T-90M RELIKT armor vs Leopard 2 DM53 APFSDS

Simulation of a Leopard 2A6 projectile hitting the frontal armor of T-90M

120mm DM53 APFSDS (~24mm WHA penetrator, WHA segmented tip) at 1700 m/s

vs

T-90M hull front armor:

Relikt ERA (2 x HHA plate, 4S23 explosive elements)
+
60mm SHA + NERA + 60mm SHA + 10mm radiation lining + 50mm SHA at 68 degrees

NERA (5mm rubber + 3mm bulging steel + 19mm air + 3mm bulging steel + 5mm rubber)

120mm Rh L55 muzzle velocity (DM53) - 1750 m/s. 1700 m/s refers to a distance of approximately 1 km.

The exact documentation of the DM53 is classified. The models were created based on photos and other data. Internal design of the tip based on the patent and other indirect sources.

Anticipating questions. The finite element method was used to perform this simulation. Even if there are 10 million elements, the model has a limited ability to divide into fragments. When the element reach the faliure level it turns into free "particles" which retain the mass of the element. When a given object is severely damaged in various planes, this phenomenon may intensify and the main source of penetration will be these particles, which happened at the end of the simulation.

[ASnowDragon]

You can really see the effect of the relikt there, the sabot ends up shunting through so much extra material even though the plate itself is very tiny. Amazing to watch

[hugo]

It's impressive how much ERA reduced the projectile penetration.

[Kopaska_Petrov]

Finally, the simulation that everyone has been waiting for
Great job my friend, keep doing this videos :)

[handsomeivan]

Damn, there were people definitely holding their breathe

But it did a lot better than I originally thought tbh, I least thought it'd damage the back plate

[KekusMagnus]

This was shockingly effective at stopping the dart. Considering it went through the T-90A with K-5 in the earlier simulation, Relikt is definitely an improvement. Would be interesting to see it versus M829A3 or maybe even A4 if it's possible to model

[MrTrool]

I am not that surprised the DM53 was stopped, Relikt did a lot of work there when it comes to stopping power

[Priehten]

I remember, I had an argument with someone about relikt in War Thunder and anti-ERA tips for advanced APFSDS. I claimed, that relikt is capable of stoping m829A3, given that it has two plates mowing in opposite directions, disrupting the geometry of penetrators way better than a sigle plate heavy ERA is capable of. Although I cannot claim in regards to m829A3 with certainty, but dm53, which is quite similar was stopped, which is pretty remarkable. Partially proves my point. Great simulation as always!

[nicolaspeigne]

So that's how relikt protect against kinetic projectiles, i always wondered how it did that and now i undertsand, and now i see why they're always at an angle, because flat on it wouldn't have any real effect

[milikettom]

Hi Dejmian, I've found some old photo of T-72 putting multiple layer of Kontakt-1 onto each other (stack 2 to 3 bricks together). Can you simulate to see the effectiveness of that?

[marinuslubbe]

Another great video, thank you so much for consistently putting out great content. Would you be able to make some simulations with modern chinese tanks like type 99A or type 96B ? Is there any reliable info on their armor and era details ? I think it would be very interesting.

[phonenamone]

Can you simulate the performance of ERAWA tiles? I think you have access to all needed info for that sim, would be cool

[sheldonborb]

I'd like to see a simulation of Relikt vs a tandem charge ATGM, like Milan F2A or F3

[WhatIsSanity]

Defeating kinetic penetrators is a little counter intuitive, but it can be done. Keep in mind though that for every hit like this an area of plating sustains the less likely it is to hold against follow up shots of either the same or a different projectile. ERA and such only works once. First shot survivability is form my limited knowledge the priority though, since making a vehicle indestructible is not possible.

[imitradisv]

Great job, what a cool piece of armor tech.

[amizaurmarcinostrowski]

One more question - do you plan to simulate your hypothetical extended-tip setup how would it work and if it could neutralise the ERA. I have feeling that it should work best not by triggering the era early - because the main rod when it arrives would still hit the moving plates - but rather by penetrating ERA slowly and "softly" without triggering the HE layer at all - then the main rod goes trough the hole in stationary plates thay was made by this special tip.

[vladimirpetrov]

Also we have to note that the frontal armor of T-90M is a top secret information and upgrades were noted in it during its presentation to the world

[olisk-jyrz]

Wow, nice unbiased simulation! I'm actually surprised to finally see this simulation after all the months it's been requested for. This will make several fanboys very very mad!

[evanbrown]

Always a pleasure to see a new video from you.

Perhaps you could make a video with the M829A3 testing out different tip materials against a target.

It seems to be the case that it has a tungsten tip. Although the material isn’t specified in the patent.

Would be interesting to see a tungsten alloy vs possible tungsten carbide tip.

Thanks for all your hard work.

[Shawshank.]

It's a wonderful experiment.
It remains only to believe that the Relikt works on a projectile of 22mm caliber not only on paper and video.

[sagichnichtsowiesonicht]

wasn't dm53 made against kontakt-5 or am i mixing stuff up rn ?