Russia to sell large number of most advanced T-90 tanks to Iraq this year

A senior Russian official was quoted as saying Thursday that his country will later this year sell Iraq a large number of T-90S/SK tanks, which are considered among the best protected and heavily armed tanks in the world. Vladimir Kozhin, Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide for military technical cooperation, said "It's a big contract for a big batch. I cannot name the exact sum, the number of tanks is big", according to TASS news agency. Earlier reports said more than 70 of the advanced tanks are to be provided under the deal. 
The 46.5-ton tank has a range of 375 kilometers and an average speed of 45 km per hour under battle conditions. It has several layers of defensive plating including composite armor plates, explosive reactive armor and an electro-optical active protection system for jamming the systems of antitank missiles. The T-90 is also equipped with guided antitank missiles, smoke mortars and a 125 mm cannon.
The Russian military has already deployed the main battle tank in Syria.