Is the T-14 tank coming into service? Russia has just announced how many deadly Armata tanks it will build. History and prerequisites for the creation of a new tank "Armata"

21.09.2019

Tank T-14 "Armata" latest news of 2017

T-14 (Index GBTU - Object 148) is the latest Russian main battle tank with an uninhabited turret based on the Armata universal tracked platform. The T-14 was presented to the general public at the Victory Parade in 2015 along with other products based on the Armata.

Tank T-14 Armata – video

As part of the state armaments program, a state order has been placed for the manufacture of 2,300 T-14 tanks until 2020-2025. In 2015, a pilot batch of 20 tanks was manufactured. In 2016, the mass production tanks, which is not planned to be reduced even in a crisis. At the same time, the procedure for military acceptance and elimination of shortcomings was launched.

The T-14 is the first tank in the world within the framework of the concept of "network-centric warfare", where the T-14, due to the medium-range circular AFAR radar used in the tank, and infrared HD surveillance cameras with 360 ° circular coverage, is used as a reconnaissance vehicle, target designation and fire adjustment of self-propelled guns, air defense systems and escorts from T-90 tanks of their tactical level.

The T-14 is the world's first "stealth tank" not only with a drastic reduction in visibility in the infrared, radio and magnetic range, but also with the use of innovative technologies“signature distortion”, that is, distortion of its visual image in the indicated ranges of the Javelin, Spike or JAGM-class GOS ATGM tank that makes it difficult to search among the thrown infrared traps and clouds of dipoles. It is equipped with a new generation of the Afganit active protection complex, capable of intercepting even anti-tank shells and, safely for the infantry and equipment surrounding the tank, blind anti-tank guided missiles by using smoke-metal curtains or burning out the electronics of their homing heads through the use of electromagnetic weapons.

The T-14 is equipped with fourth-generation dynamic armor "Malachite", which is capable of repelling shots from hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers with a probability of more than 95%, as well as destroying modern anti-tank sub-caliber projectiles, even fired into the side of a tank.
The multi-layer ceramic-metal frontal armor of the tank cannot be penetrated by existing projectiles and anti-tank missiles. The world's first tank with an armored crew capsule, which guarantees its survival even with the detonation of ammunition.

The history of the creation of the T-14 is connected with the continuation of the developments of the USSR on tanks with an uninhabited turret, as well as the competition between the Russian Federation and the United States for the creation of a tank for the concept of "network-centric warfare", where the Future Combat Systems program was a competitor to the Armata project. The authoritative American publication National Interest, assessing the competition between the Armata and Future Combat Systems programs, notes that the American military-industrial complex suffered a serious defeat for the national prestige of the United States, failing to complete the development of a replacement for the Abrams tank.

Unlike traditional tanks, the T-14 is a "network tank", that is, it is designed not for a single battle, but to work with a group of different combat vehicles in one tactical level, performing the functions of reconnaissance, target designation and remote control through a single tactical level control system from the Sozvezdie concern, which allows all machines of the Armata platform to receive the operational situation in real time and automatically calculate ballistic data for fire control systems in the scenario of hitting targets not with one Armata, but attacking the target with the whole group at once, which includes, in addition to the T-14, several more heavy infantry fighting vehicles T-15, self-propelled guns 2S35 "Coalition-SV" and an attack helicopter.

The T-14 has a GLONASS navigation antenna protected from electronic warfare and a radio communication system, which is described in more detail in the article on ESU TK.

Since the T-14 radar is declared Ka-band, this means that it has a theoretical accuracy of up to 5 minutes of arc(0.08°). In practice, for similar radars like Credo-1E, it is possible to achieve an accuracy of about 10 meters in range and 0.1 ° in azimuth. The T-14 panoramic infrared sight with independent rotation can refine the azimuth of the detected target with even greater accuracy, as was done on a similar XM1209 machine in the Future Combat Systems program. However, even without taking into account the refinement of the coordinates of targets by optical methods, the radar allows you to effectively correct the fire of self-propelled guns following the T-14, and, in general, conduct your own fire quite effectively. high-explosive fragmentation projectiles. Indeed, the radar, with an accuracy of 0.1 ° at 6 km, can give out coordinates with an accuracy of about 10 meters. At 10 km, the error will be about 17 meters, which is enough to shell infantry and lightly armored vehicles from self-propelled guns with 152 mm shells. Note that even small Doppler radars also see well the explosions of shells on flying fragments, so they can be used to correct artillery fire, reporting an amendment to the shooting. An important fact is that even having specified the azimuth using the panoramic sight, the tank commander may not use the laser rangefinder and the target will not be able to take self-defense measures like a smoke screen.

Some experts point out that the T-14 pulse-Doppler radar is able to calculate the trajectories of projectiles like an artillery reconnaissance radar, that is, it is capable of automatically calculating the coordinates of the positions of enemy tanks and artillery from the trajectories of projectiles flying past the T-14 and performing automatic shelling. Indeed, in a similar radar as the ELM-2133 from Trophy, the calculation of the coordinates of an ATGM, RPG or projectile shot is supported with data transmission to the FCS for opening return fire. However, following the example of a similar system in the Merkava, it can be expected that the accuracy of determining the coordinates of the missile launch site by this method may not be sufficient for inflicting a retaliatory artillery strike only on them, additional reconnaissance of the target by optical means will be required.

Since the T-14 uses a pulse-Doppler radar capable of calculating the target's velocity vector, the radar can provide very accurate angular coordinates of a helicopter or aircraft in the air to indicate the sector for launching missiles for light SAMs of the Sosna, Strela-10M4 class or OSA SAMs that do not have their own surveillance circular radars, but equipped with equipment for external target designation and radio control. For more powerful Pantsir-S1 air defense systems, such an external target designation scenario is also of extreme value, since it allows you to avoid unmasking the air defense system due to the operation of your own radar with the risk of being destroyed by an anti-radar missile.

Experts report that the T-14 will be able to indicate targets to its escort from numerous old T-90MS tanks modernized with the installation of jamming-proof communications and GPS / GLONASS navigators. Obviously, the accuracy of the T-14 radar is overkill for such a scenario, since the T-90MS will perform the final fine targeting of their infrared sights. However, the very implementation of such a scenario is much more important, since it allows the T-14, being the most valuable control vehicle, to evade contact combat, and, having entered into contact combat, not destroy its own tanks.

The concept of "network-centric warfare" leads to the massive introduction of robotics, so Uralvagonzavod announced that the T-14 will be remotely controlled, and by 2017-2018 prototypes of the T-14 without a crew and controlled by a robot with artificial intelligence. As the first stage in the creation of the "unmanned" T-14, the crew should be reduced to 2 people in the serial version of the tank, the vacated space is planned to be used for additional ammunition. The Chinese news agency Sina, commenting on this, notes that the T-14 can thus become a “combat droid”, automatically destroying detected targets without human intervention, where the operator issues only general tactical tasks. It should be noted that such modes of automatic destruction of all targets that did not respond to the “friend or foe” request have been working in air defense systems for many years, so the novelty of the technology is only in application for tanks.

Active protection complex Afghanit

The location of the cameras and radars KAZ Afganit on the tower of the T-14 tank

The Afghanit active protection complex (KAZ) has long-range threat warning radars, therefore it is also used for reconnaissance purposes. Afghanistan defense scenarios also include the integration of a fire control system for an aggressive fire response in the event of an attack on the protected armored vehicles. Including Afghanit controls the automatic rotation of the tower in the direction of the incoming ammunition to deploy more powerful armor and protective equipment in its direction, and most importantly, striking - according to the calculation of the ATGM.

Afganit's surveillance radio-optical radar consists of four AFAR panels of a pulse-Doppler radar and circular HD-cameras integrated with it in the far and near infrared range. Due to integration with infrared surveillance equipment, Afganit has increased resistance to electronic warfare and can also only be in passive mode with cameras turned on, but with the radar turned off for masking. The complex is safe for surrounding infantry, as it is focused on disabling missiles more by means of smoke-metal curtains, an electromagnetic pulse from a stationary generator on an SOS diode and EMP grenades. To enhance the effectiveness of the camouflage curtains, the T-14 is equipped with stealth tools, such as thermal insulation of the hull and reduced visibility in the radio range.

Afganit has the ability to control a robotic machine gun to destroy incoming ammunition. Afghanit can destroy even shells attacking armored vehicles due to additional 2 high-speed short-range Doppler radars made using PFAR technology and working on illumination from a constant source.

Complex of dynamic booking Malachite

Installed on T-14 a new version dynamic reservation, which can be implemented, including on electronic control. At the moment, the developers have disclosed only the data that the Malachite VDZ is capable of breaking shells inside itself and reflecting heavy ATGMs. The safety of the VDZ for the tank and infantry is claimed by reducing the amount of explosive used by the VDZ to destroy ammunition.

Radar complex

AFAR radar N036B-1-01 created on the LTCC technology used for T-14 radars

The T-14 radar is used for reconnaissance of all types of targets from enemy armored vehicles to the identification of an ATGM flight. The radar itself is part of the Afghanit active defense system, although it can be used in offensive scenarios.

According to the terms of reference of the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the purchase of the T-14, for the first time in the world, the tank will use an active phased array radar, made using the same technology as the fifth generation T-50 fighter - on low-temperature ceramics for the Ka-band 26.5- 40 GHz (LTCC technology). A feature of the AFAR technology at LTCC is the moderate cost of the radar and reliability. The AFAR radar consists of 4 LTCC panels on the tank turret and provides 360-degree target surveillance without radar rotation. In general, the radar resembles in design the four panels of the ELM-2133 radar from the Trophy active protection complex for the Merkava tank. The radar panels are also covered with bulletproof and anti-fragmentation screens. Entire plastic loops are provided for quick removal and replacement of protective shields or a damaged radar module.

AFAR T-14 radars are visible on the tank turret

The T-14 surveillance radar can simultaneously track 40 ground dynamic and 25 airborne aerodynamic targets at a distance of up to 100 km. Previously, manufacturers of radars for KAZ, before the release of Afganit, even struggled with the target detection range, reducing the power and range of the radar as much as possible. In KAZ "Arena" a mode was built in to reduce the power of pulses as the ammunition approached. But all such measures as a whole turned out to be ineffective against ultra-sensitive antennas of electronic intelligence systems and, in particular, AWACS aircraft, which automatically calculated the positions of tanks at a great distance immediately after turning on the KAZ radars, even with a weak signal. In the T-14 concept, they decided not to fight this, but to make a disadvantage a virtue, that is, to increase the power of the radar, making it even more noticeable, but turning it into a means of reconnaissance of targets in a “network-centric war” scenario, for issuing targets for destruction in the first place other combat vehicles.

