Iraqi Army Receives First Batch Of T-90S Battle Tanks From Russia – Reports

On January 16, the Iraqi Army received the first batch of Russian-made T-90S and T-90SK Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) according to a report of Defense Blog released on February 1. The batch is a part of a contract to supply the Iraqi Army with 73 T-90S and T-90SK MBTs that was finalized by Russia and Iraq in July 2017.

The T-90S is manufactured by the Russian Uralvagonzavod company. The T-90S is an export version of the original T-90A battle tank. This model is equipped with a computerized day and night targeting system and is capable of launching the 9M119 Refleks anti-tank guided missiles via its 125mm 2A46M smoothbore gun. The battle tank is powered by a 1,000 hp (750 kW) engine made by the Russian Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant.

The T-90S is usually equipped with a leaner version of the Shtora-1 passive/active protection system that does not include the infra-red jammers. However, a fully capable version of the Shtora-1 system was exported to Syria and Algeria. This means that the Iraqi T-90S MBTs may be also equipped with it.

The T-90SK is the command version of the T-90S and it shares most of its specs with additional communication and navigation equipment. The T-90S will fill a large gap in the Iraqi Armored Forces that’s currently relying mainly on the US-made M1A1 Abrams battle tanks.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
21 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
jerry hamilton

This should get Netanyahu mouthing it.

Stavros Hadjiyiannis

Only 73? There is a lot of room for expansion in Russian arms sales to Iraq.

outer_rl

Yes, I would think that a country of 40 million, with abundant oil reserves, and large and dangerous neighbours, would want several thousand quality battle tanks to protect its cities and territory.

John

It begins. More may possibly come.

Astar Roth

Many more.

Assad must stay (gr8rambino)

probably just wanted to see if they like it first, if yes, then more will come

Wegan

America loses another client to Russia.

Jim Prendergast

Yes, killing hunderds of thousands of Iraqis was not the best advertising campaign.

Astar Roth

It’s black humour, but, yes it’s very sad true.

Bru

… and also refusing to servicing the Abram tanks which the Iraki were pressurized to purchase by the US…

Assad must stay (gr8rambino)

what was the US main tank before Abrams?

testera

M60

Assad must stay (gr8rambino)

Thanks :))

nkohr

killing people is allways a good weapon show. Ask the Israelis. They sell like crazy since they “tested” their weopons in “real” combat against Poeple in Palestina and Hisbola”

Bob

Presumably this contract is the reason behind General Dynamics announcing they will cease servicing Iraqi Abrams tanks – the company cited concerns over shia militias operating one and claimed it could end up in Iran being reverse engineered – but this Russian T-90 deal looks more like the real issue aggravating the US.

Astar Roth

Well, they have mastered that them selves.

Bru

indeed, typical hypocrisy of the imperialists

Astar Roth

I don’t think so.

Assad must stay (gr8rambino)

id imagine not just any military guy has access to these tanks. besides, what would they gain by taking it apart? Its not like s top secret tank anymore really

Assad must stay (gr8rambino)

like i said, the t-90 is not exactly a top secret weapon anymore, so all of that may already be publicly, and i doubt even the most corrupt iraqi military official would risk his career or life to gift it to the americans. now if it was the T-14 armata tank then yes maybe

Assad must stay (gr8rambino)

Very nice :))))