The Ukrainian military has been actively modifying captured Russian T-90A main battle tanks to redeploy them in combat against Russian forces. These modifications reportedly enhance protection against kamikaze drones with a newly installed foldable mesh structure at the rear of the tanks.
Furthermore, standard side screens on the tanks have been replaced with Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor to improve defense against incoming projectiles. Additional rubber flaps have also been added to the turrets to further reduce vulnerability to anti-tank weapons.
Details regarding the modifications include a captured T-90A (model obr.2005) that has been outfitted with a folding cage at the back, new side skirts featuring Kontakt-1 ERA, and extra rubber panels placed on the front of the turret. Some components used in these upgrades are reportedly sourced from other destroyed Russian tanks, including the T-90M variant.
According to the open-source intelligence group Oryx, Ukraine has captured at least 10 T-90As and destroyed 32 others since the onset of Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.
### About the T-90A
The T-90A is designed to fulfill modern combat requirements and is considered a fundamental part of Russia’s contemporary ground forces. It is equipped with a 125-mm smoothbore gun capable of firing both high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing ammunition.
The T-90A features an automatic loading system, allowing a rapid firing rate of up to seven rounds per minute and typically has a crew of three, consisting of a driver, commander, and gunner. The tank can reach a maximum speed of 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour, with an operational range exceeding 500 kilometers (310 miles).
### Creativity in Adversity
Ukraine’s capacity to retrofit captured Russian tanks demonstrates its resourcefulness amid significant supply challenges. Reports from September 2022 highlighted young Ukrainians assembling electronic components to create reconnaissance and attack drones. Moreover, Ukrainian forces have leveraged a so-called “FrankenSAM” weapon, which uniquely combines Soviet-era and American systems to adapt to the changing dynamics of the battlefield.