In addition to the four surveillance radar panels, the T-14 also has two ultra-fast response radars for short range. These radars are needed to trigger the destructive elements of the KAZ against shells (BOPS), as well as for the purpose of masking when the main T-14 surveillance radar is turned off, this technology is described in more detail in the section on the active protection complex. A surveillance radar of 4 panels controls the setting of multispectral curtains, and also performs the functions of reconnaissance of targets.

Infrared target detection complex

Turret of the T-14 tank with clearly visible infrared devices

On the turret with a machine gun mount there is a panoramic sight with independent rotation from the axis of the machine gun by 180 ° with a highly sensitive and high-precision infrared system with cryogenic cooling manufactured by the Kazan Optical and Mechanical Plant. The infrared camera is paired with a camera in the visible light spectrum and a laser rangefinder. Together with the machine gun mount, the panoramic sight can rotate 360°. The independent rotation mode of the sight and machine gun was first publicly demonstrated on April 2, 2016 during the T-14 tests. In general, the joint movement of the mechanics of the panoramic sight independent of the machine gun is classic and the same solutions can be seen in demonstrations from Raytheon.

Traditionally panoramic sights are used by tank commanders to locate target coordinates. In the case of a "network-centric tank" like the T-14, the panoramic sight is similar to the XM1209 integrated with the tank's radar and the robotic mechanics quickly rotates the panoramic sight to examine in turn the targets detected by the tank's radar or by the circular infrared cameras described below. Thus, the coordinates of the targets are specified, the low resolution of the radar and the possible loss of contact with the radar target due to the use of electronic warfare are compensated.

The tank commander receives a map of the tactical situation on a computer monitor, on which the coordinates of the targets are superimposed, and gives commands to the gunner which targets to inspect or fire in more detail. The identified coordinates of ground and air targets are also broadcast from the T-14 to the ESU TZ command vehicle, which will select the means of destruction.

The infrared sight of the tank is designed for precise aiming of the gun at the target and is used as part of the fire control system described below, as well as for examining the target received from the tank commander by the gunner. Moreover, the gunner, using the touch screen, can, by pressing a finger on the image, specify the coordinates of the target, which is necessary for target designation on carefully camouflaged targets when the computer needs human assistance.

Since the device is automatically closed by armored shutters, it does not participate in the automatic continuous search for targets. The only non-electronic optical periscopes on the T-14 are available to the driver and tank commander for viewing for driving purposes. For driving at night, the driver uses a night vision device, as well as the tank’s LED headlights, which allow you to switch to infrared road illumination mode so as not to unmask the tank at night. Since the device is automatically closed by an armored cap, it does not participate in the automatic continuous search for targets.

Complex of circular target detection in infrared and ultraviolet spectra

Infrared surveillance camera T-14 with a lens made of crystalline germanium. Left tube hydrotreating

In T-14, in addition to optical devices, included in the FCS, is equipped with six HD-resolution cameras on the tank turret, which allows the crew to observe the situation around the tank 360 degrees without leaving it. The cameras are equipped with self-contained power supply and a system for hydro-cleaning optics from dust and dirt.

All-round HD cameras are connected to the Afghanit active protection system, allowing it to:

Work with the radar turned off
Avoid operation errors
Work in EW conditions
Determine the irradiation of the tank with a laser

Video cameras on microbolometers also allow you to find targets in the infrared range through fog and smoke, which is important given that the T-14 is heavily focused on blinding opponents with smoke screens. For example, the T-14, when surrounded by enemy infantry, can put a smoke screen around itself, making it invisible to grenade launchers, and shoot them from a machine gun mount according to IR devices.

Armament T-14 Armata

fire control system

The fire control system receives data for shelling targets from radio-optical means of detecting their coordinates, described above. To guide the armament of the tank, the ballistic computer also uses data from the following sensors mounted on the roof of the tank.

Own position of the tank from the GLONASS receiver and inertial navigation system
Gyroscopic sensors of the tank's angular orientation in space
Wind direction and speed sensor
Temperature and humidity sensor
Barrel bend sensor from heating

Gun T-14 Armata

The first copies of the tank were equipped with a 125-mm 2A82-1M smoothbore gun (in an uninhabited turret, with full remote digital control), developed by Plant No. 9, which has the ability to fire on the move. In the presence of a sensor for bending the barrel from heating for accounting in ballistic calculations (fixed in a small container above the barrel). The range of hitting targets is up to 7000 meters and the rate of fire is 10-12 rounds per minute. The 2A82 gun has 17% more muzzle energy and 20% more accuracy than the best NATO gun on the Leopard-2 tank. A feature of the 2A82 autoloader is the ability to fire long ammunition up to 1 meter long, which is critical for high-powered armor-piercing projectiles, such as the Vacuum-1, similar to the M829A3 for Abrams. Taking into account the fact that the T-14 will most likely be used in local wars against old tanks of third world countries, it is likely that the 2A82-1M will remain the main weapon due to the advantage of twice as much ammunition over other variants of the 152-mm caliber gun , which is likely to have a smaller number of copies of the T-14.

A part of serial copies of the T-14 will also be equipped with a 152-mm 2A83 gun. In February 2016, the procedure began military acceptance T-14, including a version of the tank with a 152 mm gun. The 2A83 gun has an armor-piercing piercing projectile of more than 1000 mm, which obviously exceeds the armor of modern tanks, and therefore experts assess the gun as redundant relative to the most powerful 2A82-1M among tank guns in the world. For comparison, the latest modification of the M1A2 Abrams has a booking equivalent of BOPS ~ 900 mm (not to be confused with the equivalent of 1350 mm from monobloc ATGMs). US Department of Defense analysts in their report note that for the 152 mm gun, Rosatom is developing a new armor-piercing depleted uranium sub-caliber projectile, which allows destroying the strongest armored steel. Vyacheslav Khalitov, Deputy General Director of the Uralvagonzavod Corporation, also noted that armor-piercing in the classical sense of the word is often not required for 152 mm shells, since the kinetic energy of the shell is enough to tear off the entire enemy tank turret even without breaking through its armor. Projectile flight speed 1980 m / s due to the use of a number of new developments.

The tank can easily be re-equipped with a 152 mm gun, however, the 152 mm gun has the disadvantage of a smaller ammunition load compared to the 125 mm gun, however, it is possible to use a turret niche to carry additional ammunition.

T-14 Armata with 152 mm gun

The original known regular shells of the Grifel family for the 2A83 gun, like any armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber shells were uncontrollable. However, since the 152-mm 2A83 gun was developed on the basis of the 2A65 gun, a modification of which is used in the 2S19 Msta-S heavy self-propelled guns, some experts suggested the possibility of using Krasnopol-type Msta-S guided projectiles. Lev Romanov noted that if guided missiles for the T-14 are created, they will, unlike the Krasnopol, be radio-controlled, taking into account the presence of a radar on the T-14. In general, the idea that the T-14 will be with a 152-mm gun and guided missiles scripts available combat use, rather reminiscent of self-propelled guns, is also supported by Viktor Murakhovsky, pointing out the effectiveness of the fight against infantry due to fragmentation high-explosive shells with a remote detonation over her position, and calls the T-14 in such a scenario a "fire support tank". The designers of "Uralvagonzavod" also note that the T-14 with a 152 mm gun turns into some kind of hybrid of a tank and a self-propelled artillery mount, therefore they call this version of the T-14 not a tank, but a "combat artillery vehicle"(BAM).

Experts' assumptions about the presence of guided projectiles for the T-14 were also confirmed by the statement of the specialized design bureau NTIIM, which announced the launch of the Trajectory test complex for new guided 152-mm projectiles for the T-14 and the Koalition-SV self-propelled guns, but the developers refuse to report them exact performance characteristics, noting only that these ammunition will have means of bypassing promising funds Air defenses capable of shooting down projectiles, and will also be capable of bypassing EW countermeasures, which indicates that this ammunition is not designed for tank duels, but for hitting highly protected objects like anti-aircraft missile systems or command posts that are within the reach of T -14 for tank breakthroughs. Judging by the disclosure of data on the manufacturer's website, the T-14 guided projectiles will be corrected active-reactive, since the "Trajectory" is designed to monitor the jet engines of active-reactive projectiles. Active-rocket projectiles have a long range, judging by the fact that test firing of T-14 guided projectiles is carried out at a training ground converted for them for distances of 30-50 km, then this is probably the range of this precision-guided munition.

Missile weapons T-14 "Armata"

Like its predecessors, the T-14 will have the ability to launch missiles through the gun barrel using the next version of the Reflex-M missile system. The presence of the T-14's ability to fire guided missiles is confirmed by the report of experts from the US Department of Defense magazine OE Watch.

Viktor Murakhovsky also notes that the 152 mm caliber matches the Kornet ATGM and allows the use of its missiles, which have twice the longer range(10 km versus 5 km) and armor-piercing (1400 mm versus 850 mm) than 125 mm caliber rockets from Reflex-M. Also in the Kornet nomenclature is the 9M133FM-3 air defense missile, which significantly exceeds the capabilities of the Invar-M air defense missile for Reflex-M, which, although it can hit a hovering helicopter, the 9M133FM-3 range is twice as high (10 km) and , most importantly, this missile is specially designed to destroy air targets at an altitude of up to 9 km and aircraft at speeds up to 900 km / h. Many domestic experts advocate the 152 mm caliber precisely because of the ability to launch anti-aircraft missiles and perform air defense functions.

Note that there is no critical need to launch 152 mm missiles in the T-14, since the T-14 tank is designed to work in a tactical group with a heavy T-15 infantry fighting vehicle, which is already armed with the Kornet ATGM and is more effective in firing air targets from his anti-aircraft gun.

Machine gun armament

The machine gun armament consists of an anti-aircraft mount with a Kord machine gun, remotely controlled by a commander or gunner, and paired with a PKTM gun. The Kord anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted in its own robotic turret, integrated with the tank’s AFAR radar, thermal imagers and is capable of hitting even high-speed targets at a distance of up to 1500 meters, therefore, in addition to the air defense function, it is integrated into the tank’s active protection complex.

