Add T-90 Arena-M As a Research Modify

Game Discussion General Discussion
,
1

Reason:

The T-90M is already a deeply modernized T-90 family tank. According to Rostec, it features a fundamentally new turret, a more powerful engine, a new multichannel sight, and the ability to exchange data with other vehicles in real time.

Arena-M does not change the core identity of the vehicle. Janes reported that KBM stated Arena-M was integrated onto the T-90M, describing it as an APS with radar on top of the turret, additional sensors at the rear, automated operation, and the ability to counter top-attack ATGMs and UAV threats. That makes Arena-M a survivability upgrade for UA-RU war bc there is has a lot FPV drones, not a new platform.

That is why Arena-M fits much better as a modification or upgrade package in-game. It improves protection, but it does not justify a separate research vehicle by itself. The tank remains a T-90M in layout, firepower, and overall gameplay role.

If a new vehicle slot is needed, T-90M2 makes far more sense. Open-source reporting from Defense Express links Project 188M2 to a modernized T-90M2 “Ryvok-1” and states that Russian industry plans to produce, modernize, or overhaul T-90M and T-90M2 vehicles over the 2026–2036 period. In other words, T-90M2 represents a deeper upgrade path, not just a protection package bolted onto the same tank.

Why T-90M2 should replace a separate T-90M Arena-M research vehicle:

  • It would be a genuinely new progression step.
  • It avoids wasting a full slot on “same tank, different APS.”
  • It keeps the tech tree cleaner and more meaningful.
  • Arena-M can stay where it belongs: as an upgrade or modification.
  • It reduces unnecessary vehicle duplication within the top-tier lineup.
  • Players would unlock a truly distinct vehicle instead of grinding a near-identical variant.
  • It improves research efficiency by rewarding progression with new capabilities rather than minor equipment changes.
  • It prevents tech tree bloat and keeps future additions easier to manage.
  • APS upgrades alone are not significant enough to justify a completely separate research vehicle.
  • A new production variant is more valuable for gameplay diversity than another modification-based clone.
  • It follows a more logical progression path from older T-90 variants to newer developments.
  • It makes the Soviet/Russian ground tree more competitive without artificially inflating vehicle count.
  • Players generally prefer new vehicles over copy-paste additions with limited gameplay differences.
  • Development resources could be focused on introducing unique vehicles instead of duplicating existing ones.
  • It creates a stronger sense of achievement and progression at high ranks.
  • A separate Arena-M vehicle would set a poor precedent for creating multiple research vehicles based solely on equipment packages.
  • The game already offers modifications as the proper way to represent upgrades of this scale.
  • It would provide greater historical and technological progression within the tech tree.
  • It helps maintain consistency with how similar upgrades are represented on many other vehicles in the game.
  • A T-90M2 would generate more player interest than another T-90M variant with only an APS difference.

Conclusion:
T-90M Arena-M should be a modification.
T-90M2 should be the separate research vehicle.
That would be the more logical and more gameplay-friendly choice.
USSR players almost 13 years has no high speed reverse but T-90M2 can fix.

{57BA1D02-A0BA-4C43-9B0C-CEFC80CA90DF}

  • Add T-90M Arena-M To Research Modify As T-90M
  • Add Tank T-90M2
  • Add Tank T-90M Arena-M
0 voters

{5B4BECF9-6E0B-456C-B84B-4A78924B1CE9}
{5B4BECF9-6E0B-456C-B84B-4A78924B1CE9}1038×152 34.5 KB

Source’s :
https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t90m-arenam-protection-missiles
https://defence-blog.com/russia-unveils-first-t-90m-with-arena-m-protection-system/

https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/9564997
https://rg.ru/2024/08/14/tanki-t-90-poluchat-kompleksy-aktivnoj-zashchity-arena-m.html
https://iz.ru/1066249/2020-09-28/tank-t-90m-poluchil-kompleks-aktivnoi-zashchity-arena-m-pri-modernizatcii

https://www1.ru/news/2025/12/27/t-90m-proryv-naucat-oxotitsia-na-drony-arena-m-uslysit-propellery-bpla.html
https://defence-blog.com/russia-adds-arena-m-protection-to-latest-t-90m-production/

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/t90m-arenam-protection-missiles

1 Like
2

The Russians don’t even have M2 irl… There’s not even any photos or anything like it how would you expect them to add it

2 Likes
3

Hey,

They T-90M2 but code name is 188M2 have but no one has seen it before maybe someone in there or somewhere can leak lol anyway Gaijin Devs can find anything :) also I wanted to say here add the T-90M Arena as a research modification for the T-90M.

{DC15D894-8AC4-4315-A841-0D587A279717}

{FAB715CD-E567-4D9A-B4F4-6B8BC9CD3617}

1 Like
4

Surprises me the most that Gaijin haven’t added 2S6M1 as a researchable vehicle but a modification set. A lot of time researching a new vehicle could be reduced by doing so. But I doubt it will change, people are more concerned complaining that’s another Russian tank to the game than the vehicle itself being a lazy implementation, though the vehicle is, in my opinion very much welcome if they used the T-90M (Arena-M) as a platform for the T-90M2 in-game like in a future update rather than another T-90M but with active protection system. The T-90M2 can’t be added at the moment, being realistic, most of its improvements are rumours, I don’t think there are any concrete information on its mobility which seems to be the selling point of this modernization of a modernization of a modernization vehicle. Hopefully in the Army-2027 Forum we’ll see this machinery in details.

2 Likes
5

You’re right,

Tbh I tired of researching and I’ve gotten a bit bored of it things like AESA aircraft not coming as upgrades this year but instead being added as separate vehicles are kind of funny haha for Typhoon and Rafale these problems need be fix.

About the T-90M2, yea, we thought it was the T-90M2 in the trailer a lot of people did too I was happy for a few days, but this morning I saw that it was actually the T-90M Arena, and my hype died lol.

But the T-90M2 and the T-14 Armata are quite similar in many aspects maybe at the end of this year Gaijin will give us a surprise gift SU-35, T-14, or T-90M2 :)

6

Because it doesn’t exist yet.

7

110% agree. No reason to add a whole new tank if it only gets an APS upgrade.

8

They could instead just add the T-14 Armata which has been around for 11 years now.

9

https://i.makeagif.com/media/12-04-2015/_XwqkV.gif

10

One day! buddy one day…

{27594190-1640-4077-B533-48407340AA95}

2 Likes
11

They could of just added ABC or D think of balance. How many nations have something like t14 at this current moment (irl)

12

so russia get a tank from 2026? :D in this mode where is the kf51 wich is from 2022 ot leopard2a7 have more variants…

13

Pretty much no country has a T-14 counter.

But in terms of balance? Russian tanks at top tier are usually not in the top 10.

Reload, and mobility (especially reverse) with poor gun depression, and of course rounds hitting the roof disabling the gun…
I could go on and on.

I enjoyed the hell out of my Leo2a7Hu, because it was better in every way.

So how is that balanced?

14

Arena-M is not 2026

15

Glueless asf

16

This year, the USA will get SEB V3 and Germany will get 2A8V why can’t the USSR get a 2026-era tank as well :/?

17

Glueless?

18

I agree Russia should get new tanks that exist and would fit in the current game oh wait… Also idk why you wouldn’t expect a brand new leopard to be equal to a Russia take what is still (very simple) a beefed up t72 🤷‍♀️

1 Like
19

I’m all for modern tanks but again think of everyone else Japan gets? Nothing Italy gets? Nothing France gets? Leclerc evolution china actually has something with the type 100 Sweden gets? Nothing and Israel gets? Nothing sounds real balanced

20

yeah 2020…