T-72 ‘Aslan’

Tactical-technical specifications

Mass: 41.5 tons (44.5 tons T-72B)

Armour: Steel and composite armour. Turret 550mm RHA T-72M1 Steel, Composite

Speed: 60 km/h

Power/weight: 18.8 hp/ton

Main armament: 125 mm 2A46M/2A46M-5 smoothbore gun

Secondary armament: 7.62 mm PKT coax. machine gun, 12.7 mm NSVT machine gun

Length: 9.53 m

Width: 3.59 m

Height: 2.23 m

Crew: 3

Aslan stands out from the standard T-72A and T-72M1 with improved modern aiming and electronic warfare kits. ‘Aslan’ tanks sport digital ballistic computers, target tracking, and condition sensors, which allow for improving the shooting accuracy of moving targets. The computer can import ranging information and the ballistic trajectory, considering the movement of the target, the speed of the tank, the type of ammunition, the weather, and many other parameters. These tools allow the tank commander and gunner to have night combat capabilities.

The tank is equipped with a thermal imaging camera that allows the tank driver to operate the armoured vehicle confidently at night and in conditions of limited visibility.

NATO standard communication systems replaced the former Soviet radio sets. Most Russian tanks still do not have the ‘friend and foe’ sensors and GPS navigation systems installed in ‘Aslan’.

Along with numerous innovations, the engine and dynamic protection of the ‘Aslan’ had to be changed as well. The availability of sufficient resources allowed Azerbaijan to purchase about 100 modern T-90 SA tanks in 2013.

 T-90S

Tactical-technical specifications:

Mass: 46.5-50 tons

Maximum road speed: 65 km/h

Main armament: 125 mm 2A46M smoothbore gun for 9M119M ‘Refleks-M’ missiles

Secondary armament: 7.62 mm Pkt machine gun, 12.7 mm Kord Heavy machine gun

Length: 9.53 m (with turret), 6.86m (hull)

Width: 3.37 m

Height: 2.23 m

Crew: 3

The T-90S models were created in 2001. The crew comprises three people (driver, gunner, commander). These tanks are equipped with a 1G46 day sighting system taken from the T-80s, PZU-7 telescopic sighting for air targets, ESSA thermal imaging system, Buran-PA night vision sighting, infrared and laser sights, TO1-KO4 or PNA-4C-01 commander supervisory sighting systems, Kontakt-5 explosive reactive armour, and Kalina automatic target tracking system.

Sporting NBC or another more powerful engine, it has a low profile like other Russian tanks.

A 1 kW AB-1-P28 generator is also installed on the tank.