Russia ready to export new T-90 tank variant

Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Russia's Uralvagonzavod scientific-production corporation is ready to export the latest variant of the T-90 main battle tank, Russian news agency Tass reports.

General of the Army Alexei Maslov, the special representative of UVZ for military-technical cooperation, was quoted by the news agency as saying the decision comes as production of the T-90MS is ready to accelerate.

"We have established the low-rate initial production of these vehicles," he said at the IDEX 2017 trade show in Abu Dhabi. "It has been almost mastered, and we are ready to conduct export deliveries.

"... The serial production is set up in the interests of both Russia's Ministry of Defense and foreign customers. The technological processes that allow increasing of the serial production volumes have been fine-tuned," Maslov said.

On Monday, also from IDEX 2017, Russia's Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov told Tass, "A large-scale contract was signed with a Middle East country in December. Another contract on this type of military output is expected to be signed soon." Manturov did not identify the country.

Maslov said the T-90MS tank features a high degree of process automation. It can conduct self-testing and self-diagnostics and can be integrated with foreign components, such as communication systems and air-cooling units.

After-sales support and a crew training system are offered with the tank.

"We offer a full system of technical maintenance for the whole life cycle of the vehicle," Maslov said. "The technical solutions can be implemented in both stationary service centers and field environment."