Russia's T-14 Armata Tank Might Be Weaker Than You Think
Even Russia’s top of the line T-14 Armata has failed to perform as well as expected in the war. In fact, the country’s newest main battle tank has yet to see combat in the invasion at all.
Russia’s nearly three-year-long invasion of Ukraine has yet to field the territorial wins desired by the Kremlin. While Moscow may possess a larger military force, Kyiv’s arsenal of homegrown and foreign imported weapons has aided its defense efforts.
The United States and its NATO allies have provided billions of dollars in the form of military equipment, munitions, and training to support Ukraine since February 2022. From main battle tanks (MBT) and airframes to missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, Kyiv’s troops are well-equipped to thwart Russia’s advances. Ukraine has especially excelled in destroying and disabling Moscow’s fleets of subpar armored vehicles. Even Russia’s top-of-the-line T-14 Armata has failed to perform as well as expected in the war. In fact, the country’s newest MBT has yet to see combat in the invasion at all.
According to Russian state-run news outlets, the T-14 Armata most recently underwent state and troop trials in April. TASS News reported that once these tests are completed, the MBT could enter service with the Russian Army by the end of the year.
This goal may seem ambitious, but the timely arrival of the T-14 seems unlikely. The Armata’s production has been hit by significant delays. Embroiled in its ongoing invasion and suffering from major economic sanctions, Moscow simply may not have the funds to facilitate such a vast project.
Since the Ukraine war began, Russian officials have offered a range of questionable explanations for why the Armata has not been active in combat. The head of Russia’s state-owned defense company Rostec noted that “In terms of its functionality, it certainly surpasses existing tanks, but it’s too expensive, so the army is unlikely to use it now.
It’s easier for them to buy the same T-90s.” A few months earlier the CEO claimed that the T-14’s role in Ukraine has been limited since it is “too valuable.” Sergey Chemezov added that the latest Russian MBT is the most “revolutionary tank in a decade.” If the tank were so powerful, surely Moscow would want to use it in order to make any gains in the war.
What we know about the T-14 Armata Tank
Derived from the T-90, the Armata first appeared publicly back in 2015 when several of these MBTs were detected in Alabino. Within a few months, the Kremlin formally announced the development of the Armata project during the country’s annual Victory Day Parade.
Russia’s newest MBT weighs roughly 55 tons and features a 125mm main cannon. In total, the turret carries 45 rounds of ammunition, including ready-to-use ammunition. As detailed by Army Technology, the MBT is also capable of firing laser-guided missiles.
Notably, the tank’s exterior appears similar to Western designs, particularly its hull and long, boxy turret. Additionally, the Armata is equipped with seven road wheels instead of six.
Although the T-14 certainly features more sophisticated capabilities than its Soviet-era predecessors, the tank’s late arrival to service may indicate underlying issues. Perhaps the MBT is not as formidable as the Kremlin would like to purport.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock
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