Russia’s UralVagonZavod, the maker of the T-90MS main battle tank, announced that one of its display vehicles at the IDEX arms expo had been sent to combat in Ukraine.
As of this month, according to open-source intelligence estimates, Russia had likely lost 4,100 tanks by the midpoint of 2025. Kyiv has claimed that this number is significantly higher, with possibly as many as 10,000 tanks destroyed, captured, or abandoned.
Russian losses declined this summer, as the Kremlin’s forces learned from past lessons and adapted their tactics accordingly. However, the point remains that the losses have outpaced production, and Moscow has gone to great lengths to replenish its dwindling tank fleet. That has included a well-documented reliance on aging systems in storage, including tanks such as the T-72 or even the T-54/55 that had not seen service in decades and would be better suited for a museum than the modern battlefield.
However, the Defence Blog reported that at least one modern tank, previously used at a large military hardware trade show, is now on the frontlines.
From the IDEX Military Expo to the Battlefield in Ukraine
Russia’s UralVagonZavod, the state-owned maker of the T-90MS main battle tanks (MBTs), said in a statement that one of the vehicles prepared last February for the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in the United Arab Emirates was sent back to the factory, repainted from its desert camouflage for the expo back to its standard military green, and sent to the front lines in Ukraine.
“The vehicle we presented abroad for the first time was modified based on extensive experience from the special military operation,” the company said in a statement, using the preferred Russian euphemism for the war in Ukraine. “It was delivered to our troops in nearly the same configuration as it was shown at the exhibition in the UAE. The only change was the color: from ‘exhibition’ desert camouflage to standard army green.”
It is true that at many trade shows, notably those for cars, boats, farm equipment, and consumer electronics, items displayed in the exhibit halls are often sold directly to attendees. For this reason, items on display are typically in working and complete order. However, with military hardware, it would seem unlikely that a fully functional tank with an operable main gun, outfitted with its sensors and other advanced equipment, would be installed.
First, there is the issue of physical security during the show, but then there is the matter of classified components that could be inadvertently disclosed. During the Cold War, the US military and CIA went to great lengths to obtain information on Soviet-made hardware such as the Mi-24 (NATO reporting name “Hind”) attack helicopter and the T-72 main battle tank. Given the presence of American weapons experts at IDEX, it seems unlikely that the Kremlin would have brought a fully functional version of its most capable MBT to be presented in a trade show hall in Abu Dhabi. It is therefore possible that the T-90MS received more than just a new paint job during its refurbishment—which could explain why it has taken nearly half a year to complete the battlefield conversion of the MBT.
“The deployment of the exhibition tank, reportedly adapted with combat-relevant upgrades, reflects the urgent demand for modern armored vehicles amid ongoing battlefield losses,” the Defence Blog explained, but added, “The decision to showcase and then deploy the same vehicle is unusual in modern defense circles, where demonstration units are typically reserved for foreign buyers.”
The T-90MS Tank Is in Ukraine’s Crosshairs
The T-90MS is the modernized export model of Russia’s T-90, the successor of the previous export variant, the T-90S. It was first demonstrated in 2011 and has been presented at numerous international military hardware expos in recent years.
It is reported to be armed with a smoothbore 125mm main gun that can fire a variety of advanced munitions, including air-bursting fragmentation projectiles and guided missiles. It is equipped with the same auto-loader and ordnance cassette as the T-90M “Proryv-3” variant, with the system located on the hull floor. The export model also features the advanced Kalina fire control system, integrated with the MBT’s command and information controls, which allow for improved target acquisition and tracking of enemy targets.
The T-90MS is equipped with a 1,130-horsepower V-92S2F diesel engine and an advanced suspension system, along with modular Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) and a remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS).
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / Evgeny Mogelnikov.