Tower armor

Presumably, the armor of the T-14 tower consists of the main armor and anti-fragmentation casing, the devices on the tower are located between the armor layers. The casing also protects the tank's instruments from shrapnel, high-explosive and bullet damage, and is also used to reduce radio visibility against the most advanced radar-guided ATGMs in various frequency bands. In addition, the casing of the tower, performing the function of the "Faraday Cage", is one of the means to ensure the declared resistance of devices to an electromagnetic pulse. The casing is collapsible with the help of latches, which allows you to get quick access to the devices under it for the purpose of repair and maintenance. Some of the equipment on the turret, like KAZ surveillance radars, can be quickly replaced in field conditions without disassembling the turret casing through plastic pull-out cables.

The T-14 probably used the storage of a part of the ammunition in the aft part of the tower, similar to the Leopard-2 and Merkava, which makes it possible, when the ammunition is detonated, to throw out a blast wave using the upper panels without serious damage to the tank, and also additionally cover the separation of the MTO from ATGMs attacking in tank roof. It is quite possible that a stock of long Vacuum-1 increased power BOPS is stored in the rear of the tower, which, due to their meter length, may not fit into a floor carousel with other shells. Sources confirm that in the aft part of the T-14 turret there is a spare ammunition load for a machine gun. At the same time, it is stated that there is a special robot for reloading a machine gun with this ammunition load without the need for the crew to leave the tank.

An analysis of the first experiments with uninhabited towers as "Object 477" can give some idea about the main armor of the T-14 turret on the casing.

Hull armor

T-14 uses common elements of passive armor for the Armata platform:

System for mixing exhaust with cold air and simulating exhaust holes to disorient ATGMs with IR seeker like Javelin

Engine and active suspension

T-14 uses a common engine and active suspension for the Armata platform with the following characteristics

Engine with automatic transmission and variable output from 1200 to 1800 hp provides movement up to 90 km/h and range up to 500 km
The active suspension provides a radical reduction in tank sway on the move, which increases the accuracy of shooting on the move and the speed of movement along
rough terrain
The tank's CICS controls the engine, transmission and active suspension devices, automatically making decisions on tank maintenance and giving voice commands to the crew

Comparison of the T-14 "Armata" with other tanks

When comparing the T-14 with NATO tanks, it should be noted that the general analytical agency FMSO under the US Department of Defense in its report notes that the T-14 is the next generation tank in relation to the existing ones. As FMSO analyst Charles Bartlez notes in this report, the T-14 has a number of advantages over existing NATO tanks: long-range radar, active suspension, which increases the speed and accuracy of the tank, frontal armor that is impenetrable by modern missiles and shells, as well as active system protection capable of intercepting even shells.

At the moment, only two tanks in the world are supplied with a standard active defense system equipped with an AFAR radar with the function of automatically calculating the position of a rocket or projectile fired at a tank: the T-14 and the Israeli Merkava tank. Although the frontal armor of the Merkava is weaker than that of the T-14, but the engine located in front of the tank guarantees the protection of the crew, however, at the cost of losing the tank's mobility. The active protection of both the Merkava and other promising NATO tanks is not able to reflect shells.

The opinion of British General Staff officers that the main battle tank Challenger 2 cannot penetrate the protection of the T-14 with its gun and therefore needs to be replaced.

The Die Welt newspaper published information from the conclusion of the German Ministry of Defense on the need for an urgent replacement of the Leopard 2 in connection with the advent of the T-14 Armata, which led to the creation of a Franco-German joint tank concern. The press reports that the main motive for the fears of the German military coincides with the British, namely the inability of the Leopard 2 to break through the protection of the T-14.

Chinese tank builders claim that their VT-4 is superior to the Armata T-14, but as an argument, they suggest that their transmission implementation is better. At the same time, the PRC government has shown interest in purchasing T-14s.

According to the Polish media, the T-14 surpasses all tanks in the world in terms of its combat power.

It should be noted that the comparison of the T-14 with other tanks goes beyond just tables with performance characteristics. The National Interest magazine, in comparing the T-14 and Abrams, notes that the T-14 has many protective technologies that are not only in the Abrams, but in no other tank in the world. However, the expert believes that after completing the upgrades, Abrams will be able to hit the T-14. The expert considers that the key criterion is not even the protective or attacking means of the T-14 and Abrams, but the ability of the tank to see its opponent earlier, that is, the ability of radars and stealth technologies, since the one who was able to see the opponent first, according to the expert, will win the battle .

Second key criterion, according to the National Interest expert, is the ability of the Russian military-industrial complex to produce a sufficient number of T-14s in the conditions of the economic crisis. The experts at the National Interest are backed by prominent economist Rick Smith, who notes that the Pentagon failed with the Future Combat Systems program, trying to create a tank platform like the Armata, and spending $16.1 billion on research. The US military realized they needed another $300 billion and couldn't afford it. However, economically, the Almaty program looks, according to Smith, not so expensive.

The release of the T-14 itself requires expanding the comparison criteria TTX tanks due to new technologies in a new generation tank:

It is required to take into account not just the speed of the tank on the highway, but the speed of the tank over rough terrain, which, due to the active suspension of the T-14, reaches 90 km/h, which is a record, and the accuracy of shooting should not seriously suffer from moving over rough terrain.
The presence of an AFAR radar for detecting threats and targets is becoming required attribute modern tank.
A modern tank should have various stealth technologies in the infrared, radio and magnetic ranges.
A modern tank should have not just stealth technology like visibility reduction, but “dynamic signature change” technologies in the infrared, radio and magnetic ranges to block tank recognition systems among interference and traps using a signature library.
A modern tank should have the means to automatically deploy not just smoke screens that are transparent in the infrared and radio ranges, but to automatically deploy multispectral curtains that are opaque in the infrared and millimeter ranges.
It requires not only the presence of an active defense complex, but the ability of active defense to repel not only missile attacks, but also shoot down sub-caliber armor-piercing shells.
It requires not just the presence of an anti-aircraft machine gun, but a high-precision robotic anti-aircraft installation capable of shooting down missiles and even shells according to the AFAR radar.
A modern tank should be equipped with electromagnetic weapons at least against missiles.
The frontal armor of the tank must exceed 1000 mm equivalent.
The dynamic armor of the tank should be virtually invulnerable to hand grenade launchers and with a high probability of repelling attacks by heavy anti-tank missiles with tandem warheads.
The turret of a modern tank should require not just breaking through the armor, but serious destruction to disable the turret. Ammunition designed to hit the loader and gunner with small fragments in the turret should be ineffective against a modern tank.

Comparison of dimensions T-14 and T-90

Purchases of T-14 "Armata" for the Russian Armed Forces

The manufacturing plant stated that as of 2015 the cost of the tank is 250 million rubles. Due to the depreciation of the ruble and the use of components Russian origin T-14, despite more powerful equipment than western tanks, costs 1.5-2 times cheaper. According to the director of Uralvagonzavod Oleg Sienko, the company received an order for the production of 2,300 T-14s by 2020, but in the event of a reduction in the military budget of the Russian Federation, the plan can be expanded until 2025. According to expert Viktor Murakhovsky, financing of the T-14 project will be a priority for the Russian Defense Ministry, even to the detriment of other projects, since it is obvious that possible local wars in which Russia may take part will be in the nature of land battles near its borders.

This point of view is supported by FMSO analysts of the US Department of Defense, who point to the repeated mention in the analytical report on the State Arms Program of the Russian Federation on the effectiveness of arms procurement, issued for the public council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the scientific expert council under the Committee State Duma RF for Defense, lessons learned from armed conflict in eastern Ukraine with conclusions about the need for mass purchases of T-14 tanks. It is assumed that "the deployment of mass purchases of brigade sets of Armata tanks should become one of the main directions of the State Armaments Program of the Russian Federation ... The Armata platform, as providing a qualitative superiority over any modern tank, should be considered as an absolutely priority program for delivery to production and purchases." At the same time, with a shortage of the budget of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, it is proposed to aggressively increase purchases of ground weapons, while reducing purchases of the Navy, including the new Yasen-M nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, any analogues of the Mistral large landing craft and others.

In April 2016, the media reported on the order of a limited batch of 100 tanks for military trials. A batch of 100 test tanks will make it possible to detect possible flaws, as well as give engineers tasks to improve some characteristics. Already, the military is putting forward demands for strengthening the engine to 1500 l / s and increasing the caliber of the gun to 152 mm. In the future, it is possible to create a tank-robot based on this tank, operating without placing a crew in it.

Export

The export of tanks based on Almaty is possible after meeting the needs of the state defense order. Uralvagonzavod said that in order to obtain permission to export the T-14, the secrecy stamp would be removed from it in the future.

Interest in the tank was shown by India, China, Egypt and the countries of Southeast Asia.

Purchase of 1000 T-14 tanks by India is possible. The Thai Ministry of Defense is considering the purchase of the T-14 in connection with the termination of the contract for the purchase of the Ukrainian Oplot tank, but the T-90S will most likely be purchased, as the Thai military is looking for offers in the lower price category of tanks.

National Interest, after interviewing experts, received a positive opinion on the export prospects of the T-14 on the following reasoning:

The modularity of the Armata allows you to quickly create different export configurations of the T-14 for the specific needs of different customers, flexibly vary the price in various configurations and provide customers with rich modernization prospects
The emphasis on crew security will certainly attract the military as customers
Own Chinese and Indian tanks are in fact only the modernization of the tanks of the 1980s, and new options for modernization are criticized by the military in terms of reliability and combat effectiveness.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-14 Armata

Crew, people: 3
Developer: UKBTM
Manufacturer: Uralvagonzavod
Years of development: 2009-2014
Years of production: 2014 - present
Layout scheme: carriage with an uninhabited tower

Weight T-14 Armata

Armor T-14 Armata

– Type of armor: Combined multilayer
- Active defense: "Afghanite"
- Dynamic protection: "Malachite"

Armament

- Caliber and brand of gun: 125 mm 2A82 or 152 mm 2A83 on request
- Type of gun: Smoothbore gun
– Gun ammunition: 45 shells
- Machine guns: 1 × 12.7 mm Cord. 1 × 7.62 mm PKTM

Engine T-14 Armata

- Engine power, l. s.: Varies depending on forcing 1350/1500/1800

Speed T-14 Armata

— Highway speed, km/h: 80-90
- Range on the highway, km: 500
- Specific power, l. s./t: 31
– Suspension type: Active

Inside T-14 Armata

question

The development of a new (third post-war) generation tank began in the USSR a little later than the creation of the new main tank T-64A in the 70s. Leningrad, Chelyabinsk and, later, Kharkov designers participated in the work called "Theme 101".

