newest T-90AM with welded turret is listed as having RHAe in excess of 850mm vs KE. T-90A should have similar protection.
the area around the mantle is different though. its cast steel, around 500mm thick. cast steel has a TE of about 0,92, which makes it around 450mm.
M1A2 SEP is estimated to have protection around 900-950mm,
but it has the same weakspots as on earlier abrams models, around the turret ring, and gunshield. so frontally, the M1A2 SEP has an advantage over the T-90.
side protection the T-90 is more vulnerable than the abrams. abrams has about 200-300mm RHAe on the turret sides vs KE, while the T-90 offers around 90mm.
T-90 side hull is about 80mm, behind a rubber sideskirt, and only the front 1/3 is covered with ERA. additionally, russian ERA is designed to work at a 60 degree angle, and is fairly inefficient at stopping rounds from 90 degrees to the side.
generally, T-90 is vulnerable to the latest western IFVs 25mm and 30mm rounds from the side, while the abrams is impervous to the BMP-2 30mm round. both can be penetrated by the latest missiles fitted to the IFVs.
T-90 is smaller, but has the same crippling disadvantages the T-72 has, slow reverse gear, and limited gun depression.
it has a much improved FCS however, with thermals, different levels of magnification, and dynamic lead. it also has LWR, or laser warning receiver, something the abrams lacks. the T-90 can also deploy IR-obscuring smoke. the abrams does have an edge, but in the end, it all comes down to tactics. neutralizing your opponents advantages, by using the terrain that best favours your tank.
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