Russia's Newest Tank T-14 Armata Is Missing In Ukraine Invasion

Long touted as a game-changer in tank warfare, Russia’s T-14 Armata main battle tank (MBT) has not been deployed by the invasion force now slogging its way in Ukraine’s muddy soil, Peter Suciu reported for the magazine 1945.

Photo Insert: The "game-changing" T-14 Armata has so far been missing from the game.

Unveiled in 2015, the tank, from its hull to its long and boxy turret – which resembles Western tank turret designs – was a notable departure from past Soviet designs. The T-14 also featured seven road wheels, instead of the six wheels that were commonplace on almost all previous Cold War Soviet and even modern Russian MBTs.

It has an unmanned turret that features a remotely controlled 125mm 2A82-1M smoothbore main gun with fully automated loading for 45 rounds and could also fire laser-guide missiles. The 2A82 125mm gun was designed to be upgraded to the 2A83 152mm gun, while the T-14 was also fitted with secondary weapons including a Kord 12.7mm machine gun or a PKTM 7.62mm machine gun.

The roof of the T-14’s turret also was developed to house a meteorological mast, satellite communications, global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), data-link, and radio communications antennae. The T-14 MBT features a low-silhouette that reduces exposure to enemy fire and enhances the safety and survivability of the three-man crew.

The driver, gunner, and tank commander are housed in a crew compartment located in an armored capsule at the front portion of the hull and isolated from the automatic loader as well as the ammunition storage in the center of the tank.

The crew compartment was also designed to be made from composite materials and protected by multilayer armor, which according to analyst reports can withstand a direct hit of nearly any type of round that currently exists including sub-caliber and cumulative rounds.

The forward section of the tank was also developed to be covered with an active defense system that is designed to intercept anti-tank munitions including sub-caliber rounds such as those from anti-tank guided missiles, rockets, and RPGs. The T-14 has an internal toilet so the crew doesn’t need to exit the tank to answer nature’s call.

The T-14 may not be in Ukraine, simply because Moscow doesn’t have enough to actually send. As previously reported, Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod first said the T-14 would be delivered in 2018. Then the distribution of the first nine tanks would come in 2019. After this date came and went, the leadership said 20 would be tested and 80 would be ready by the end of 2021.

Moscow had announced last year that the T-15 Armata would enter serial production this year, but it seems that the new cutting-edge MBTs won't be ready until after next year at the very earliest. Moscow may not have expected much resistance in Ukraine, and therefore it had little reason to risk its shiny new toys in its “special military operation.”

That may be for the best for Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, as each T-14 reportedly costs in excess of $3.7 million, roughly 20 times the price of a US-made Javelin anti-tank rocket, which comes in at around $175,000.

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