300 meters away.
Read more: Russia and India Discuss Production of Russia’s S-400 Components in India
***
Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news from us, follow our YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook pages. Do not miss the chance to subscribe to our newsletter. Subscribe and read our stories in News360App in AppStore or GooglePlay or in FeedlyApp in AppStore or GooglePlay
Subscribe to Google News
[Disclaimer]
