Some Syrian jihadists soldiers fight against Assad’s forces in Sheikh Aqil, near Aleppo. They are equipped with an anti-tank system BGM-71 TOW provided by the Americans and are targeting a Russian tank T-90. The soldiers continue to repeat “Allahu Akbar”, while the operator frames the tank. He launches the missile that heads to the heavy vehicle but the rocket is neutralized, probably by the reactive system “Shtora”. The video, posted on YouTube recently, confirms (if it were ever needed) the anti-tank systems of US production in the hands of “moderate rebels”, or ISIS.
We know that since last December, Moscow sent to Syria an attack armored force consisting of T-90 in support of the campaign in the south of Aleppo. The presence of armed third-generation tanks is motivated by the enemy’s (ISIS/ “moderate rebels” supported by the US) ability to dispose of TOW missiles, capable of destroying less advanced armored platforms such as the T-72, the standard tank in dotation of Damascus, heavy 41 tons.
The T-90, rather, weighs 47 tons. It is armed with a 125 mm cannon and anti-tank missiles AT-11 Sniper. In addition to the standard passive armor, it is being protected in the front side by the explosive reactive armor of third generation Kontact-5 ERA, integrated with the electro-optical system “Shtora”. The T-90 is the flagship of the Russian armored forces. Despite its presence has been confirmed in Chechnya and Ukraine, the Syrian context is the first deployment in a war zone for the T-90 of the Russian army. It is precisely to counterbalance the TOW effect that the Russians have deployed in Syria the T-90.
Since the beginning, the presence of the T-90 was a clear response to the anti-tank missiles of the rebels, provided to the countries enemy of Assad behind CIA program. The turret of the T-90 is shrouded by reactive plates that can neutralize all the shaped charge antitank missiles. So, to put them out of order, there would need a double charge missiles.
The Defensive Aids System Shtora-1 protects the tank from missiles both SACLOS guided (Semi-Automatic Command to Line Of Sight) and laser guided. It is considered effective against TOW missiles, HOT, AT-4, AT-5 and Sagger, as well as against some ATGM. Developed by Zenit Research and Production Corporation, entered in service in 1993. It is a warning system that detects the laser threat and directs the turret automatically in the direction of the threat, then triggering the shielding. The DAS Shtora-1 is formed by a station of electro-optical interference (jammer, modulator and control panel), grenades for shielding against the enemy “illuminations”, a precision laser warning system and the main control panel that processes information from the sensors, activating the defensive screen.
For more picture from Sputnik, you can check my previous article: The Russian tank T-90, NATO generals’ terror