This development comes as Russia continues efforts to modernise its armoured forces following significant battlefield losses in Ukraine. The T-90M, widely described as Russia’s most advanced operational tank, has suffered heavy losses since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Open-source intelligence analysts, including Oryx, have documented over 120 confirmed T-90M losses during the conflict. Despite its upgraded armour and advanced fire-control systems, the tank has proven vulnerable to Western-supplied anti-tank weapons, suicide drones, and precision artillery strikes.
Uralvagonzavod shows off T-90M tank with advanced Arena-M (APS) which is an advanced active protection system [APS] enhance the survivability of armored vehicles against modern anti-tank threats incorporates new radar,detect,track,intercept threats before they can reach MBT tanks pic.twitter.com/gNqs7Vs7st
— Valhalla (@ELMObrokenWings) February 5, 2025
The integration of Arena-M APS is an attempt to mitigate these vulnerabilities by providing 360-degree active protection against incoming threats. The system is designed to detect, track, and neutralise projectiles before they reach the tank, theoretically enhancing its battlefield endurance.
Although Russia has previously claimed success in developing active protection systems, the real-world effectiveness of the Arena-M remains uncertain. Unlike Israel’s Trophy APS, which has been battle-tested on Merkava tanks, the Arena-M has yet to be deployed in combat.
Experts also question whether the system can counter modern loitering munitions and top-attack weapons, such as the Javelin and NLAW, which have been particularly effective against Russian tanks. The effectiveness of Arena-M in high-intensity combat remains unverified.
Despite these uncertainties, Russian defence officials continue to promote the T-90M with Arena-M as a next-generation solution for modern warfare. With Western sanctions restricting access to advanced military components, the Kremlin remains reliant on Uralvagonzavod to sustain its armoured forces and upgrade existing tank models.
