bhramos
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2009
- Messages
- 25,625
- Likes
- 37,233
In the late 90s, Pak Army signed a deal for improved T-80UD MBT from Ukraine which was superior than any Tank in service with Indian Army in terms of Firepower and Armour protection. T 80UD also gives the ability to fire the 9M119 Refleks guided missile from the Main gun.
Indian army was fully familiar of the capabilities of T-80UD, approched Russia for a potential purchase after becoming concerned about the tank balance with Pakistan. India had a set of conditions linked to the T-80UD features, including that any new tank would have at least 1000hp Engine, a thermal imaging sight, and a guided projectile.
Due to the Pakistani acquisition of Ukrainian guided Missile (9M119 Refleks) for their T-80UD tanks,India needed a similar capability for their T-90S tanks.
This led to the development of an improved version of the Refleks guided Missile, the Invar. The Invar family includes two projectile types, the 9M119F with a thermobaric blast warhead and the antiarmor 9M119M Invar with a HEAT warhead.
Indian T 90S Bhishma MBT equipped with Tube launch Invar 9M119M ( AT 11B sniper) gives the ability to target Tanks outside the optimal range of conventional ammunition fired form the main Gun 2A46M1/M2.The missile is controlled through the laser beam-riding semi-automatic guidance system that is said to be resistant to jamming.
The Missile is first loaded in the carousel auto loader of T-90 then fits into the main gun like the conventional ammo.The 3UBK14 ammunition that consisted of a 9M119 missile and a 9KH949 ejecting device that gives the missile intial momentum before the rocket motor (placed in the middle section ) kicks into action.
After launch,two sets of fins pop out, one for stability and the other for steering.The missile is guided through laser beam riding through T 90S integrated Gunner sight (1G46) which contains a semi auto laser system.
The missile has a max range of 5,000 meters and Penetrate armour upto 700-750 ~mm (-50mm with ERA) with Tandem warhead to defeat Tanks with ERA. It can also aim low-flying helicopters.
