T-90M is a variant of a deep modernization of the T-90 main battle tank. Mainly it is similar to the T-90MS (export version), but it has differences related to the requirements of the Russian army for which it is intended.

To protect of the crew, the vehicle is equipped with anti-cumulative bar armour, Afghanit Active Protection System and Malachite ERA. In addition, it has a 2A82-1M modernized 125-mm smooth-bore gun, similar to the T-14 Armata MBT, featuring increased accuracy, rate of fire and increased resource to 900 shots, as well as a new Sosna-U Fire Control System with a thermal imager, a laser rangefinder and a target tracking automaton.

In August 2017, a speaker of Uralvagonzavod said that Russian Ministry of Defense awarded a contract for upgrading T-90 tanks to the T-90M level. It is assumed that the totally will be upgraded 400 MBTs, which are in service with the Russian army.

For the first time, the tank was demonstrated on September 9, 2017 near Luga (Leningrad region) on the territory of the 33rd Combined-Arms Test Site during official events in honour of the Tankman Day.