M1A2 Abrams vs T-90M in Broken Arrow: Tank Comparison
How the USA M1A2 Abrams and Russia T-90M compare in Broken Arrow: firepower (KE/HE), directional armor and survivability, cost and doctrine, and how to win the matchup. Exact stats in our unit database.
The matchup at a glance
The M1A2 Abrams (USA) and the T-90M (Russia) are the flagship main battle tanks of each faction — the heavy armored punch most decks are built around. On paper they're close peers, and in a fixed-budget game the winner of a straight duel usually comes down to who shoots first, from what angle, and at what cost.
Broken Arrow doesn't use a single armor number: both tanks have directional armor (front / side / rear / top) split into KE (kinetic) and HE (explosive) channels, and each has multiple loadout options that change its cost and protection. So 'which is better' depends on the variant and the situation — this guide covers the principles; the exact numbers are in our unit database.
Firepower: KE and HE
Both tanks fire a high-velocity main gun that deals KE (kinetic) damage — the sabot round meant to defeat frontal armor at range. Their guns are in the same class, so first-shot accuracy, rate of fire and who is stationary vs moving matter more than a small penetration gap. Whoever lands the opening shot from a good angle usually wins.
Where they differ is in options: loadouts and doctrine upgrades can add guided ATGM capability (HE), better optics or improved rounds. Check each tank's full weapon list and its modification options in our database — a cheaper variant may trade away exactly the capability you need for the matchup.
Armor and survivability
Front armor on both is heavy and comparable; the meaningful weaknesses are the sides, rear and top. Neither tank survives being flanked, so positioning beats raw armor: keep your frontal arc toward the threat and cover flanks with terrain or escorts. A T-90M that catches an Abrams from the side wins even if the Abrams is 'better' head-on, and vice versa.
Armor packages matter against the damage type you expect. Reactive/APS-style options help most against HE (ATGM, HEAT), while sheer frontal thickness resists KE. Read both KE and HE values for the exact facing you'll present before committing to a trade.
Cost, availability and doctrine
These are premium cards: on a 9,500–10,000-point budget you can only field a handful, and every point spent on a top tank is a point not spent on recon, anti-air or logistics. Availability and cost also depend on which doctrine unlocks the tank and which loadout you pick, so the 'better' tank is partly the one that fits your deck's budget and role.
That's the real question — not 'Abrams or T-90M in a vacuum', but which one your faction and doctrine give you, at what cost, and whether that leaves you a balanced deck. See our USA and Russia deck guides for how each fits a list.
How to win the matchup
See first and shoot first: pair your tank with recon so you get the opening shot instead of eating it. Angle your hull to add effective frontal thickness. Never let a duel become a flanking fight against you — a side or rear hit ends either tank. And bring support: ATGM infantry, aircraft or artillery can settle a tank standoff that neither MBT wins alone.
Want the exact numbers? Open the M1A2 Abrams and T-90M pages in our unit database for their real KE/HE armor and weapon stats, or drop both into our compare tool to see them side by side before you build your deck.