Has Russia's T-90 Tank Really Made TOW Missiles Obsolete in Syria? [interference + video]

Sputnik International ^ | Feb 28, 2016 | N/A

[huldah1776]

New Russian tanks sent to Syria have been able to survive hits from US-made TOW missiles, although their anti-missile counter-measures have yet to be seen in combat.

In a report on new weapons in the Syrian conflict, Robert Fisk noted tank-based anti-missile systems, as well as night vision and reconnaissance systems.

Although new the tanks supplied to the Syrian army have the ability to deflect TOW-like missiles, their full implementation has yet to be seen. A video released by rebels showed the T-90 surviving a hit by a TOW missile, but an open hatch prevented the deployment of an aerosol screen used to deflect such missiles before they reach the tank.

The video appears to be the manufacturer's demonstration of the T-90's Shtora system, mounted on a BMP-3. Images on social media have also shown what appears to be Arena-E radars mounted on Syrian equipment, although the radar by itself cannot deflect missiles without an aerosol screen and infrared beams which confuse the missile's self-tracking.

The video has been criticized, however, as the flight time of the missile is over 22 seconds, which is the limit for TOW missile flight.

A more recent video showed the effect of a TOW-2A anti-tank guided missile on a T-90A tank, with the tandem warhead failing to penetrate the tank's reactive armor.

The video cuts off before the aftermath of the explosion is seen, other than the gunner running out of the tank, apparently as a result of a concussion due to an open hatch.

The video also shows that the tank does not utilize the Shtora-1 system, perhaps automatically disabled due to the open hatch, as its infrared beams apparently remain unused, compared to the beams seen in the demonstration video. Operating tanks with the hatch open is a sort of conventional wisdom for operators of older tanks, as an open hatch allows for a faster escape from the tank.

It has, however, shown the T-90A superior in guided missile protection, compared to the Abrams tank, one of which was destroyed by Yemen's Houthi militias using the outdated 9K111 Fagot ATGM.

[archy]

I would think that if nothing else, the A-10s could detonate the tanks’ reactive armor,

I expect putting a Hellfire into the turret top armor would pop off most of the ERA as well.