A number of projects have been implemented, both with traditional and new layouts, most of which remained on the drawings or in the form of layouts.

Tanks with traditional solutions, such as the "Object 255" and "Object 480" did not provide a significant advantage over the upgraded versions of the T-64A, T-72 and the tank with a gas turbine engine. Tanks with a new layout (Object 450) required a long search for both layout solutions and the creation of fundamentally new components.

These works are described in detail in the material TANKS AND PEOPLE. Diary of the chief designer Alexander Alexandrovich Morozov. Part 2.

In the late 70s and throughout the 80s, the Kharkov design bureau was chosen as the lead one on the topic of creating a promising tank of the 90s. These events are considered from the point of view of one of the developers of the tank, responsible for its electronic component - The last spurt of Soviet tank builders (diary of a participant in the development of the Boxer tank). Variants of the layouts considered in the 80s are considered in the material - Tanks "Rebel", "Boxer", "Hammer" (object 490, object 490A, object 477).

The development of a promising tank was never completed until the collapse of the USSR.

The design bureaus remaining in Russia set about creating a promising tank based on the existing backlog. Of the most advanced, we can mention the Leningrad Object 299 (JSC "Spetsmash"), which had a very bold layout. Which, along with objective reasons characteristic of the 90s, prevented its implementation.

The Omsk Object 640 "Black Eagle" was also a project with very ambiguous advantages, which is why it was chosen for demonstration (VTTV 1997) and even moved abroad.

Nizhny Tagil (UKBTM) had a project evolutionary development T-72, which did not give significant reasons for replacing the T-72 in production, since the solutions incorporated in it could be implemented during modernization.

With the improvement of the economic situation, work has intensified. Here, as in the 70s, two projects were implemented, one of them with a high technical risk, the other with traditional and less risky solutions. The first is the Nizhny Tagil Object 195 "T-95" (JSC "UKBTM") and the second Omsk project Development of a unified combat compartment, the theme "Burlak" (JSC "KBTM").

In 2009, the closure of these projects was announced.

At the beginning, one gets the feeling that a promising tank in the post-Soviet space will never be created.

But in 2015, at the Victory Parade, products based on the Armata platform were presented to the general public - a new generation T-14 tank and a heavy T-15 infantry fighting vehicle with a front-mounted MTO.

With the advent of the first shots of the "Armata", a lot of speculation appeared about this tank. Someone gave it embellished qualities, someone called it plywood and invented non-existent flaws.

Layout

The scheme with the concentration of the crew in front of the hull requires maximum automation of the controls installed in the fighting compartment, creating a number of technical difficulties. Such a scheme is of interest due to the large opportunities for enhancing the protection of the crew, including from means mass destruction, as well as improving the conditions for interaction between personnel.

When placing 3 crew members shoulder to shoulder, as done, the crew is accommodated in sufficient comfortable conditions. But at the same time, it is not possible to realize sufficient protection of the onboard part of the crew compartment. Even with a reduction in the width of the space allocated for each crew member from 70 to 60 cm, the opportunities to provide protection during shelling in the side areas are minimal. Wherein
railway dimensions do not allow to increase the width of the hull.

In addition, such a scheme does not provide a good all-round view to the tank commander, which in a number of countries, despite the development of technical vision, is considered an important quality. More details - Development of a promising tank in the USA.

Such a scheme has been considered more than once, since the 70s in different countries, but did not find application in tank building with the exception of experimental models, such as the American FTTB.

Crew capsule. The driver's seat is on the left along the tank.

The display complex of the driver (DKMV) installed on the tank is designed to replace the pointer instrumentation and provide solutions for control tasks, monitoring the operation, operational technical diagnostics of chassis systems and assemblies and issuing recommendations for the operation of the facility.

Gear shifting is carried out by buttons on the steering wheel. The most important information about the parameters of the movement is displayed directly on the remote display on the steering wheel. The monitor displays an image from a front-view thermal imaging device located on the upper part of the nose assembly of the hull.

video viewing device and block of control buttons

View of the driver's seat from the gunner's seat, located in the center of the crew capsule

PMF-5.0 monitors with high-resolution LCD panels from the "5" series of multifunctional panels.

On the left in the photo is the gunner's console.

Products PMF-5.0 (5.1) have an extended set of interfaces, including a touch panel with a multi-touch function, etc.
Development of the Instrument Design Bureau (UKBP), which is part of the Radioelectronic Technologies Concern.

The information management system displays information about the state of weapons systems, security, mobility, etc.
Informational messages are displayed on the screen below, critical messages are shown in red, important ones in yellow, regular ones in white.

View of the commander's and gunner's positions. Commander panels (3) right side of the photo.

They display video information from external sources, synthesized video information of devices (TV cameras, sighting systems), exchange of information, issuance of navigation cartographic information, as well as input and transmission of information to control the main systems of the tank. Control panels are installed under the panels, the gunner and commander have similar devices

The devices are manufactured in the Russian Federation and are unified for the entire line of promising ground vehicles (Armata, Kurganets, Boomerang).

Devices are still manufactured and assembled by hand, but their reliability is growing.

It is on these devices that tank control is based.

Commander's place. A visual overview of the terrain is carried out through three viewing devices. The main information is supposed to be received through the TV cameras located along the perimeter of the tank and a multi-channel panoramic sight-surveillance device.

Such a decision can be called very bold, especially for ground vehicles, where conditions are much more severe than in aviation. On the right is the AVSKU-E control panel (intercom, switching and control equipment). Under the control panel is an optical sensor of the fire-fighting equipment system (OD1-1S). The installation of optical sensors and high-speed cylinders in the fighting compartment ensures fire detection and the release of fire extinguishing composition in no more than 150 ms. Such sensors are installed around the entire perimeter of the capsule.

View of the back of the crew capsule. Visible ventilation and air conditioning systems

Despite many digital innovations, some traditions in post-Soviet tank building are unshakable, for example, not very accurate welding seams.

Comfortable seats - big step ahead in comparison with the tanks of the previous generation

Side view of the crew capsule from the gunner's seat. Crew seats have a wide range of adjustments, ensuring the comfort of the crew

Protection

The layout of the "Armata" is similar to that worked out on the "Object 195". Increased crew security is achieved by transferring the crew jobs located in the turret to a highly protected nose module of the hull, the protection mass of which can be increased by the amount of the reduction in the turret defense mass, due to a decrease in its dimensions and internal volume intended for crew jobs.

Improving the security and survival of the crew in the module is achieved by reducing the total area of the internal surfaces of the control module (compared to the habitable compartment of tanks of the classical layout).

The weapon module is separated from the transverse bulkhead control module, which reduces the likelihood of hitting the crew in the module.

The fire and explosion safety of the module and the survival of the crew are achieved by the complete separation of the crew's workplaces from the sealed volume of fuel and from the ammunition load.

Schematic representation of the general layout
tank T-14 "Armata" (similar to T-95)

The advantage indicated by the authors of the patent, along with the above, has one more drawback - insufficient protection of the tower. They will come to this question, as did the developers of the promising Soviet-era tank - the Hammer, the Note.

The tank protection complex includes combined and dynamic protection installed in the front part of the hull with the crew capsule.

Also, dynamic protection is installed on the sides of the hull (up to the engine compartment). In front, the caterpillar branches are blocked by the DZ, which is especially important when placing the crew in the hull. In the front part of the side of the hull, the DZ blocks are made folding for ease of maintenance of the undercarriage. In general, the solutions for installing DZ are reminiscent of its installation on the Nota tank (KMDB).

A tower is covered from above with dynamic protection, and a remote sensing is also installed to protect the capsule, including hatches. Part of the side of the hull in the MTO area is covered with lattice screens.

DZ covers both the upper and lower parts of the nose assembly of the hull.

Externally, the DZ is similar to that installed on the T-95. the working surface of the thrown plate is significantly increased

The technical requirements for a promising tank, set back in the days of the USSR, required protection from above from cumulative ammunition with an armor-piercing ability of 250-300 mm. Despite the small size of the roof and hatches, which is clearly visible in the photographs, it can be assumed that this requirement is met.

The most important feature of the tank is the use of a set of means to protect against precision weapons. They include an active protection complex that provides cover in the range of 120 ° in the direction of the tank turret and a complex for setting up multispectral curtains and a complex of laser and UV radiation indicators installed along the perimeter of the turret.

In order to fire false IR and RL targets quickly and accurately in the direction of the means of attack from wherever it flies up, without turning the turret, the use of rapidly turning grenade launchers is required.

Thus, protection from attacking ammunition in a horizontal projection is provided by the KAZ and the jamming complex (in two rotary installations on the tower). And from the attackers from above - a jamming complex (in two fixed installations directed upwards).

An anti-mine electromagnetic protection system is also installed.

Tank protection complex from WTO

Along the perimeter of the tower are indicators of laser irradiation and ultraviolet radiation (missile launch detection system).

Under the front indicators of irradiation and missile launch, there are radars with headlight detection and target designation KAZ. On the roof of the tower, a system for launching multispectral interference in rotary and fixed installations

Irradiation and launch indicators in the photo and during the demonstration at the parade are covered with shutters. Next to the block of indicators of the TV camera of the front and side view

KAZ launchers are installed under the radar block. KAZ "Afganit" is the development of the "Drozd" system. This development of TsKIB SOO dates back to the 80s. The difference from Drozd is the possibility of correcting the fired counter-munition in azimuth (~ 0.5 m) and vertically (± 4 °). The complex has the ability to defeat anti-tank missiles attacking the target on the span, but does not protect against attackers from above

To reduce the visibility of the tank, a light casing is installed on the turret with geometric characteristics that are optimal for reducing visibility in the radar wavelength range.

Side view of the T-14 Armata, in the central third of the hull, DZ blocks are installed optimized for protection against cumulative warheads at an angle of impact close to normal

Part of the side of the hull in the MTO area is covered with lattice screens.
Fuel barrels are visible. At the parade in Moscow, "Armata" were without them. Apparently they think it's not fashionable

Firepower

The tank is equipped with a 125mm 2A82-1M high power cannon. Judging by the patents, the gun can use both regular shots and newly developed ones with increased powder charge. Ammunition 40 shots (of which 32 in the automatic loader, 8 - transportable). The AZ ideology has been retained from the "Object 195", but the small 152 mm ammunition load has been increased to an acceptable value.

