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Why The Capture of A Russian T-90M Tank Matters
Why The Capture of A Russian T-90M Tank Matters
Why The Capture of A Russian T-90M Tank Matters
Ukraine’s rapid offensive in Kharkiv, in the country’s north-east, brought many prizes. Swathes of
territory have been won back and Ukraine’s army captured around a brigade’s worth of military
equipment from the fleeing Russians. One of the greatest surprises uncovered was a single t-90m tank.
It is one of at least 380 Russian tanks seized since the war began, yet it is uniquely useful. What is
the t-90m tank, and why does it matter?
Seizing a weapon can provide valuable insight into the state of an enemy’s military technology. That
makes countries protective of their weapons in war. American efforts to inspect the t-72 throughout
the Cold War backfired on several occasions, until a rogue Romanian arms dealer sold one to
American agents in 1987, supposedly as scrap metal. The deal was later uncovered and made public
by the kgb. The prized t-72 had been in service for 14 years before America finally had a chance to
inspect it, by which time it had already been superseded. By contrast, the t-90m has been in service for
just two years.
The t90m—also known as Proryv-3, meaning “breakthrough”—is Russia’s best active tank. It is an
upgrade of the earlier t-90 model which was introduced in the early 1990s. Both models, of which the
army has several hundred, are far superior to the Soviet tanks still widely used by both Russia and
Ukraine. t-90ms were not deployed during the initial invasion. Some analysts suspected that they were
being reserved for a possible war with nato—until they appeared a couple of months into the war.
The tank has several levels of defence. The outermost is a “stealth cape” called Nakidka, an unknown
material that Russia claims can absorb both heat and radio signals. This coating theoretically cloaks
the t-90m from nato’s airborne radars, which track Russian vehicles at long range. It also hinders the
use of guided anti-tank missiles which rely on thermal imaging to lock onto their target. On top of that,
the tank has an Afghanit active protection system, which fires projectiles to intercept attacks at short
range. Any attacks that reach the t90-m tank must also penetrate its explosive reactive armour, used
by many models of Russian tanks, which can disrupt the detonation of anti-tank missiles. Finally there
is the tank’s physical armour, a closely guarded secret.
The t-90m is not invulnerable: Ukrainian forces have already destroyed one. But capturing one is far
more useful. Being able to disassemble and analyse a top-of-the-range Russian tank will make it easier
to defeat more t90-ms in future. As well as its high-tech defences, the captured tank has the latest
Russian offensive weaponry, including a computerised fire-control system and a gun capable of firing
guided projectiles. The captured t-90m specimen will give military analysts a chance to assess Russia’s
claims about these capabilities. And as the war in Ukraine grinds on, the intelligence bonanza will
continue. The West has already gained access to a variety of Russian radar, intelligence gathering and
command vehicles with their valuable secrets. Fleeing Russian soldiers ought to be more careful about
what they leave behind. ■
This article appeared in the The Economist explains section of the print edition under the headline
"Why the capture of a Russian T-90M tank matters"
OCT
15
glossary)
top-of-the-range:
prize: 전리품(=trophy)
swathes of: 방대한
uncover: 공개하다, 밝히다, 적발하다 cf) undercover: 위장 요원, 잠입 경찰
seize: 붙잡다, 나포하다, 노획하다(=capture=grab=prize)
yet: 그러나(부사 기원의 접속사)
deep dive)
군사 및 군대 용어 정리
uniquely useful: 주종 관계 역진, 필자의 진정한 의도는 unique(절대 최상급) : 매우 특별한 전차여서,
inspection 이 useful 하다. 다섯 번째 문단 첫 문장
glossary)
protective of: 방어하는, 방호하는
effort: 수고, 노력, 활동; 애쓰다, 활동하다 cf) war effort: '전쟁 노력'이 아니라, '전쟁을 수행하다'와 그
'활동'
inspect: 사찰하다, 조사하다(=examine)
backfire: 수포로 돌아가다, 실패하다
rogue: 악당, 불한당, 사기꾼, 범죄자(=thug=rascal=deceiver=impostor)
arms dealer: 무기 (거래)상
agent: (비밀) 요원, 공작원 cf) spy: (가치 중립적) 스파이, (적성국일 경우) 간첩, (아국일 경우) 비밀
공작원
scrap metal: 고철
make public: 일반에게 알리다, 공표하다(=publicize)
be in service: 고용돼 있다, 복무 중이다, 사용 중이다, 군사) (표준) 제식(制式)되어 있다[표준화,
공식화, 대량 보급]
supercede: 대체하다
deep dive)
2 형식과 3 형식의 점이 지대 동사: provide
glossary)
also known as ~: ~라고도 하는(=aka)
active: 현역의(=in service) cf) retired: 퇴역한
be superior to ~: ~보다 뛰어난 cf) supreme: 최고의, 최대의 Antonym) inferior: 열위의, 못한, 열등한
deploy: 전개하다, 배치하다
suspect: 의심하다
reserve: 따로 떼어놓다, 비축하다, 유보하다
deep dive)
deep dive)
This article appeared in the The Economist explains section of the print edition under the headline
“Why the capturing of a Russian T-90M tank matters”
glossary)
invulnerable: 해칠 수 없는, 이길 수 없는, (천하)무적의(=invincible=unconquerable) Antonym)
vulnerable: 취약한, 연약한
deep dive)
Copyright: 정병선/sumbolon@gmail.com
장건은 언젠가는 탈출해 서역에 가고야 말겠다는 일념으로 무제가 사신의 징표(sumbolon)로 준 야크의
꼬리를 끝까지 몸에 지녔다.