The Russians Can't Afford Their T-14 Tank

More than three years after Russia’s T-14 Armata tank made its widely touted and much scrutinized public debut, the country has made it clear it has no plans at present to buy more than 100 of them. The design’s ballooning cost has forced the Kremlin to focus its efforts on upgrading its T-72, T-80, and T-90 tanks, instead.

In 2015, Oleg Sienko, then-Chief Executive Officer of Uralvagonzavod, or UVZ, the T-14’s state-owned manufacturer and Russia’s largest producer of tanks, had said that he expected the Kremlin to order as many as 2,300 Armatas by 2020. The first examples made their initial public appearance ahead of the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow that year and one suffered an embarrassing break down during a rehearsal. The Russian government's planned purchases of the type have steadily shrunk since then.

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The Russian MoD has Ordered two Battalions of T-14 Armata Tanks

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yuri Borisov has confirmed an order for two battalions of T-14 main battle tanks (MBTs), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported on its website on 9 February.

The order for the T-14 MBTs and T-15 heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) is understood to have been placed in December 2017. Touring the Uralvagonzavod factory in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, Borisov said, “It’s no secret that we already have a contract for trials and combat operations: two battalions of Armata tanks and one battalion of heavy infantry fighting vehicles.” Both vehicles are based on the Armata common platform.

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This is, iirc, only 60 tanks and 30 IFVs.

They are for evaluation and extended trials.

A Bad Sign for the Russian T-14 Armata

Russia's Ministry of Defense (MoD) is planning to bring back into service some of its mothballed T-80BV main battle tanks (MBTs) and to update them, according to a source in the country's defence industry.

"At present, the preparative works to start the modernisation of the first T-80BV MBTs are at a final stage," the source told IHS Jane's . "In accordance with the programme developed by Omsktransmash and the Special Design Bureau for Transport Machine-Building [SKBTM], the overhaul and modernisation of the MoD's T-80BV tanks will be launched next year. [We will be doing] the relevant works at the Omsktransmash facility," the source said adding that the numbers of the tanks to be updated and the terms of the programme will be defined by the military.

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Plans and Progress on Russia's T-14 Armata Tank

Some data on Russia’s armor programs appearing in the media prior to Tank Troops’ Day (11 September) didn’t get too much notice.

RIA Novosti interviewed the chief of the MOD’s Main Automotive and Armor Directorate (GABTU), General-Lieutenant Aleksandr Shevchenko on 9 September.

General-Lieutenant Shevchenko noted that the MOD plans to “modernize” new Tigr armored vehicles, and not just by mounting a 30-mm gun. They will, not surprisingly, go by the name Tigr-2. But no other details.

Shevchenko confirmed Uralvagonzavod’s announcement that it has delivered more than 1,000 T-72B3 tanks. He also indicated that the MOD will receive 300 improved T-72B3. The improved T-72B3, he says, will have a better engine and better defensive and targeting systems.

Some number of Russian T-90 tanks nearing the end of their service lives will be modernized under the “Proryv-3” program, according to the GABTU chief. The resulting tank is supposed to be superior to the original T-90.

Regarding the Armata armored vehicle family, Shevchenko reported that the “experimental” lot of T-14 tanks will conclude initial field trials in 2016 and move into state testing. This will be completed in 2017 and followed by formal state acceptance of the T-14.

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Russia has Ordered the First 100 T-14 Armata Tanks.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed an agreement with manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) for the supply of a test consignment of more than 100 T-14 Armata main battle tanks (MBTs), the first units of which are already undergoing field trials, Deputy Minister of Defence Yuri Ivanovich Borisov told local media on 6 September.

"The first batch has already been purchased from Uralvagonzavod. We have a contract for the pilot batch of more than 100 units," Borisov said.

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T-14 Armata Tank Manufacturer Uralvagonzavod on the Cusp of Bankruptcy?

Maybe Russia’s economy is muddling through its downturn. But for some major enterprises, the situation seems somewhat worse. Tank and railcar maker Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) is a case in point.

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Parts of the Russian T-14 Tank Were 3d Printed

The Russian defense industry has been using 3D printing technology to create prototype components for the T-14 main battle tank and the rest of the Armata family of combat vehicles. Eventually, Russian industry hopes to be able to build production standard tank components for the Armata and other armored vehicles.

“3D printing has been implemented to speed up trial production,” Anton Ulrich, manager of the rapid prototyping lab at Electromashina, told 3Ders.org.

“When a designer develops new products, he uses CAD software to produce a 3D model. So, using a 3D printer, we can quickly turn those 3D models into prototype parts. Now there is no need to order a sample component, and then, realizing that it doesn’t fit, have to order a re-run and waste metal. Furthermore, it is possible to produce not just small elements of a part, but the whole assembly, evaluating its mechanical characteristics before production.”

In the near future, Electromashina — which is a division of armored vehicle manufacturer UralVagonZavod — expects to start producing 3D printed titanium parts that are several meters in length for use in armored vehicles. However, in the short term, those components will be used for prototypes rather than for production machines.

“3D printed components can go straight to consumers in certain industries,” Ulrich told the trade magazine. “But in the defense industry, standards are much higher.”

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A Russian Documentary on the T-14 Armata Tank

I'm not thrilled with the style, but its pretty much the same sort as what's being done in the US these days for similar subjects.  Watch for the propaganda.

Russian Militaria: PAK DA Stealth Bomber, Budgetary Issues, Armata Tank & More

One of the "banes" of the 1990s for the miltech enthusiast was very little was really happening.  I mean, the most exciting bit to come out was the Joint Strike Fighter.  bah.  (from the point of view of stability in the world, it was good.  Alas, miltech excitement and international dangers are tied together).