7.62mm PKTM machine gun in a remote-controlled mount on a platform combined with a panoramic sight-surveillance device. Ammunition 2000 rounds in a continuous belt.

The absence of a machine gun coaxial with a cannon is a strange and undoubtedly wrong decision. This will lead to an increased consumption of ammunition by the gunner on targets that do not correspond to 125 mm shells, to distract the commander from observing the battlefield when using a single machine gun. Some justification for this may be in the form of an automated ammunition load increased by 10 shots compared to the T-72. The 30 mm automatic cannon, as was the case on the Molot and T-95, is also missing.

Diagram of the AZ of an uninhabited tower.

Projectiles and charges are arranged vertically.

The conveyor is raised above the bottom of the hull to prevent jamming when the bottom deflects (undermining a mine).

The idea of installing such a gun arose long ago, back in the late 70s (D-91T) and continued in the future, including the "Object 187". In terms of its potential, it is 30% higher than the regular one.

It is known that shots of increased power 3VBM22 with BPS 3BM59 "Lead-1" and 3VBM23 with BPS 3BM60 "Lead-2" with L = 740 mm have increased armor penetration by 100-150 mm. Improved BPS developed for the "Armata" will probably reach the level of more than 800 mm (450/60 °). EFFECT: possibility of using both regular ammunition and newly developed ammunition of increased power is provided.

Whether the truth is reached is an open question, all these topics have been underway for more than two decades. So the same "Lead-1" and "Lead-2" have been formally part of the ammunition load of the modernized T-72BA, T-80UA, T-80UE1 since 2004.

To combat infantry, a shot 3VOF128 "Telnik" -1 was developed (Completion of the R & D - 2014). The projectile implemented a trajectory gap on approach to the target (at a preemptive point) with the target being hit by the axial flow of the GGE; trajectory gap over the target with the defeat of the target by a circular field of hull fragments; shock ground break with installation for instantaneous (fragmentation) action; shock ground break with installation for high-explosive fragmentation action (small deceleration); shock ground break with a setting for a penetrating high-explosive action (large deceleration).

Armament stabilizer 2E58 - electromechanical with electric drive for vertical and horizontal guidance. It has reduced power consumption, increased accuracy and less fire hazard.

The UUI-2 transceiver is installed at the base of the barrel. Provides automatic measurement of barrel bending during firing.
Wind and pressure sensor (DVD). Capacitive type sensor provides measurement of longitudinal, transverse wind and atmospheric pressure.

Mobility

"Armata" is equipped with a 12-cylinder four-stroke X-shaped turbocharged diesel engine 2V-12-3A. Swing mechanism with GOP

Engine power 1200 horsepower. According to the developers, there are opportunities for forcing up to 1500-1800 hp. in perspective.

The total capacity of the fuel system of the tank is 2015 liters with two connected barrels. Of these, 1615 liters are in the internal and external fuel tanks of the tank, the fuel is partially located inside the hull (816 liters), the rest is in the fuel tanks on the fenders in the rear of the hull.

The transmission is mechanical with a planetary central gearbox with automatic shifting. The built-in reverser can provide an equal number of forward and reverse gears, which is important when unifying the chassis with the rear and front MTOs. The cooling fan drive is two-stage controlled.

The suspension rigidity is 167…206 kN/m, and the resistance of the hydraulic shock absorber in forward and reverse strokes does not exceed 55 kN and 120 kN, respectively.

the torsion shaft has an operating stress level of more than 147 104 kN/m2 and an allowable twist angle of more than 80°.

The damping characteristic of the hydraulic shock absorber is speed, that is, it represents the dependence of the resistance force on the speed on the lever. The kinematic connection of the hydraulic shock absorber with the suspension is designed to provide a gear ratio of the vertical speed of the track roller of the caterpillar mover of the tracked vehicle to the speed of movement of the hydraulic shock absorber lever 0.15 ... 3.5 with an increase at the end of the track roller travel.

EFFECT: increased progressivity of suspension characteristics of the suspension system and smooth running of tracked vehicles weighing up to 55 tons.

1 - guide wheel; 2 - caterpillars; 3 - track rollers; 4 - supporting rollers;
5 - torsion shaft; 6 - balancer; 7 - hydraulic shock absorbers; 8 thrust

The progressive suspension characteristic is shown in comparison with the suspension characteristic of the Leopard 2 tank.

Project evaluation

The positive side of the project is that it was nevertheless implemented, to a greater extent than any of the existing promising tank projects in the post-Soviet space after the creation of the T-64 tank.

Positive for the industry in the Russian Federation is the development of new technologies (touch panels), a new element base in tank control systems (IMS, FCS, etc.), the development of which can become a serious impetus to the development of the electronics industry.

Sufficient attention has been paid to the complex protection of the tank - KOEP, KAZ, DZ, etc.

Ergonomics meets modern requirements.

The negative features of the tank stem from the choice of its layout, these are the impossibility of providing a sufficient size of the side armor of the capsule due to the placement of the crew shoulder to shoulder, the vulnerability of the turret from the fire of modern automatic guns, the lack of a visual channel of the commander and gunner sights, the impossibility of providing all-round visibility from the commander's seat. Exhaust on both sides increases the IR visibility of the tank.

Of the removable shortcomings, the absence of a machine gun coaxial with a cannon can be noted. And the sight-understudy gunner.

And most importantly, what else can be added, the tank is being tested, a small number of them have been released at the moment. Most of the systems installed in "Armata" have not yet been sufficiently mastered, it will undoubtedly take a long time to cure "childhood diseases". So to be or not to be "Armata" time will tell.

Serious passions flared up around the Russian T-14 Armata tank. A number of foreign and domestic media reported that the Russian authorities allegedly abandoned the latest combat vehicle, in the development of which hundreds of millions of dollars were invested.

The reason for unequivocal conclusions was the statement of the curator of the national defense industry, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Yuri Borisov. The official said that the "Armata" turned out to be quite expensive for the army, and for this reason it makes sense to bet on the modernization of the current tank fleet.

“Well, why flood everything with “Armata” military establishment? Our T-72 is in great demand on the market, everyone takes it, compared to the Abrams, Leclercs and Leopards, it significantly surpasses them in price, efficiency and quality, ”Borisov said.

In his opinion, in the coming years, the army can do without a massive supply of new generation vehicles, which are "rather expensive in relation to existing ones."

“We are already succeeding, having a budget ten times smaller than the NATO countries, due to such effective decisions, when we look at the modernization potential of old models, to solve the tasks,” Borisov emphasized.

Truth and deceit of Borisov

Currently, the Russian army is armed with about 1.8 thousand tanks, most of them are modernized versions of the T-72. Borisov was not cunning when he said that the domestic tank is not inferior in terms of price and quality to the American Abrams, the German Leopard and the French Leclerc.

T-72B3 has the worst, compared to foreign cars, indicators of firepower, security and automation. At the same time, the Russian tank is significantly superior to Western competitors in terms of mobility and reliability.

On the side of the T-72 and the economy. The cost of a brand new T-72B3 is about $2 million, and the modernization of each tank costs only $200,000.

At the same time, the price for one "Abrams", "Leclerc" and "Leopard" exceeds 5-6 million dollars. In unpretentious conditions of local conflicts, the T-72B3 will undoubtedly be stronger. In addition, the purchase and maintenance of a Russian tank does not require large expenses. By the way, "Armata" is not worth quite sky-high money. In the media, you can find a figure of 250 million rubles and 4 million dollars per unit.

Borisov did not distort reality when he emphasized the advantages of the T-72, but he can be safely reproached for changing ideas about development tank troops. In 2013, in an interview for Ekho Moskvy, while in the position of Deputy Minister of Defense, he stated the following: “Our army can no longer live with the equipment that has remained from the USSR. We must make a big leap and create a new combat vehicle before 2015. And we will do it."

Obviously, it was about "Armata". Nevertheless, Borisov's former peremptory attitude towards the Soviet legacy is justified by the factor of the acute economic crisis that hit our country in 2014. The Ministry of Defense and the government were forced to adjust their procurement plans and sequester military spending.

In 2017, Borisov's predecessor, Dmitry Rogozin, announced that the State Armament Program for 2018-2027 envisages "serial deliveries" of T-14s. Most likely, last year the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation decided to equip several units with the Armata, which, as we figured out, is completely uncritical for the Russian army.

T-14 ahead of its time

Since 2017, the gas turbine T-80 and diesel T-90 have been in the process of modernization (development work "Proryv-3"). The start of the renewal of the fleet, in fact, of Soviet vehicles, was perceived by experts as the result of a slippage in the process of adopting the T-14.

And yet, it is unreasonable to conclude from Borisov's statement that Russia is abandoning the T-14. An example is the situation with the T-90 "Vladimir", which was considered the most advanced combat vehicle in the world as of the early 1990s. For a quarter of a century, the Russian army received only 350 of these tanks (about 20% of the tank fleet).

At first glance, the T-90 project seems to be a failure, since there was no truly large-scale supply of the latest tanks to the troops. However, for 25 years, the RF Armed Forces have not experienced any urgent need for these machines. What was the point then to invest in the creation of the T-90?

Firstly, Russia was able to make good money on Vladimir. In the 2000s, the T-90 became the best-selling tank on the international market. Secondly, on the basis of some technological innovations embodied in the T-90, the Armata was created. It is possible that, in general terms, the T-14 can repeat the fate of the Vladimir.

It is worth adding that the "Armata" project was developed to conduct a "network-centric war", which is distinguished by a high degree of automation of battle management processes. T-14 should be included in a single information loop, which will allow you to receive information from multiple sources. This is the key advantage of the tank over its predecessors.

However, the Russian army still does not have enough drones, and the formation of a single information circuit is still on the way. initial stage. "Armata" was simply ahead of its time. And this fact cannot be the basis for asserting that Russia does not need a car. With a high probability, within the framework of the SAP, the Russian troops will receive several dozen T-14s, and if the economic situation improves, the Ministry of Defense will increase the volume of purchases.

It seems that the main trouble with the latest domestic tank is that it was praised too early by the federal media at the suggestion of the military and politicians. Against such an information background, any, even a not very serious problem with the T-14, is recklessly perceived as a disaster.

