Russia's newest T-14 Armata main battle tank has been field tested in Syria, according to Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, who made the announcement during an interview on Russian state television.
Manturov said such combat tests should test “all the nuances that will be implemented in the final version [of the Armata].” The tank also went through a variety of tests that led to a change in the design. Russian media reported that a contract for 132 tanks was signed last year and is expected to be fulfilled by 2021. Manturov also said that several foreign countries had expressed interest in the battle tank, but this could only be taken into account after the Russian army received its vehicles. In addition, an export license is required for the sale of the tanks to foreign users.
New generation
Russia classifies the T-14 as the world's only third-generation tank, in part because it - reportedly - has an unmanned turret with the crew housed in an armored capsule, increasing survivability even in the event of a direct hit the tower is given maximum. The tank is provided with a special coating to significantly reduce detectability in the thermal and radar spectra. Additionally, it is reported that its armor can withstand any anti-tank weapon currently in existence.
The Armata is armed with a 2A82-1M 125mm smoothbore cannon for firing guided and unguided projectiles and can carry 40 rounds, 32 of which are in the automatic loader. An ammunition supply of 2,000 rounds is available for the secondary weapon, a 7.62mm PKTM machine gun in a remote-controlled weapon station. The vehicle is powered by a 1,100 kW X-type turbocharged 2V-12-3A multi-fuel diesel engine, which features a so-called “robotic” mechanical transmission to simplify operation by the driver.
Yury Laskin
Characteristics of the T-14 Armata:
Crew: 3
Combat weight: 48 t
Weight with urban warfare mission kit: 53 t
Length with cannon forward: 10.8 m
Width: 3.5 m
Height: 3.3 m
Maximum road speed: 80 km/h
Average speed over rough terrain: 45-50 km/h
Range (without external tanks): 500 km
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