According to an informed source, the Russian military has begun deploying T-14 Armata tanks in the ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine. These tanks are claimed to have been outfitted with increased anti-tank ammunition protection.
T-14 ‘Armata’ Tanks in Ukraine
According to the source, Russia’s most powerful tank, the T-14, was engaged in combat with Ukrainian defensive positions in an unidentified location of the conflict zone but did not participate in direct attacks. The Armata tanks used in Ukraine have enhanced protection on their flanks. Their operators have been training at a military base in Ukraine’s Donbas region since late December. British military intelligence claimed in January that Russian forces in Ukraine were hesitant to receive the first shipment of tanks owing to their ‘poor state.’ The intelligence analysis also stated that any decision to deploy the T-14 tanks would most likely be risky for Russia and would be made primarily for propaganda purposes.
According to British intelligence, the manufacturing of T-14 tanks is expected to be limited to a few units, and military officials may not be completely confident in its combat capability. Furthermore, the program encountered considerable obstacles during its development, such as delays, fleet downsizing, and claims of manufacturing difficulties.
Several technological challenges have apparently hampered the development of the T-14 tank, as has been widely documented. In reaction to significant tank losses in Ukraine, Russia has recently begun strengthening the armor of its combat tanks. The tanks have been retrofitted with additional protection, indicating that Moscow is anxious about the possibility of losing its sophisticated tanks. However, unlike Russia’s most modern fighter jet, the Su-57, the improved T-14 tanks are not being employed in direct combat scenarios in Ukraine.
Advantages of T-14 Tank Over Western Tanks
The T-14 Armata has various modern characteristics, making it Russia’s answer to the American M1A3 Abrams, the British Challenger 2, and Germany’s Leopard 2 tank. Accordingly, the tank has a remote-controlled turret, which improves crew accuracy and safety. To resist incoming threats, it also includes upgraded crew protection systems like composite ceramic-and-steel layered armor and explosive reactive armor blocks.
The T-14 Armata also has a sensor-activated defence system that can detect and discharge interceptor charges to neutralize missiles and anti-tank shells, improving its battlefield effectiveness. These benefits stem from the T-14’s distinctive design, which provides superior protection to the crew against incoming rounds. T-14 has stronger cross-country capability when compared to other tanks.
The T-14 tank differs from other tanks in terms of crew location. While the crew in foreign tanks is evenly distributed throughout the hull, the T-14 crew is housed in separate armored capsules. This one-of-a-kind design innovation boosts the crew’s chances of survival if anti-tank weapons are fired at the tank. He further stated that the T-14 tank was dispatched to Ukraine for combat trials.
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