Will Vietnam's T-90 tanks be equipped with new generation armor?

Russia has now widely adopted the combination of explosive reactive armor with box armor and cage armor on its main battle tanks. Will the T-90S and T-90SK tanks that Vietnam has ordered from Russia, currently in the delivery process, be equipped with this advanced new generation armor?

During the parade commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the victory over fascism on Red Square, Russia for the first time showcased its upgraded T-72B3 main battle tanks with enhanced defense systems.

Specifically, these tanks are fitted with side armor similar to the T-90SM, which consists of modules of the third-generation Relikt explosive reactive armor, and the turret is also fitted with additional armor and cage armor on the rear.

This configuration is considered to have provided the T-72B3 with superior protection, even comparable to the T-90MS, while also significantly improving its aesthetics compared to previous versions.

T-72B3 main battle tanks, clad in new armor, practice for a parade at Alabino base.

After announcing the modernization package, and recognizing its success while keeping costs at an acceptable level (the increase was not significant compared to when equipped with the older generation armor), the Russians deployed it on a large scale for their T-72 tanks.

This approach has even been applied to another tank model, the T-80BVM, a modernized version of the T-80BV. Compared to the 2017 T-72B3, the T-80BVM is even more superior because it is fitted with Relikt explosive reactive armor around the turret instead of Kontakt 5.

Besides integrating this armor into domestic tanks, Russia has also stated that it is ready to equip export tanks with this armor if requested by customers, a rather attractive offer.

The T-80BVM main battle tank features a new, more advanced armor system than the one fitted to the 2017 T-72B3.

The question now is probably whether the T-90S and T-90SK tanks that Vietnam ordered from Russia, currently in the delivery process, will be equipped with this advanced new generation armor, or will they remain as "basic" as the basic T-90 configuration.

Currently, there is no specific information regarding the weapon configurations of the tanks soon to be commissioned into Vietnam. However, before the official announcement of the T-90S/SK purchase contract, all predictions suggest that we will choose the T-90MS variant.

Vietnam's decision to finalize the T-90S order may stem from its continued purchasing habit of prioritizing weapons that have proven their capabilities over a long period of operation. However, having shown interest in the T-90MS, Vietnam will likely request the installation of the integrated armor found on this tank onto its T-90S/SK tanks.

Hopefully, the first images of Vietnam's T-90S/SK main battle tanks will soon be available to provide the most accurate and comprehensive picture.

According to baodatviet