Nigeria is reportedly negotiating with Russia to purchase T-90 main battle tanks as security concerns increase in the Sahel region. This move is part of Nigeria's efforts to enhance its military capabilities and national defense. If the deal goes through, it will supplement the arsenal of Russian-made armored vehicles currently in service with the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Nigeria is in talks with Russia to acquire the T-90 main battle tanks, as reported by Military Africa. The negotiations come against the backdrop of escalating security concerns in the Sahel region, fueled by recent political instability in Niger and other areas.
As a leading power in the region, Nigeria is pursuing this deal to bolster its military capability and national defense.
According to sources, a high-ranking Nigerian military official shared this information during the International Army-2023 Technical-Military Forum held in Russia. These negotiations demonstrate Nigeria's determination to equip its armed forces with state-of-the-art weaponry.
Nigeria's association with Russian tanks began with the T-54/55, which is currently used for training purposes. Subsequently, Nigeria introduced the T-72 main battle tanks into its military inventory earlier this decade. The addition of the T-90 tanks will further enrich Nigeria's arsenal of Russian-made armored vehicles.
According to statistics from Army Recognition, the Nigerian Armed Forces currently have 343 main battle tanks, including 100 T-55s, 10 T-72AVs, and 31 T-72M1s manufactured by Russia; 172 Vickers Mk3 tanks from the UK, and approximately 30 VT4 tanks from China.
The T-90 is Russia's third-generation main battle tank, introduced in 1993. It is a development of the T-72, incorporating several features from the T-80U. The T-90 is known for its advanced armor protection, particularly the use of composite and explosive reactive armor. It is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore gun capable of firing both conventional rounds and guided missiles.
The T-90S is an export variant of the T-90, designed to meet the requirements of foreign customers. The new vehicle boasts superior features, including advanced protective armor, a 125mm smoothbore gun, and a sophisticated fire control system with thermal imaging and laser range-finding capabilities.
The main armament of the T-90S is the 2A46M 125mm smoothbore gun, capable of firing various types of ammunition, including APFSDS (armor-piercing), HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank), and HE-FRAG (high-explosive fragmentation).
The secondary armament includes a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun mounted on the turret. Some variants are also equipped with an automatic grenade launcher.
The Nigeria-Wagner connection began in May 2023, when there were suspicions of the Russian private military company using modern T-90M main battle tanks. In addition, Russia deployed a significant number of T-90M and T-72 tanks for a special military campaign in May 2023. The Russian Army also received hundreds of new tanks, including the "battlefield assassin" T-90M Proryv, in March 2023.
In conclusion, Nigeria's ongoing negotiations to acquire T-90 tanks from Russia reflect the country's commitment to strengthening its armed forces and enhancing national defense capabilities. By adding these advanced tanks to its military arsenal, Nigeria aims to address the growing security challenges in the Sahel region effectively.
Source of content: OOO News 2023-08-26 News
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