Russia adds powerful explosive ammunition to T-90M tanks in Ukraine

Russian Army Commander-in-Chief General Oleg Salyukov said that T-90M tanks operating in the conflict zone in Ukraine have been equipped with 3VOF128 Telnik high-explosive shells, an addition that is part of Russia's combat strategy to neutralize Ukrainian infantry.

Known as fragmentation or high explosive shells, the 3VOF128 Telnik shells have the unique feature of being able to attack enemy troops with a series of pre-prepared sub-shells after the parent shell explodes in the air.

“To increase their effectiveness against enemy infantry, T-90M tanks have been equipped with new Telnik high-explosive shells. These shells contain submunitions and are programmed to explode in the air at a predetermined point along the trajectory of the projectile,” General Salyukov told the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.

What we know about 3VOF128 Telnik

The T-90M Proryv tank is considered an effective combat vehicle on the Ukrainian battlefield. Military experts believe that this tank will be equipped with many additional capabilities thanks to its open design, most notably the ability to integrate the 3VOF128 Telnik high-explosive ammunition.

The T-90 has a complex process for deploying the 3VOF128 Telnik ammunition. Specifically, a ballistic computer on the tank is specifically designed to calculate and fire this new ammunition, a part that provides information about the ammunition, a connection device and finally loading it into the 125 mm main gun.

The 3VOF128 Telnik round is essentially a fragmentation round, designed to explode in mid-air along the bullet's trajectory and when it explodes it will fire many sub-bullets covering a wide area.

The lethality of the 3VOF128 Telnik round when tested was astonishing. It was said to be 6-8 times more effective than the conventional 3OF26 high-explosive fragmentation round.

3VOF128 Telnik explosive ammunition model.

Effects of 3VOF128 Telnik

The lethality of the fragments after the explosion also depends on the design and size of the warhead. Russian engineers warn that even people who are not directly in the blast zone can be in danger from the shrapnel. The speed at which these fragments move makes it difficult to hide or protect themselves.

According to Russian sources, the 3VOF128 Telnik ammunition, when detonated, will throw out 5.4 kg of fragments and other damaging components, covering the entire affected area in a cone shape.

Not just normal damage

Russian experts added that one of the outstanding features of using 3VOF128 Telnik ammunition is its ability to cause both physical and psychological damage to soldiers on the battlefield.

The suddenness and violence of the explosion, combined with the unpredictable trajectory of the shrapnel, can create a sense of fear and panic for those in the affected area. The psychological impact can be long-lasting, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems.

Furthermore, the destructive power of tank shells can be demoralizing to both soldiers and civilians, because it demonstrates the destructive power and sophistication of modern weapons.

T-90M firing guided missiles

In addition to the 3VOF128 Telnik ammunition, the Russian T-90M tank is also capable of firing a variety of guided missiles, significantly enhancing its combat capabilities. One of the most commonly used missiles is the 9M119 Refleks (AT-Sniper) anti-tank missile.

The 9M119 Refleks anti-tank missile uses a laser guidance system, allowing it to hit fixed targets at long distances accurately. In addition, with a range of up to 5 km and designed to penetrate heavily armored targets, the 9M119 Refleks is considered a dangerous missile on the battlefield.

Another type of guided missile that the T-90M tank can integrate is the 9M119M Refleks-M (AT-11B Sniper-B) missile. This is an upgraded version of the Refleks missile with a range of up to 6 km, capable of penetrating improved armor, this missile is a real threat to Western combat vehicles.

In addition to the two types of guided missiles above, the T-90M tank can also launch the 9M119 Svir (AT-11C Sniper-C) missile. This missile is specially designed to attack helicopters and low-flying aircraft, has a range of up to 10 km and uses a semi-automatic line-of-sight command guidance system, allowing the operator to guide the missile to the target using the joystick.

Another version of the 9M119 that the T-90M can also use is the 9M119M1 Invar-M (AT-11 Sniper-BM) guided missile. This missile has a range of 5 km and is primarily used against armored targets, with a tandem warhead that allows it to penetrate explosive reactive armor systems on modern tanks. The Invar-M missile also uses a laser guidance system for precise targeting.

Le Hung (Bulgarian Military)

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