The following is a comparison between the T-90
S/ Bhishma MBT and the Pakistani Al Khalid. The T-90
M, which the Indian Army will be receiving by the year's end is an improved version of the T-90 series with welded turret, V-92S2 engine and ESSA thermal viewer as opposed to the T-90S, which was a simplified export version with cast turret, R-173 radio, 1V528 computer and V-84-1 engine.
Crew
AL-Khalid = 3
T-90S = 3
Combat Weight
Al-Khalid = 48,000 kg
T-90S = 46,500 kg
Engine
Al-Khalid = 1200 horsepower
T-90S = 840 horsepower
Maximum Speed
Al-Khalid = 72 km/hr
T-90S = 65 km/hr
Maximum Range
Al-Khalid = 450 kms
T-90S = 500
Vertical Obstacle
Al-Khalid = 0.85 m
T-90S = 0.85
Fording
Al-Khalid = without preparation 1.4 metres
T-90S = without preparation 1.2 metres
Trench
Al-Khalid = 2.7 m
T-90S = 2.8 m
Armament
Al-Khalid
(main): 1 x 125 mm gun 125mm Smooth Bore, Chrome Plated, Auto fret aged
Circular Carousel Type: (Cassette Type) 22 Rounds / Minute 6-8
FCS/GCS : Type: Image Stabilized (3rd generation director type stabilization), Optics: LASER protected (coaxial): 1 x 7.62 mm MG
(anti-aircraft): 1 x 12.7 mm MG
Smoke grenade dischargers: 2 x 6, can also lay smoke screen by injecting diesel into the exhaust outlets at the rear
GUNNER SIGHT : Type Integrated, Bi-axis Stabilized Day/Night, Tl, LRF
Magnification Dual, 3x & 1 Ox
Field of View 20° & 6°
COMMANDER SIGHT:
Type Panoramic,
Bi-Axis stabilized,
LRF, 2nd Generation IIT
Hunter-Killer Capability
Magnification 7.5x
Field of View 7 . 5
LRF : Type ND YAG
Range200 ~ 5000m
AUTO TRACKER: Tracking Error < 0.1 mils Interfaced with Gunner Day Sight & Tl
T-90S [T-90S information courtesy of
Bharat Rakshak]
1 x 125mm 2A46M smoothbore gun with 43 rounds.
...............1 x 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft gun with 300 rounds. [1]
...............1 x 7.62mm PKT co-axial machine gun with 2000 rounds.
...............1 x 5.45mm AKS-74 rifle, carried on storage rack, with 300 rounds.[2]
[1] The 12.7mm NSVT, mounted on the commander's contra-rotating copula which can be aimed and fired under complete armour protection, uses the PZU-7 machine gun sight and the 1ETs29 (with vertical stabilization) machine gun FCS (Fire Control System).
[2] The locally-produced 5.56mm INSAS Assault Rifle will likely be used instead.
Smoke Grenade Launchers: Mounted either side of the turret is a bank of six electrically operated 81mm smoke grenade launchers which are in a new low-angle configuration compared to those fitted to earlier Russian MBTs. The quick forming aerosol screening system comprises the four laser radiation sensors (two coarse and two fine receiving heads), the Type 902A Aerosol Forming Grenade Launch System dispensing 81mm 3D17 aerosol grenades and associated controls. The aerosol screening system detects laser illumination, determines its direction and type (laser range-finder or designator), generates warning signals, both audio and visual, and lays in automatic or semi-automatic modes, quick forming aerosol screens within three seconds at a distance of 50 to 80 metres from the tank. In addition, the tank can also lay its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust outlet located on the left side of the hull.
The 2A46M smoothbore gun is stabilised (Zhasmin 2E42-4 system) in two axes and is fitted with a thermal sleeve. The gun tube can be replaced without a need for dismantling inside the turret. The gun can fire various ammunition including APFSDS-T (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot - Tracer), HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), HE-FRAG (High Explosive Fragmentation) as well as shrapnel projectiles with time fuzes. In addition it can also fire a special HE-FRAG projectile that can be detonated over the target using the tank's fire-control system. Maximum rate of fire is at 7 rounds per minute. The gun can also fire the 9M119 Refleks-M (NATO: AT-11 Sniper-B) anti-tank guided missile system. The range of the missile is 75 to 5000 metres and takes 14.2 seconds to reach maximum range. The system is intended to engage tanks fitted with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armour) as well as low-flying air targets such as helicopters, at a range of up to 5 km. Hit probability is over 80%. The missile system fires either the 9M119 (3UBK14 weapon system) or the 9M119M (3UBK20 weapon system) missiles which have semi-automatic laser beam riding guidance and a hollow charge warhead. Missile weight is 23.4 kg. The gun's automatic loader will feed both ordnance and missiles.
Self-Protection
The hull and turret are protected by both conventional armour-plating and the latest generation Kontakt-5 ERA which provides protection against APFSDS (Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot) and HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) type projectiles. In addition to being fitted to the hull and turret, ERA panels are also fitted either side of the hull front to provide lateral protection to each side of the driver's compartment. The tank also has NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) protection equipment. The TShU1-7 Shtora-1 countermeasures system is not fitted.
Fire Control & Observation
The T-90S has the 1A45T IFCS (Integrated Fire
Control System) which is automatic, but has a
manual override for the commander. The IFCS
comprises the gunner's day/night fire-control
system, gunner's IR sight or thermal imaging
sight, and commander's day/night sight-
observation system. The fire control system
comprises day sight-rangefinder with missile
guidance channel, armament stabilizer and
ballistic computer. The system is used by the
commander for gun and machine gun fire
control.
Propulsion
The T-90S will be powered by a 1,000 hp V-92S2
four-stroke V-12 diesel engine. This new engine,
fitted with a turbo-supercharger, offers
impressive specific power and specific fuel
consumption characteristics. The tank can carry
up to 1600 litres of fuel in the main, armour
plated fuel tanks and fuel drums. The tank is
provided with a snorkel for deep fording (up to 5
metres of water) with equipment which can be
deployed in 20 minutes. The mechanical
transmission includes primary reduction gear,
two planetary final gearboxes and two planetary
final drives. The running gear features torsion bar
suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers at 1, 2
and 6 road wheel stations and tracks with
rubber-metallic pin hinges.
Miscellaneous Information
A new track has been developed and tested for
the T-90S that not only has a longer life but also
has replaceable rubber pads that can be quickly
removed. Standard equipment includes NBC
protection, fire detection & suppression system,
nose-mounted dozer blade and a deep fording
kit. The tank is fitted with an air conditioning
system for operations in high ambient
temperatures