Modern Tank Showdown: T-90MS, Leopard 2A7, M1E3 Abrams Compared

Russia’s T-90MS tank

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) have shown their mettle in recent conflicts such as in Ukraine despite being increasingly vulnerable to drones and top attack munitions. Defensemirror.com examines three of the world’s leading tanks- the Russian T-90MS, the German Leopard 2A7 and the upcoming American M1E3 Abrams.

Evolution: Legacy platforms, modern redesigns

The T-90MS is a major upgrade of the Soviet-era T-72. Its latest combat configuration, the T-90M, emerged from Russia’s 2010s military modernization drive. The upgrade introduced a redesigned turret, an improved 125 mm smoothbore gun, enhanced fire-control systems, Relikt explosive reactive armor, and updated communications. The MS is the export-standard configuration, incorporating similar improvements.

Germany’s Leopard 2A7 is based on the Leopard 2 platform has undergone multiple upgrades over the past 4 decades. The 2A7 standard emphasizes digital fire control, modular protection, improved thermal imaging, and urban warfare adaptation. Further refinements continue under the 2A7V configuration.

Announced in the 2020s, the M1E3 Abrams aims to reduce combat weight while integrating next-generation survivability systems. Earlier Abrams variants — M1, M1A1, and M1A2 — saw operational deployments in the Gulf War and subsequent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The M1E3 is intended to incorporate lessons from those deployments into a new architecture.

Firepower: Autoloaders versus crew loaders

The T-90M/MS fields a 125 mm smoothbore gun supported by an autoloader, allowing a three-man crew. It can fire kinetic energy penetrators, high-explosive rounds, and gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles, extending engagement range flexibility.

The Leopard 2A7 employs a NATO-standard 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore gun paired with advanced digital fire control. It supports programmable ammunition and kinetic rounds designed for interoperability across NATO forces.

The M1E3 is expected to retain a 120 mm smoothbore cannon but incorporate an autoloader — a departure from previous Abrams designs. Future concepts include AI-assisted targeting and compatibility with next-generation munitions.

Protection and survivability: Weight versus systems

The T-90M combines composite armor with explosive reactive armor and soft-kill countermeasures. Its comparatively lower weight enhances mobility but limits passive armor thickness relative to heavier Western counterparts.

The Leopard 2A7 features modular composite armor with add-on packages tailored to threat environments. It includes nuclear, biological, and chemical protection systems and upgraded crew survivability features for sustained high-intensity operations.

The M1E3 places survivability at the center of its redesign. Planned features include modular armor, integrated active protection systems, and measures to reduce thermal and electronic signatures.

Crew design: Human redundancy or automation?

The T-90M operates with three personnel due to its autoloader. This reduces manpower requirements but limits redundancy if a crew member becomes incapacitated.

The Leopard 2A7 retains a four-person crew with a manual loader. The configuration distributes workload and offers greater operational redundancy.

The M1E3 is expected to feature an unmanned turret with an autoloader, with the crew housed in a protected hull capsule. The design seeks to reduce exposure and rely more heavily on automation.

Networking and digital integration

Modern armored warfare increasingly depends on data integration.

The T-90M includes updated fire control and communications systems. However, its battlefield networking is generally assessed as less extensive than Western digital frameworks.

The Leopard 2A7 integrates established battlefield management systems, advanced thermal optics, and secure communications suited for coordinated NATO operations.

The M1E3 is being designed around an open-architecture digital backbone, enabling integration with drones, artificial intelligence tools, and real-time battlefield data sharing.