[Official] Armata Discussion thread #6

The-thing-next-door wrote:
There are ways. I guess I am just sad we will likely not see 3m long penetrators because gato are too dumb to design armour that would require them.

runaway wrote:
Yes the Hunter/killer mode isnt such a big thing after all. The main role today of the Tank is to support the Infantry it seems, as they are easy targets for Arty and drones.
Though we might see some big armoured fist coming in the near future, i doubt it.
As good as the Armata probably is, if the main role is to support Infantry, the T90 does the job as good. Still, T-14 will make an official debut in the near future, but it will not be a game changer.

According to posts on Russian social media on September 11, 2023, Russian military analyst Viktor Murakhovsky made statements regarding the T-14 Armata tanks, indicating that once the electronic systems of the T-14 Armata tanks are finalized, serial production is expected to commence, potentially leading to troop deployment as early as 2024.

However, it is important to remain cautious, as practical deliveries to the Russian army may not occur until the 2025-2026 timeframe. This 2025-2026 timeline for integration is seen as a plausible one, as suggested by Viktor Murakhovsky. He believes this is the likely timeframe for the serial deliveries of the T-14 Armata tanks to the Russian army, which contrasts with various timelines proposed by different commanders and experts.

The pace of this integration process may be influenced by the evolving military situation on the Ukrainian front, similar to other projects such as the T-72B3 Sturm unmanned tank, or the 2S43 Malva and the 2S18 Pat-S 152mm self-propelled howitzers.

The process of introducing the T-14 Armata into the Russian military has been meticulously planned, with Russian sources sharing more details. For example, the Kazan Tank School received simulators for training tank crews in the fall of 2020. On August 5, 2023, the Army Recognition editorial team reported the presence of a T-14 Armata main battle tank near this school. Simultaneously, schools in Omsk and Novosibirsk acquired equipment for training technicians and commanders in the same year.

A report from a Russian newspaper indicated that the first batch of cadets, destined to operate the T-14, was planned to complete their training in 2021, with graduation expected in 2025-2026. This aligns with the expected timeline for the actual integration of these advanced tanks into the Russian military.

On August 24, 2023, the Army Recognition editorial team reported that the T-14 Armata tank is entering its finalization phase, where development, design, and production enhancements will prepare the vehicle for operational deployment.

During this phase, the T-14 Armata will incorporate lessons learned from its involvement in combat operations as part of Russia's battlegroup South's participation in the Ukrainian conflict, as confirmed by Viktor Murakhovsky. Additionally, he revealed that the expected modifications to the T-14 Armata tanks will primarily focus on enhancing their electronic systems. Specific details about these modifications remain undisclosed, but their objective is to improve the tank's performance and capabilities, ensuring its effectiveness in modern warfare scenarios and paving the way for mass production after multiple delays.

Initially, the Russian Army had plans to acquire 2,300 T-14 tanks between 2015 and 2020. However, these plans faced significant setbacks. By 2018, a combination of production and fiscal issues led to the postponement of the expected delivery date of the T-14 Armata until 2025.

These challenges likely included budget constraints and logistical difficulties related to scaling up production to meet the initial targets. Furthermore, in July 2018, Russia announced the apparent cancellation of the main production run of the T-14 Armata, raising doubts about its future deployment.

Despite these setbacks, as of 2021, there were renewed efforts to move forward with production. The Russian state-owned TASS media agency claimed that the Armata was expected to begin serial production in 2022, with a test batch intended for delivery to the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division. However, the tanks were planned to be officially transferred to the army only following the completion of all state tests, which is a time-consuming process involving rigorous testing and evaluation.

Even after the commencement of serial production in December 2021, Rostec, the Russian state conglomerate, stated that "more than 40" Armata tanks were anticipated to be delivered to Russian troops after 2023, indicating further delays in actual troop deployment.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine had a significant impact on the planned expenditure and resource allocation. This could have further complicated the production and deployment of the T-14 Armata as resources were diverted to address more urgent needs arising from the conflict.

Technical challenges also played a role in the delays. The T-14 Armata is a highly advanced tank with innovative features, such as an unmanned turret and advanced electronic systems. Addressing technical issues, such as problems with the tank's engine and thermal-imaging equipment, further postponed its introduction into service.

Additionally, the tank's export potential and foreign interest introduced complexity to the production timeline. Russia's foreign partners, including China and India, expressed interest in purchasing the T-14 Armata. Exploring export opportunities may have diverted resources and attention from domestic production.

