U.S. Army Seeks To Buy Russian T-90 Tanks

Defense News | August 27 - September 2, 2001 | Frank Tiboni

[AppyPappy]

The Indians have been looking at this tank as well.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Buy them on e-Bay.

[balrog666]

The Indians already ordered 350 with partial assembly to be conducted in India. We could always buy a few from them.

[SolitaryMan]

Picture and more info

Looks Impressive, but how would it standup to the M-1?

[JAWs]

In the old days the US bought Soviet equipment from the Israels. The Israelis captured/shot down/swiped the gear in question.

[Don Myers]

"Looks Impressive, but how would it standup to the M-1?"

Perhaps, quite well. I imagine that is what they want to know.

[t-shirt]

That way the Russians and China will be able to easily destroy them!

What a bunch of sell-outs!

[michaelt]

Serge: the story says that maybe the Russians left some T-90s in Ukraine. If true, that would be how they got them.

Balrog666: there was a post on other thread on this story that says that the export version is not as capable as the Russian version.

t-shirt: Huh? We're buying a few to look at, not use.

[Poohbah]

Does this mean that India's giving up on their home-grown MBT (called the Arjun, IIRC)?

[Bobby777]

it is for evaluation purposes, unlike the proposed deal on the S-300, which will of course, have at least a few units sent to be taken apart and evaluated ... we also own MiG-29's and SU-27 Flankers which we fly and test to evaluate capability ... same old Cold War tactics, now traded openly ... the T-90S variant of India does not have the specifics we are looking for ...

[lukpok]

Cat-Man, you are right. Russian tank and weapons technology in general is superior to their American counterparts. Also, it is hard to believe the Russians would allow their top of the line equipment to fall into American hands. If they allow the Americans to have the T90 then they have something which is superior to the T90. They never export their best equipment. What they do export is good enough to defeat an enemy supplied with American or western equipment.

The fact that this exported Russian equipment performed poorly in the hands of the various Arab militaries is not an indictment of the equipment but rather an indictment of the personnel who used it. However, many naive and gullible Americans will not accept that explanation.

[Travis McGee]

In the "Gulf War" our rounds would some times bounce off the Russian tanks. I learned that from some people that were there.

"Some people" must have been sniffing solvents back in the motor pool!

[Joe 6-pack]

The Abrams series of tanks rules. In my estimate; however, the A2 variant offers too much complexity for the average tank commander and crew. I know several folks who are members of the order of St. George, who consider the French Leclerc, to be the best Main Battle tank in the world for now. Those in the U.S. armored community will know what I'm talking about.

Throughout the '80's the M1 series acquitted itself very well in the Canadian Army Trophy (CAT) competitions held in a divided europe, and proved its worth in Desrt Storm. At this point in history, it is my humble opinion that the best tank in the world can only be decided by the aggresiveness of the commanders who employ them and the soldiers that man them.

GOD help our Army...

[SLB]

Joe 6-pack: You are correct, the best made tank in the world is just a hunk of metal without a crew that is trained and then willing to fight. The aggressiveness of the crews means much to the success of the battle.

As far as the Ukranians selling off the tanks. With the entire ex-soviet bloc hurting for cash they would probably sell their own mothers on the street if there was cash involved. I know some folks in certain jobs that have been contacted by countries other than the Ukraine (Northern Eurpoean) wanting to sell Russian arms.