Switchblade drones outmaneuver Russia's prized T‑90M tanks
Russian T-90M tanks remain scarce in the Russian arsenal despite increased production, and Ukrainians treat each identified machine as a priority. Here is the result of a clash between the T-90M and the "Flying Javelin," the Switchblade 600 drone.
The Russians have currently lost at least 117 T-90M tanks (units confirmed by photos or recordings). However, there may realistically be more unrecorded cases of destruction as not all instances are captured in photo or video material. The latest case, likely destroyed by a Switchblade 600 drone, was far behind the front line.
This is suggested by the commander above the hatch observing the surrounding area. Such behaviour was the norm only deep in the rear, where there was no enemy presence. It is worth noting that the ability to observe the terrain from inside the tank is very limited, so such behaviour was typical in a safe zone.
However, in the era of drones capable of attacking targets kilometres deep behind enemy lines, such behaviour has lost its justification, as an attack can occur even there. Below, you can see such an impact, ending with the detonation of the ammunition storage in the hull, resulting in a massive explosion.
Switchblade 600 - "Flying Javelin"
The Switchblade 600 is a 15 kg drone designed to attack armoured equipment or infantry groups. It is launched from a launcher resembling a 19-cm mortar, bringing the total set weight to about 30 kg.
These characteristics give it a maximum range of up to 90 km, with control maintained for over 40 km and a flight autonomy of over 40 minutes. The drone carries a dual-function combat warhead similar to the famed FGM-148 Javelin, capable of taking down even the best Russian tanks, such as the T-90M, T-72B3M, or T-80BWM.
The Switchblade 600 attacks targets by diving, striking the upper armour. The double cumulative warhead, capable of burning through several centimetres of steel armour, can easily handle makeshift covers or reactive armour blocks. The warhead's alternative mode of operation involves exploding in the air and peppering the area with a shower of fragments.
T-90M Tank - fundamentally flawed pinnacle of Russian armoured thought
The T-90M tanks, an evolution introduced into service in 2021, trace their lineage to the T-90A tank, essentially a deep modernization of the T-72B tank created at the end of the USSR era. The T-90M was repeatedly praised by Vladimir Putin during Russian arms fairs as the best tank in the world.
In practice, however, it is a revamped T-72B with an upgraded fire control system featuring a thermal camera originally from France (now replaced with a solution from other sources) and two-layer Relikt reactive armour. Besides protection against tandem cumulative warheads, it is also supposed to provide partial protection against kinetic penetrators fired from other tanks. Additionally, a more powerful 1,250-horsepower engine has been applied to compensate for the weight, which increased to 48,000 kg.
It should be noted, however, that this is just an overlay on the old armour and does not cover it completely, which FPV drone pilots exploit by targeting these weak points. It is also worth noting that the tanks' roofs were not designed to withstand anything stronger than anti-tank bomblets from cluster munitions capable of penetrating at most about 20 cm of steel armour.
However, the main flaw of post-Soviet machines, namely the automatic loader with a hull-stored magazine holding a full set of 22 shells and propellant charges, remained unchanged. The two crew members out of three sit atop it, and it is not isolated in any way, so any damage to the shells or charges inside guarantees a spectacular explosion combined with the turret being blown off.