There are many things afoot for the Russian military and I don't mean their officially unofficial war in Ukraine against their Slavic cousins.   Russia has come back into the game of doing interesting things tech wise.  Or in some cases, they are claiming they are doing exciting things.

In the everything old is new again category, Russia is considering bringing back some of the blinding laser 'tanks' the Soviets built.  These are the equivalent of the Stinger laser pods developed for the Bradley IFVs, but on a T-80 chassis and being a dedicated platform rather than a secondary armament.  There is an arms race in the high energy laser department - US leading by a body length at least, if not a lap ahead - and its getting more and more serious.  So long as you have power, you don't have an empty magazine and the cost per shot is really, really low.  However, the ruby laser blinding weapons on these tanks are virtually useless in reality.  It's also not an encouraging sign for Russian miltech: technology has advanced significantly, especially in lasers, that bringing back a 30 (!) year old design does not help.   Bringing back those designs seems to be a common theme in Russian militaria, given the plan to start building the Tu-160 strategic bomber again.

Speaking of strategic bombers, the PAK DA - Russia's new bomber design - will fly in 2023 to 2024.  This is rumored to be a stealth bomber, even a flying wing, but there are still fan boys out there claiming this is a hypersonic bomber.  Given how wildly wrong the fanboys were over the Armata, we shall see.  

The T-14 Armata is Russia's new main battle tank.  Crew of two and a unmanned turret, its supposed to be able to go toe to toe with an Abrams.  Its also based on a chassis which is supposed to do what the Future Combat System was supposed to do for the US Army: a standard chassis which multiple vehicles are built from to reduce the parts and costs.  Russia Military Reform has a run down on the program.

However, Russia may not be able to afford all these wonder weapons.  Foxtrot Alpha has a editorial on the subject.  Weapons are expensive and procuring them when your economy is not doing as well or the price of oil has not recovered is rather difficult.

Given all of the above it becomes easy, all too easy, to dismiss Russia's capabilities.  That would be a mistake, just as it would be to dismiss the US military due to its recent procurement problems.  A very good example of what would make the US nervous which the Russians are doing and doing well is the Russian satellite currently orbit maneuvering and actively - or at least seemingly - doing a test inspection of an orbiting upper stage of a rocket.  It's actions are consistent with an ASAT: antisatellite weapon.  Given how dependent the US is on space as a sanctuary for its communications and observation, an active and capable ASAT is very nerve racking.  

However, while we ought not dismiss the Russians, there are signs some of their traditional relationships may be breaking down.  The Indians have requested foreign help in designing their next, recently spec'ed indigenous aircraft carrier.  The Russians, Americans, Brits and French were contacted for that help.  A key component the Indians are seeking is a catapult for their next carrier.  And...that's pretty much an American tech at this point.  Given the US Navy and the Indian Navy both have stated they want to collaborate on carriers...

Jane's Profiles "Russia's Armour Revolution" Inclusive of the T-14, T-15, Kurganets, Boomerang & Koalitsaya

Paraded uncovered for the first time on 9 May in Moscow, Russia's new range of armoured vehicles represent not only the biggest change in the country's armoured vehicle families since the 1970s but also a new design ethos.

While the vehicles' designs partly involve radical rather than revolutionary innovation, the scale and ambition of the change they embody is nothing short of a revolution. Together, the Armata, Kurganets, Boomerang, and Koalitsiya and other vehicles on show will replace nearly all Russia's existing vehicle families as, remarkably, Russia is attempting to replace all its main armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) families at the same time.

Additionally, the new vehicles display radical changes in design ethos and incorporate multiple previously unseen active protection systems (APSs). The reported weight and the apparent size of all the vehicles indicates a shift in armoured vehicle design philosophy away from the Soviet emphasis on manoeuvrability and low vehicle profile towards the Western focus on armour protection and crew survivability.

While many details of the vehicles had already been known, and were covered in depth by JDW in April, the full unveiling of the vehicles has revealed many fascinating new details and added greatly to our understanding of the vehicle family designs.

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Massed T-14 Tanks During Russian Victory Parade

Looks like they didn't break down this time.

Russia's new T-14 Main Battle Tank Broke Down During WW2 Victory Day Parade Rehearsal

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That's an impressive practice run for the parade!

However, to be fair, this is a prototype rather than the final production vehicle.  Prototypes have problems.

Update:

More Video.

Bonus Video of the T-15 Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier trying to get on a tank transporter.  Not the fail others are portraying the video unless it canbe determined the problem is the engine is undersized for the weight of the AFV.  Backing a 50ish ton AFV onto a truck is something which is done extra carefully and I would not blame the driver for coming down rather than risking coming off.  OTOH, if the engine really is too little for getting the T-15 onto the transporter, that counts as an epic fail.

More Russian T-14 Main Battle Tank Pictures

Russian T-14 Tank Pix With Some Video

Immediately and at 2:15 for the T-14.

The T-15 seems to be in there and the Kurganets.

I've seen specs thrown around, but none seem definitive: the weight seems to between 48 to 57 tons.

I have to admit I involuntarily snarled at the SAMs.

Update: More info here.

T-14 Armata Tank in Parade Practice for Russian WW2 Victory Parade

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Not at all like the low turrets done in fan art with the twin AA guns.  Not a big surprise that though.  Fan art often comes out of nowhere with weird ideas.  (yes, guilty, too)

First Full Image of the T-14: Russia's new Main Battle Tank

Russians Practice for Victory Day Parade, Reveal new Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Jump to 4:00 for the new Infantry Fighting Vehicle, 7:10 for the new Howitzer, and some sort of new wheeled apc at 13:15:

Also a purported set of pix of the T-14 Armata Tank and more:

More info.