In 2015, at a military parade in Moscow dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the latest Russian development was presented to the general public - the T-14 Armata tank, which should radically affect the equipment of the Russian ground armies and determine the concept of their use for the coming decades. This tank, positioned as a 4th generation tank, aroused great interest both in our country and around the world. In this article, we will look at the history and prerequisites for the creation of the Armata tank, its distinctive features and technical characteristics, as well as the prospects for use in real combat operations.

History and prerequisites for the creation of a new tank "Armata"

Another way

At the turn of the 2000s, 2 projects of a promising main battle tank were being developed in Russia, which should have been a replacement for the current Russian MBT - T-90. One of them is "Object 460" or(see photo above) - was the development of the Omsk Design Bureau. It had an elongated modified chassis from the T-80U tank, in which another one was added to the six rollers, as well as a narrower turret of a new design, armed with the already proven standard 125 mm smoothbore gun. It was assumed that the mass of the tank would be about 48 tons, and it would be equipped with a 1500-horsepower gas turbine engine, which would give it a specific power of more than 30 hp / t and make it one of the most dynamic tanks in the world.

The second project is "Object 195" or(see photo below) - was the development of the Ural Design Bureau and the Uralvagonzavod corporation. It was an "Ubertank" for its time, in which an uninhabited (unmanned) turret, armed with a formidable 152 mm smoothbore gun, was also installed on a seven-roller chassis. The crew of the tank (a total of 2 people) was housed in an isolated armored capsule in front of the hull. The weight of the tank was not small - about 55 tons, and it was supposed to be equipped with a 1650 hp diesel engine, which would also give it good dynamic characteristics.

It was assumed that the kinetic energy of the projectile fired from the 152 mm Object 195 smoothbore gun was so great that if it hit the enemy tank turret, it simply tore it off.

But in 2009-2010, both projects had to be curtailed for several reasons. Firstly, the development of both tanks was not very active, and during the design and testing period (which is about 15-20 years), they simply became obsolete. Secondly, the transition to the use of such supertanks as the T-95 - quite expensive and resource-intensive in production - would be to some extent a transition to the German path of development of tank building during the Second World War, i.e. absolutely not justified itself "the path of royal tigers and mice." What we needed was a universal, mass-produced tank with the best value for money, like our famous T-34. And, thirdly, both of these tanks did not quite correspond to the concept of network-centric warfare.

The concept of network-centric warfare

Network-centric warfare is a modern military doctrine, focused on increasing the combat effectiveness of various military formations participating in armed conflicts or modern wars, by combining all combat and auxiliary units into a single information network and, as a result, achieving infocommunication superiority over the enemy.

Those. it turns out that due to the unification and almost instantaneous communication of command and control means, reconnaissance means, as well as means of destruction and suppression, a more accelerated control of forces and means is achieved, an increase in the effectiveness of defeating enemy forces and the survivability of their own troops, and each combatant receives full and timely information about the real combat situation.

Tank formations must also be adapted to the modern realities of network-centric warfare, for this the tanks themselves must be able to connect to a single information network and be able to almost instantly transfer to it information received by the tank from the outside due to their own "overview" modules. In fact, this is practically one of the requirements for the new 4th generation tanks.

Tank 4th generation

"Object 195" in the view of the artist.

The classification of tanks by generation is actually not official, it is very conditional and looks something like this:

To the first generation include tanks from the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Soviet T-44 and T-54, the German Panther, the English Centurion, and the American Pershing.

Second generation associated with the emergence of the so-called main battle tanks (MBTs). It includes tanks of the 1960-1980s, such as the Soviet T-62, the American M-60, the English Chieftain, the German Leopard and the French AMX-30.

To the third generation include the latest modern tanks, such as the Soviet T-80 and Russian T-90, the American Abrams, the French Leclerc, the English Challenger, the Ukrainian Oplot, the South Korean Black Panther, the Israeli Merkava, the Italian " Ariete" and the German "Leopard-2".

It is clear that later generations of tanks were distinguished by stronger armor, more advanced protection and more formidable weapons. This also applies to the 4th generation of tanks, the appearance of which is long overdue. But besides this, as mentioned above, tanks of the 4th generation should be maximally adapted to network-centric warfare, and also, if possible, meet a number of other requirements:

- have an uninhabited tower and an automatic loader;
- the crew must be isolated in an armored capsule;
- the tank must be partially robotic.

By the way, a fully robotic unmanned tank can be considered a 5th generation tank.

Approximately with such a list of requirements, our designers approached the development of a new tank, when in 2010, after the phasing out of the Object 195 and Object 640 projects, they were given the task to design a new generation tank as soon as possible.

Platform "Armata"

The order for the design, testing and production of a new tank was received by the state corporation UralVagonZavod, located in Nizhny Tagil and engaged in the development and production of various military equipment. When developing a new tank in the Ural Design Bureau, tied to UralVagonZavod, ready-made promising developments were actively used on the Object 195 already being developed here, as well as on the project of the Omsk Design Bureau - Object 640. Both closed projects to a large extent helped our designers to quickly cope with the task.

But the most important thing is that this time our designers (as well as our military leadership) saw the problem of building a new tank more widely, and it was decided to develop not just a 4th generation tank, but a universal tracked platform that could be used for the design of the most diverse military equipment, which would solve the above-described problem of universality, mass character and value for money.

Thus, Uralvagonzavod designed and implemented the so-called unified combat heavy tracked platform Armata, on the basis of which it is planned to create about 30 different types of military equipment. Moreover, not only the platform will be common to them, but also a common battle control system, a common communication system, a common active defense system and many other nodes and modules.

The universal heavy combat platform "Armata" has three engine layout options: front, rear and middle. This allows you to use the platform for the construction of almost any type of military equipment. For a tank, for example, they use the rear engine placement, but for an infantry fighting vehicle, on the contrary, the front one.

At the moment, our defense industry has already received the first pieces of equipment based on the new platform - this is armored recovery vehicle BREM T-16(so far only as a project), and of course the main combat one, which we could already see at the Victory Parade in Moscow.

The T-14 tank is the latest Russian tank of the 4th generation on the Armata universal combat heavy tracked platform. The tank received the index "14" as usual for the year of the project - 2014. At the project stage, the tank had the designation "Object 148".

It is believed that the T-14 "Armata" tank is the world's first tank of the 4th generation, the first tank in the framework of the concept of network-centric warfare, and that it has no analogues at all. In general, according to many of our and foreign experts, today the Armata is the best tank in the world.

To begin with, let's take a quick look at what this new Armata tank is like, what design solutions our design engineers embodied in it, what main features it has:

The main features of the T-14 "Armata" tank

- The tank has an uninhabited tower. It is equipped with the already proven remote-controlled 125 mm smoothbore gun with an automatic loader.

- The design of the tank allows you to install on it a 152 mm gun, already tested on the "Object 195".

- The crew of the tank is located in an isolated armored capsule that can withstand direct hit all existing modern anti-tank shells.

- The armored capsule with the crew is securely separated from the ammunition and fuel tanks.

- Active suspension will allow the tank to conduct accurate aimed fire at speeds up to 40-50 km / h.

- It is assumed that the active suspension will allow the tank to move at speeds up to 90 km / h, not only on the highway, but also on rough terrain.

- Used in a tank the new kind combined multilayer armor is 15% different than that used in domestic tanks of the 3rd generation. The armor thickness equivalent is about 1000 mm.

- All tank modules are controlled by the latest tank information and control system (TIUS), which, in the event of any malfunction, notifies the crew of this by an appropriate voice message.

- The Armata radar complex uses active phased array radars capable of conducting about 40 ground and 25 air targets at a distance of up to 100 km.

- If a projectile flying into the tank is detected, the Afghanit active defense system automatically turns the tank turret towards this projectile in order to meet it with more powerful frontal armor and be ready to strike at the enemy that fired this projectile.

- The range of destruction of 125 mm guns is up to 7000 m, while for the best Western models this parameter is 5000 m.

- The Armata tank uses a large number of effective stealth technologies that make it practically invisible or difficult to detect for many types of weapons.

TTX tank T-14 "Armata"

Infographics and location of modules in the T-14 tank

A good infographic of the T-14 tank with the location of the modules was made by the RIA Novosti agency:

Video review "Multi-purpose tank T-14 on the tracked platform Armata"

For the 80th anniversary of Uralvagonzavod, an interesting mini-video review about the T-14 Armata tank was released:

Radar complex

The T-14 is the first tank in the world to use an active phased array radar (AFAR radar). Radars of the same type are being installed on the new Russian fifth-generation T-50 multirole fighters, which are to replace the SU-27. Unlike radars with a passive array, AFAR radars consist of a large number of independently adjustable active modules, which significantly increases the tracking ability and reliability, since in the event of a failure of one of the radar modules, we will get only a slight distortion of the “picture”. True, the cost of such radars is somewhat higher.

Armata uses 4 AFAR radar panels located along the perimeter of the tower (see photo above). They are protected by bulletproof and anti-fragmentation screens, but, nevertheless, can be easily replaced in the field (the photo shows plastic loops for removing radar panels).

The radar complex of the T-14 tank can simultaneously track up to 40 ground moving and up to 25 airborne aerodynamic targets, which makes it one of the key elements on the battlefield within the concept of network-centric warfare. The target tracking distance is up to 100 km.

If, for the purpose of camouflage, the main surveillance radar of the tank is turned off, then on close range it is replaced by two ultra-fast reaction radars, which are also used to trigger destructive elements of active protection against projectiles fired at the tank.

Target detection systems in the infrared and ultraviolet range

On the T-14 turret, a panoramic sight is installed on the same axis as the machine gun mount, which serves to determine the coordinates of targets received by various observation modules, while it rotates 360 degrees regardless of the machine gun.

The panoramic sight includes a visible camera, an infrared camera and a laser rangefinder. When capturing each new goal Radar panoramic sight automatically rotates in her direction to determine its exact coordinates. The received information is displayed on the monitors of the tank crew in the form of a tactical map with the coordinates of fixed targets, and if necessary, you can specify the coordinates of a particular target by pressing your finger on the image on the touch screen.

In addition to the panoramic sight, the T-14 tank is equipped with six autonomous high-definition cameras that allow the crew to monitor the situation around the tank along the entire perimeter. These cameras allow tankers to assess the situation when the radar is turned off and in the conditions of the enemy's electronic warfare, and also record laser pointers aimed at the tank.

In addition, these HD cameras can see through smoke screens (in infrared spectrum), giving a significant advantage to the Armata using this type of disguise. This gives the following example:

When the T-14 tank is surrounded by enemy infantry, it can put a smoke screen around itself, making it invisible to enemy grenade launchers, and shoot them from a machine gun mount according to infrared HD cameras.

