Photos of Indian T-90S tanks equipped with special protective hoods have been published on the social network X, as reported by Sarbaz.kz with reference to Defence24.
Source: Byjus
The photos depict two of India's primary battle tanks, the T-90S, outfitted with hoods, which have become typical in recent conflicts. These hoods are designed to enhance the vehicle's resilience against potential roof attacks, particularly from drones.
These vehicles were identified as belonging to the Western Command of the Indian Army, responsible for the border with Pakistan.
This innovative solution, originally developed to counter anti-tank Javelin missiles designed to attack from above to penetrate the thin roof armor of tanks, has proven to be ineffective for that purpose. However, it has found utility in countering munitions dropped from drones.
Nonetheless, this solution is not without its drawbacks. The installation of these "hoods" often prevents the tank crew from leaving the tank, which could result in the crew's fatality in the event of a fire. Over time, the Russian military has "improved" this solution, incorporating active protection blocks onto the hoods. Interestingly, similar solutions have recently been observed in use by Israeli tank crews, who have begun installing them on their Merkava Mk3/4 tanks operating near the Gaza Strip.
The T-90S is a Russian main battle tank and is an export version of the T-90A, lacking some of its elements, such as the "Shtora" protection system. Its primary armament is the 125mm 2A46M-2 gun. It comes with a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun with 2000 rounds. These are complemented by a large-caliber 12.7mm "Kord" machine gun with 300 rounds. The power plant consists of the 1000hp V-92S2 engine. They are used by Russia, India, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Algeria, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.