Iraq up-armours T-90 tank

The Iraqi T-90S with its additional armour. (Iraqi Ministry of Defence)

Iraq's 9th Armoured Division has improved the armour on one of its T-90S main battle tanks, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed on 25 September.

It released a video showing a tank identified as one from the 5th Tank Battalion of the division's 35th Armoured Brigade fitted with a cage around and above its turret, as well as bags strapped along the side of its hull. It said the battalion's other tanks were being similarly modified.

“This work has many benefits, including providing protection against drones, which are the most important and dangerous threat on the battlefield, as well as some types of anti-tank guided missiles,” a colonel said. He added that the armour was designed not to impair the tank's performance or balance.

None of the T-90S tanks seen in the video the MoD released on 27 September showing Exercise ‘Heroes of Iraq' were modified in this way. Held at the Al-Tash exercise area south of Al-Ramadi, the exercise involved the air force, army aviation, and air defence in addition to elements from the 9th Armoured Division and the Iraqi Ground Forces' Special Forces.

The 35th is the only Iraqi brigade that operates the T-90S, which entered service in 2018.

For more information, please seeBorn of necessity: Ukraine conflict spurs changes to Russian AFVs .