Active protection complex "Afganit"

Both the radar complex of 4 AFAR radars and 2 high-speed radars, and infrared HD cameras are part of the active tank protection complex, which serves not only for reconnaissance of targets, but also for the timely detection of threats to the tank and their elimination. Here are the features of the Afganit active protection system installed on the Armata:

- When an enemy projectile flying towards the tank is detected, the Afghanit automatically turns the tank turret towards this projectile in order to meet it with more powerful armor on the one hand, and on the other hand, to be ready to strike at the object that fired this projectile.

- When shells flying up to the tank are detected, Afghanit automatically controls the machine gun mount to destroy them.

- If increased camouflage is required, Afghanit can operate in passive mode with the radar turned off, focusing on HD camera data.

- "Afghanit" is safe for its infantry, located near the tank, as it uses to a greater extent the means of electronic warfare and smoke-metal curtains to counter enemy missiles.

- In addition, according to the latest data, "Afganit" successfully resists modern armor-piercing projectiles with cores.

The Afganit active defense complex is capable of hitting projectiles flying up to the tank at speeds up to 1700 m/s. But our designers are already developing a new active protection - "Barrier", which will be able to intercept projectiles flying up at speeds up to 3000 m / s.

Complex of dynamic protection "Malachite"

On the T-14 tank, the Malachite dynamic protection complex is also installed. Here are the features it has:

- "Malachite" successfully resists not only various cumulative shells, but is also capable of destroying the latest NATO sub-caliber shells, which were specially designed to penetrate such dynamic defenses that preceded "Malachite" as "Relikt" and "Contact-5".

- Malachite is much better at resisting the most advanced anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs).

- By reducing the amount of explosive in dynamic protection"Malachite" practically eliminated the option of defeating its own infantry and damaging the tank's observation devices.

Armament of the T-14 tank

The fire control system of the T-14 tank is connected to the Afghanit active protection system and its radio-optical modules. With their help, the tank's weapons are guided to the detected targets. Besides, aiming uses data from the following sensors:

— gyroscopic sensors of the angular orientation of the tank in space;
- air temperature and humidity sensor;
- wind direction and speed sensor;
- barrel bending sensor from heating.

The tank receives its own coordinates using the GLONASS satellite system.

As we wrote above, the T-14 tank can be equipped with both a standard 125 mm gun and a 152 mm cannon. As standard, the Armata is equipped with the already proven 125 mm 2A82-1C smoothbore gun, which has a 17% higher muzzle energy and 20% greater accuracy than the best examples of Western tank-mounted guns.

It should also be noted that the range of destruction from this gun is about 7000 m, which exceeds the performance of foreign tank guns, for the most part of which the range of destruction does not exceed 5000 m. This again gives Armata a significant advantage - it is our tank that will own the right to "long hands”, i.e. he will be able to shoot enemy tanks without even approaching them at their range.

In addition, the 2A82 gun has the ability to fire ammunition up to 1 meter long (for example, such as high-powered armor-piercing shells "Vacuum-1"). The T-14 is equipped with an automatic loader for 32 rounds, due to which a rate of fire of 10-12 rounds per minute is achieved.

Some of the Armata tanks are going to be equipped with a 152 mm 2A83 gun, which has an armor-piercing capacity of sabots of more than 1000 mm, and their speed is 2000 m/s, which leaves no chance for all known modern tanks. In addition, as the leaders of the Uralvagonzavod corporation say, the kinetic energy of the 152 mm gun projectile is such that more often it will simply tear off the turret of the enemy tank being hit.

Both guns allow their barrel to be used to launch guided missiles. It is assumed that for 152 mm guns, missiles with armor-piercing up to 1500 mm and a range of up to 10,000 m can be used, which can hit both ground and air targets.

At the same time, some experts point to the possibility of using guided active-rocket projectiles with a range of up to 30 km on T-14 tanks armed with 152 mm guns, which turns such an “Armata” into a fire support tank using both against enemy infantry and against strong protected enemy targets.

Of the machine gun armament, the Armata is equipped with a large-caliber 12.7 mm Kord machine gun, remotely controlled by the crew and included in the Afganit active defense complex, as well as a 7.62 mm Kalashnikov machine gun, coaxial with a tank gun. Moreover, for reloading the Korda, there is a special automated system that does not require the participation of crew members.

Reservation of the T-14 tank

As we pointed out above, one of the main features of the Armata tank is the presence of a special isolated armored capsule, separated from the rest of the tank by armored partitions and serving to accommodate the entire crew with control computers. In addition, the armored capsule protects against weapons of mass destruction and has an air conditioning system and a fire extinguishing system. All this significantly increases both the survivability of the crew and the survivability of the tank itself. It is stated that the maximum duration of the continuous stay of the crew in the armored capsule is about 3 days.

In the production of Armata tanks, a new type of armored steel with ceramic inserts is used, which has increased armor resistance. This made it possible, with the same armor thickness, to achieve a smaller mass of the tank, and, accordingly, better dynamics. Nevertheless, it is expected that in the frontal projection, the T-14 has an armor equivalent of more than 1000 mm against sub-caliber projectiles and about 1300 mm against HEAT projectiles. This makes the tank resistant to any modern munitions head-on and able to withstand such formidable anti-tank weapons as the American heavy and American man-portable.

Tower T-14

The structure of the tower is classified information, however, it is assumed that it consists of an external anti-fragmentation casing, under which the main armor of the tower is hidden. The anti-fragmentation casing performs several functions.:

- protection of tank instruments from fragments, high-explosive shells and bullet penetrations;
- reduction of radio visibility to counter ATGMs with radar guidance;
- shielding of external electronic fields, which makes the tower devices resistant to various kinds of magnetic impulses.

Below is a video with a possible device for the T-14 tank turret:

stealth technology

Another significant feature of the T-14 is the use of various stealth technologies, which drastically reduce the visibility of the tank in the infrared, radar and magnetic observation spectra. Here are the stealth tools used in "Armata":

- unique GALS-coating, which reflects a wide range of waves and protects the tank from overheating in the sun;

- flat reflective edges of the hull, reducing the visibility of the tank in the radio range;

- a system for mixing exhaust gases with ambient air, reducing the visibility of the tank in the infrared range;

- thermal insulation inside hull, which also reduces the visibility of the T-14 in the infrared range;

- heat traps that distort the "signature" (the visual image of the tank) in the infrared range;

- distortion of one's own magnetic field, which makes it difficult to determine the location of the tank for magnetometric weapons.

All this causes significant difficulties for the enemy in detecting the "Armata", in determining its coordinates and in general in identifying it as a tank.

Many experts believe that the T-14 Armata is the world's first stealth tank.

Engine

The T-14 tank is equipped with a multi-fuel 12-cylinder four-stroke X-shaped turbocharged diesel engine (12N360), which was designed in Chelyabinsk and is produced there - at the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant. The engine has a switching power from 1200 to 1500 hp, but on serial vehicles it is planned to install an engine with a maximum power of 1800 hp. This will provide the tank with excellent dynamic characteristics - so the maximum speed on the highway will reach 90 km / h. In addition, this four-stroke engine is much more economical than the old two-stroke ones, which ensures a cruising range of 500 km without refueling.

The box on the T-14 is automatic robotic with the ability to switch to manual control.

It should also be noted that the exhaust gases are removed through pipes passing through additional fuel tanks. This provides them with additional cooling and ultimately reduces the visibility of the tank in the infrared range. The tanks themselves are covered with armor plates and anti-cumulative screens, and they are protected from fire by an open-cell filler.

The engine and transmission are combined into a separate module, which makes it possible to replace a failed power unit in less than an hour.

active suspension

If earlier on Russian tanks If a 6-roller chassis was used, then the Armata platform has a 7-roller chassis, which allows building equipment with a maximum weight of up to 60 tons on its basis. Therefore, the T-14 tank has a huge potential for all kinds of upgrades.

The suspension used in the T-14 tank is active, that is, it is capable of detecting irregularities under the tracks using sensors and automatically adjusting the height of the rollers. This feature not only increases the tank's speed over rough terrain, but also significantly (by about 1.5 - 2.0 times) improves aiming accuracy on the move. High-precision shooting while moving quickly across the battlefield is another indisputable advantage of the "Armata" when it is possible to "meet" with such quite probable opponents as or who still use an uncontrolled hydropneumatic suspension developed more than 30 years ago.

Tank information and control system

One of the best tank information and control systems (TIUS) is installed on the Armata, which monitors all the modules of the tank in real time and automatically checks them for malfunctions. In the event that any problems are detected, the TIUS system informs the crew about this in voice mode and gives recommendations for their elimination.

Defense Order

At the parade in Moscow in 2015, T-14s from the first pilot batch (20 tanks) were presented to the public. Serial production of "Armata" began in 2016, and by the end of it it is planned to produce about 100 more machines, which will be actively used in various tests and exercises to identify shortcomings and determine the necessary improvements.

In total, by 2020, it is planned to commission 2,300 T-14 Armata tanks. This is how the state order was presented by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation to the state corporation Uralvagonzavod. Moreover, it was separately indicated that the serial production of Armata tanks would not be stopped even in the conditions of a severe economic crisis.

By the way, the management of Uralvagonzavod indicates the cost of the tank at 250 million rubles (this is about 4-5 million dollars). This means that the entire batch of T-14s in 2300 tanks will cost our state 10 billion dollars.

Other combat vehicles on the Armata platform

Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) T-15 "Armata"

In addition to the T-14 tank, on a unified heavy tracked combat platform, it is planned to produce the T-15 armored infantry fighting vehicle, the first copies of which were also demonstrated at the Victory Parade in Moscow. I must say that this is the first heavily armored infantry fighting vehicle in the Russian army. Its tank armor level is impenetrable for modern ATGMs with a caliber of up to 150 mm and BOPS with a caliber of up to 120 mm, as well as the presence of active protection "Afghanit" allows it to operate in one tactical group along with T-14 tanks and makes it a "network-centric" combat vehicle.

The mass of the BMP T-15 is about 50 tons, the crew is 3 people, in addition, it has a landing module for 9 people behind it.

The versatility and modularity of the Armata platform allows the T-15 BMP to have several combat configurations:

- The main version with the Boomerang-BM combat module, the armament of which includes the Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system, 30 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun 2A42 and 7.62 mm PKTM machine gun, allows it to successfully withstand various ground and air targets at a distance of up to 4 km (universal air defense configuration).

