Leopard 2A6 vs T-90A welded turret | NERA Armor Penetration Simulation

Simulation of a Leopard 2A6 projectile hitting the turret cheek armor of T-90A from the front (parallel to the vehicle axis). 120mm DM53 APFSDS (~24mm WHA penetrator, WHA segmented tip) at 1665 m/s vs T-90A turret cheek front armor: Kontakt-5 ERA (17mm HHA plate, 2x explosive elements 9mm steel) 60mm RHA NERA 45mm HHA/SHA* 150mm RHA at 50 degrees NERA (21mm HHA/SHA* 6mm rubber 3mm bulging steel) 120mm Rh L55 muzzle velocity (DM53) - 1750 m/s. 1665 m/s refers to a distance of approximately 1.6 km. *HHA/SHA - Sk-2Sh/Sk-3Sh steel as is suggested for their use in new welded turrets There is a popular opinion that the so-called detachable tips are a method of overcoming ERA. Considering the fact that the ERA plate is much slower than the penetrator, this is quite a questionable solution. It is true that the K-5’s effectiveness against the M829A3 was noticeably lower, but this is the result of its large diameter compared to the earlier M829A2 and M900. In my opinion, the method used is more clear. A way to defeat ERA may be to avoid detonation. How does this apply to DM53? The DM53 model was created based on photos, a patent and other indirect sources. However, the patent does not show the actual proportions of the tip. A photo of an early version of the DM53 comes in handy, the shape of which was most likely covered by a ballistic shield in the production version. The structure consists of a large tip that can be used to pierce the explosives covering plate. It is placed on a narrow “neck“ where a needle-shaped segment may be located, allowing smooth passage through the explosive. This is how the penetrator segments were presented in the simulation.