Ukrainian drone takes down Russia's advanced T‑90M tank with a grenade
The Ukrainians have successfully destroyed another T-90M, the most advanced tank Russia has deployed in Ukraine, this time using a drone armed with a grenade.
3:31 PM EDT, March 31, 2024
The incident was captured on video and shared on social media by the official channels of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The footage reveals that a simple drone, dropping an American M67 grenade, was all it took to disable the Russian tank.
This encounter can be likened to a modern-day David vs. Goliath battle. With just a small unmanned aerial vehicle and a single grenade, the Ukrainians were able to take out a tank valued at approximately $4.5 million, rendering it inoperable.
T-90M destroyed by a grenade
Russia employs a diverse array of tanks in Ukraine, among them the T-90 series of main battle tanks, which began production in 1992. They represent a significant upgrade over the T-72, with the T-90M being the latest and most advanced version, often dubbed “Putin’s pride”. President Putin, having reviewed one of the prototypes, lauded its capabilities. However, during a visit to an armaments factory in February, he declared it to be “the best tank in the world”.
The T-90M not as formidable as claimed by Russia
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine challenges such assertions by the Russian leadership. T-90M tanks have been consistently destroyed by Ukrainian forces, who have conducted detailed analyses on captured specimens. Their findings suggest that the T-90M falls short of being a breakthrough, citing an underperforming engine, fragile microelectronics, and problematic radio communication. Additionally, it appears that the tank incorporates certain outdated technologies borrowed from the older T-72.
Despite its shortcomings, the T-90M does offer improvements over older models used by the Russians, many of which date back to the Soviet era. It boasts superior offensive capabilities, thanks to a 125 mm 2A46M-5 cannon enhanced with a state-of-the-art fire control system featuring French thermal imaging technology, as well as two machine guns, one 7.62 mm and one 12.7 mm.
The design of the T-90M includes Relikt modular reactive armor for increased protection of both the hull and turret. However, Ukrainian forces have identified a major vulnerability in this formidable Russian tank - its comparatively weak roof.
