Against an M1A2 or Challenger 2

Fires missiles and shells, auto-loading, active countermeasures. 3 crew and none in the turret so it can be smaller, lighter and faster.

them from their inventory. TOW-style missiles aren't 'fire-and-forget' like a standard tank round. The gunner has to keep his eye and the reticle on the target until the missile detonates. That can significantly reduce a tank's shoot and scoot capability.

Russia has pretty much ironed out the problems that plagued the auto-loader initially used on the T-64 and early-model T-72's. So that's an advantage. But a reduced crew still means increased crew fatigue in combat operations and in maintenance. Plus, an auto-loader is very difficult to reload from the crew stations on the tank. So reloading during combat operations is a very dicy proposition.

And of course, training and proficiency will always be a factor in head-to-head combat. And while Russian tank-crew training is better than it used to be, it still trails the US.

Former M1A1 tanker here...

for 50 years. They're also going to have to build more than a handful of those tanks.

Iraq used to be stable, albeit a dictatorship. Today it's shattered, up for grabs, and still not free.

"You want to invade Kuwait? Go ahead, we don't care."

But Desert Storm was fucked up in its own way.

of no-fly-zone enforcement between them.

But, we've been bombing continuously since 1991.

I don't think Iraqis deserve to be under anyone's thumb.

to get their shit together. On our dime. They decided religious bullshit was more important.

If they can't stand on their own, they deserve to fall.

"If they can't stand on their own, they deserve to fall..."

Spoken by someone who doesn't quite grasp the concepts of consequences.

Those T-90 tanks are probably cheaper to maintain and run than the American made Abrams. I would think that probably was a major consideration in what made them purchase these tanks.

Soviet/Russian military equipment is designed for army conscripts (2 year terms of enlistment, including basic training) to be able to do basic maintenance and the simpler repairs with major repairs being done behind the lines by more skilled personnel;.

The US Army, the longer enlistment terms (8 years total, the number of active duty years depends on a number of variables, but is at least 2 years NOT including basic/military specialty training) allows for better trained soldiers.

Since it is unlikely that the Iraqi Army (regardless of it's official name) has the time, money or experience to train their religiously divided army, it makes more sense for them to buy Russian equipment.