The T-14 Armata, an advanced next-generation main battle tank developed by Uralvagonzavod, materialized from the Armata Universal Combat Platform initiative, aimed at conceiving a versatile and adaptable combat system tailored to various roles. Unveiled publicly during the 2015 Victory Day Parade in Moscow, the T-14 Armata has since undergone rigorous testing and trials. It is destined to gradually supplant Russia's aging tank models, in consonance with the nation's military modernization strategy.

The T-14 Armata features an unmanned turret housing the primary armament and autoloader, while the crew of three is situated within an armored capsule at the hull's forefront. This design choice prioritizes crew safety and minimizes the tank's overall battlefield profile. Outfitted with a sophisticated fire control system integrating data from diverse sensors, including high-resolution cameras, thermal imagers, and laser rangefinders, the T-14 Armata aims to enhance target acquisition and precision.

Its modular design, rooted in the Armata Universal Combat Platform, enables potential customization to fulfill varied roles, ranging from infantry support and reconnaissance to heavy assault. Defensive capabilities encompass composite armor, explosive reactive armor, and an Active Protection System (APS) named Afghanit, proficient in detecting and intercepting incoming projectiles.

Powered by a 1,500-horsepower diesel engine, the T-14 Armata can attain speeds of around 56 mph (90 km/h), with an advanced suspension system bolstering maneuverability and off-road performance. Moreover, the tank's blueprint facilitates operation within a networked battlefield environment, facilitating communication and data exchange among diverse military units.

Initially, the Russian Army had plans to acquire 2,300 T-14 tanks between 2015 and 2020. wrote:

Swgman_BK wrote:
We shouldnt take what Journalists and Analysts say as fact all the time. The MoD of Russia never made such claims about acquiring 2300 tanks..We dont even know how much Russia plans to acquire. Maybe more.. Maybe there is a certain upgrade on the way which is delaying the full scale introduction of the tank. In the end we dont know what the MoD is thinking with regards to the T-14.

ALAMO wrote:
They continuously mix tanks with a whole Armata platform-based vehicles line.

There was a claim that UVZ can manufacture 2300 vehicles in that timespan, but it was made by the UVZ CEO at the time, not the Russian Army, and certainly not the Ministry of Defense. It was a hail mary play for additional investors to come in and keep the company solvent since at the time UVZ was in dire financial straits and the company was at risk of being brought under new management. Obviously didn't happen and UVZ was put under Rostec, the national weapons manufacturer. wrote:

lyle6 wrote:

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A good thread for once, but the Vacuum subcaliber shell is just a third of the Armata's secret for anti-armor overmatch, the other two is its ingenious main gun and the vertical carousel autoloader.

With the 2A82-1M gun the Russians pulled off a neat trick: Though a combination of higher pressure and larger chamber for the gun with a lighter projectile parasitic mass, they smuggled 90% of the anti-armor performance of the full power 152 mm caliber into the 125 mm caliber.   Its firepower overmatch on the cheap - they didn't even have to invest in a new production line for a novel caliber. The higher shell count doesn't hurt either.

The vertical carousel autoloader housed in the hull is also an inspired decision. In a tank with an unmanned turret the crew citadel at the front would boast the most substantial protection consisting of multi-layer composite and Heavy ERA with the APS umbrella cherry on top. The autoloader and the volatile ammo (and the power pack) would be behind the heaviest protection from the front freeing up a significant mass fraction of armor that would've gone to the turret that could be invested in additional protection to the vulnerable top, sides, and bottom of the vehicle. This meant that the T-14 would always be more protected than any other equivalent NATO vehicles, as long as they buy into the retarded bustle ammo stowage.

william.boutros wrote:

That is still awaiting production.

lyle6 wrote:

william.boutros wrote:

That is still awaiting production.

They are waiting for the first batch of armor cadets who trained on the Armata platform to graduate.

Makes no sense to pump up production before you have a steady stream of trained crews.

The T-14 itself will have no contenders for at least 15 years anyway. Realistically never because:
a. NATO's industrial capacity is so decrepit they can only produce stuff in boutique numbers.
b. China is only interested in becoming Russia's largest trading partner.
c. A truly next gen armor program is simply too expensive for everyone else.

william.boutros wrote:
The low cost of smart weapons and their proliferation will make drastic changes to artillery, tanks and armor protection.
Warfare would essentially be reinvented possibly around recon, camouflage, electronic warfare and smart weapon delivery systems.

william.boutros wrote:
Armata's tank could be obsolete by the time it is produced in sufficient numbers. Perhaps its crew protection module would still be relevant but with a different configuration of armament.