Russia prepares to build new T-90M2 tanks
According to leaked documents published by the analytical project Frontelligence Insight, Russian plans call for a sharp rise in production and modernization of main battle tanks over the next decade, centered on the T-90M family and upgrades to older T-72 models.
“In the spring and summer of 2025, as part of our own operation, our team obtained exclusive documents that provide new insight into Russia’s tank-production plans and confirm the existence of a little-known variant of the latest Russian tank. The records indicate that by 2028, output of the T-90M and its new variant, the T-90M2, is expected to increase nearly 80% compared with 2024 levels,” Frontelligence Insight said. The project, which published the documents, named the new variant as the T-90M2 and linked it to an internal project label, OKR «Ryvok-1».
Frontelligence Insight says the new T-90M2 is due to enter limited production in 2026.
“The T-90M2, also known as “Ryvok-1”, is scheduled to begin modestly, with just 10 units planned for 2026. However, Russia’s long-term production plan points to far more ambitious goals: between 2026 and 2036, Moscow intends to build at least 1783 T-90M and T-90M2 tanks, with 1118 of them slated for completion in the three-year period from 2027 to 2029,” the report said.
The documents published by Frontelligence Insight also outline a planned modernization program for legacy vehicles. According to those records, Moscow intends to upgrade hundreds of T-72s. The project files estimate that by 2036 some 828 T-72 tanks will receive the T-72B3M modification, with a peak in modernizations concentrated around 2028.
When combined with the planned T-90M and T-90M2 output, the documents put the total of new and modernized main battle tanks at roughly 2,611 units for the 2026–2036 window, in addition to vehicles produced in 2024 and 2025, Frontelligence Insight reported.
The papers outline specific technical aims for the T-90M2 upgrade. Engineers are said to be revising the fighting compartment and addressing a long-standing mechanical issue by refining the transmission and adding a reverse gear. The modernization also includes the installation of larger video-observation displays, described in the documents as panels “with a diagonal of not less than 38 cm” to improve crew situational awareness. Frontelligence Insight adds that “a similar fighting compartment is planned to be installed on the T-80.”
Modernizing older tanks requires spare parts, trained technicians and secure production lines; building new vehicles at scale depends on factory throughput and supply of key components. The documents, as presented by Frontelligence Insight, suggest a clear intent to expand both production and depth of upgrades, but they do not explain how Moscow plans to overcome potential bottlenecks.
The projected ramp-up through 2028 is notable in its pace. “The T-90M2 … is scheduled to begin modestly, with just 10 units planned for 2026, but … production sharply increases, reaching a peak in 2028,” the files state.