- A variant with the Baikal combat module, the armament of which includes a modified shipborne 57 mm anti-aircraft gun with higher firepower and a range of up to 8 km (long-range air defense configuration).

- Option with 120 mm heavy mortar (anti-personnel configuration).

Below is an infographic from the performance characteristics of the BMP T-15 "Armata":

Armored recovery vehicle (BREM) T-16 "Armata"

Above is a photo of the BREM-1M armored repair and recovery vehicle, created on the basis of the chassis of the T-72 tank and designed to evacuate damaged or stuck equipment in combat conditions. On the basis of the Armata universal heavy platform, it is planned to release a new BREM under the T-16 index, which will be equipped with a more powerful cargo crane and a whole range of various special equipment.

Self-propelled artillery mount (SAU) "Coalition-SV"

In order to include equipment with powerful and long-range fire support in the same group with T-14 tanks and T-15 infantry fighting vehicles, it is planned to transfer equipment to the Armata heavy combat platform and our latest 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled artillery mount, which replaced the outdated 2S3 self-propelled guns "Acacia" and 2S19 "Msta-S". Developed by the Central Research Institute Burevestnik and produced at the Uraltransmash plant, also part of the Uralvagonzavod corporation, 152 mm self-propelled howitzer has the most diverse range of goals: from the destruction of enemy tactical nuclear weapons and the destruction of its fortifications to countering its manpower and equipment.

When designing the Coalition-SV, they also adhered to the principle of modularity and versatility, so this howitzer can be installed on almost any platform, including a ship.

The main feature of the new self-propelled guns is its range - up to 70 km, which significantly exceeds all known foreign analogues in this parameter. Ammunition "Coalition-SV" is 70 shells, rate of fire - 10-15 rounds per minute.

Besides, on the basis of the universal platform "Armata" it is also planned to build the following types of equipment:
- Fighting vehicle of flamethrowers (BMO-2)
– Heavy flamethrower system (TOS BM-2)
- Multi-purpose engineering vehicle (MIM-A)
- Transport-loading vehicle of a heavy flamethrower system (TZM-2)
- Mine layer (UMZ-A)
– Floating conveyor (PTS-A)
– Bridgelayer (MT-A)

Prospects for the use of the tank "Armata"

As we wrote above, the T-14 "Armata" tank was developed within the network-centric concept, so it is intended for combat operations as part of a tactical grouping, including equipment and systems of the different nature: other Armata tanks or T-90S tanks modernized for network-centric warfare, several T-15 infantry fighting vehicles, a Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled gun battery, attack helicopters KA-52 "Alligator" and other equipment. At the same time, the T-14 "Armata" in this group is assigned one of the key roles, namely the role of reconnaissance, target designator and command tank, controlling the battle through a single control system.

Conclusion

All this is good that in terms of military projects we do not lag behind, but somewhere we are ahead of other leading military powers of the world, and the development and implementation of the Armata universal heavy platform should significantly improve the defense capability of our country in case of a major (third world) war. The only question is what kind of big war it will be and whether it will be possible to emerge victorious from it?

P.S. Below is a video about the latest history of our tank forces, presented by the Ministry of Defense on Tanker Day, in which you can also see the hero of our review - the T-14 Armata tank.

In 2015, at a military parade in Moscow dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, the latest Russian development, the T-14 Armata tank, was presented to the general public, which should radically affect the equipment of the Russian ground armies and determine the concept of their applications for the coming decades. This tank, positioned as a 4th generation tank, aroused great interest both in our country and around the world.

In this article, we will look at the history and prerequisites for the creation of the Armata tank, its distinctive features and technical characteristics, as well as the prospects for use in real combat operations.

History and prerequisites for the creation of a new tank "Armata"

Another way

At the turn of the 2000s, 2 projects of a promising main battle tank were being developed in Russia, which should have been a replacement for the current Russian MBT - T-90. One of them is "Object 460" or "Black Eagle"(see photo above) - was the development of the Omsk Design Bureau. It had an elongated modified chassis from the T-80U tank, in which another one was added to the six rollers, as well as a narrower turret of a new design, armed with the already proven standard 125 mm smoothbore gun. It was assumed that the mass of the tank would be about 48 tons, and it would be equipped with a 1500-horsepower gas turbine engine, which would give it a specific power of more than 30 hp / t and make it one of the most dynamic tanks in the world.

The second project - "Object 195" or "T-95"(see photo below) - was the development of the Ural Design Bureau and the Uralvagonzavod corporation. It was an "Ubertank" for its time, in which an uninhabited (unmanned) turret, armed with a formidable 152 mm smoothbore gun, was also installed on a seven-roller chassis. The crew of the tank (a total of 2 people) was housed in an isolated armored capsule in front of the hull. The weight of the tank was not small - about 55 tons, and it was supposed to be equipped with a 1650 hp diesel engine, which would also give it good dynamic characteristics.

It was assumed that the kinetic energy of the projectile fired from the 152 mm Object 195 smoothbore gun was so great that if it hit the enemy tank turret, it simply tore it off.

The concept of network-centric warfare

Network-centric warfare is a modern military doctrine focused on increasing the combat effectiveness of various military formations participating in armed conflicts or modern wars by combining all combat and support units into a single information network and, as a result, achieving infocommunication superiority over the enemy.

Tank 4th generation

"Object 195" in the view of the artist.

The classification of tanks by generation is actually not official, it is very conditional and looks something like this:

To the first generation include tanks from the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Soviet T-44 and T-54, the German Panther, the English Centurion, and the American Pershing.

have an uninhabited tower and an automatic loader;
the crew must be isolated in an armored capsule;
the tank must be partially robotic.

By the way, a fully robotic unmanned tank can be considered a 5th generation tank.

Platform "Armata"

At the moment, our defense industry has already received the first pieces of equipment based on the new platform - this is armored recovery vehicle BREM T-16(so far only as a project), infantry fighting vehicle BMP T-15 and of course the main combat tank T-14 "Armata", which we could already see at the Victory Parade in Moscow.

It is believed that the T-14 "Armata" tank is the world's first tank of the 4th generation, the first tank in the framework of the concept of network-centric warfare, and that it has no analogues at all. In general, according to many of our and foreign experts, today the Armata is the best tank in the world.

To begin with, let's take a quick look at what this new Armata tank is like, what design solutions our design engineers embodied in it, what main features it has:

The main features of the T-14 "Armata" tank

The tank has an uninhabited tower. It is equipped with the already proven remote-controlled 125 mm smoothbore gun with an automatic loader.
The design of the tank allows you to install on it a 152 mm gun, already tested on the "Object 195".
The crew of the tank is located in an isolated armored capsule that can withstand a direct hit from all existing modern anti-tank shells.
The armored capsule with the crew is securely separated from the ammunition and fuel tanks.
The active suspension will allow the tank to conduct accurate aimed fire at speeds up to 40-50 km/h.
It is assumed that the active suspension will allow the tank to move at speeds up to 90 km / h, not only on the highway, but also on rough terrain.
The new type of combined multi-layer armor used in the tank is 15% different than that used in domestic tanks of the 3rd generation. The armor thickness equivalent is about 1000 mm.
All modules of the tank are controlled by the latest tank information and control system (TIUS), which, in the event of any malfunction, notifies the crew of this by an appropriate voice message.
The Armata radar complex uses active phased array radars capable of conducting about 40 ground and 25 air targets at a distance of up to 100 km.
In the event that a projectile flying into a tank is detected, the Afghanit active protection system automatically turns the tank turret towards this projectile in order to meet it with more powerful frontal armor and be ready to strike at the enemy that fired this projectile.
The range of destruction of 125 mm guns is up to 7000 m, while for the best Western models this parameter is 5000 m.
The Armata tank uses a large number of effective stealth technologies that make it virtually invisible or difficult to detect for many types of weapons.

TTX tank T-14 "Armata"

Infographics and location of modules in the T-14 tank

A good infographic of the T-14 tank with the location of the modules was made by the RIA Novosti agency:

Video review "Multi-purpose tank T-14 on the tracked platform Armata"

For the 80th anniversary of Uralvagonzavod, an interesting mini-video review about the T-14 Armata tank was released:

Radar complex

The radar complex of the T-14 tank can simultaneously track up to 40 ground moving and up to 25 airborne aerodynamic targets, which makes it one of the key elements on the battlefield within the concept of network-centric warfare. The target tracking distance is up to 100 km.

If, for the purpose of camouflage, the main surveillance radar of the tank is turned off, then at close range it is replaced by two ultra-fast reaction radars, which are also used to trigger destructive elements of active protection against projectiles fired at the tank.

Target detection systems in the infrared and ultraviolet range

The panoramic sight includes a visible camera, an infrared camera and a laser rangefinder. As each new target is captured by the radar, the panoramic sight automatically turns in its direction to determine its exact coordinates. The received information is displayed on the monitors of the tank crew in the form of a tactical map with the coordinates of fixed targets, and if necessary, you can specify the coordinates of a particular target by pressing your finger on the image on the touch screen.

In addition, these HD cameras can see through a smoke screen (in infrared), giving Armata a significant advantage using this type of camouflage. This gives the following example:

Active protection complex "Afganit"

When an enemy projectile flying towards the tank is detected, Afghanit automatically turns the tank turret towards this projectile in order to meet it with more powerful armor on the one hand, and on the other hand, to be ready to strike at the object that fired this projectile.
When shells flying up to the tank are detected, Afghanit automatically controls the machine gun mount to destroy them.
In case of need for increased camouflage, Afghanit can operate in passive mode with the radar turned off, focusing on HD camera data.
"Afghanit" is safe for its infantry, located near the tank, as it uses to a greater extent the means of electronic warfare and smoke-metal curtains to counter enemy missiles.
In addition, according to the latest data, "Afganit" successfully resists modern armor-piercing projectiles with cores.

The Afganit active defense complex is capable of hitting projectiles flying up to the tank at speeds up to 1700 m/s. But our designers are already developing a new active protection - "Barrier", which will be able to intercept projectiles flying up at speeds up to 3000 m / s.

Complex of dynamic protection "Malachite"

On the T-14 tank, the Malachite dynamic protection complex is also installed. Here are the features it has:

"Malachite" successfully resists not only various cumulative projectiles, but is also capable of destroying the latest NATO sub-caliber projectiles, which were specially designed to penetrate such dynamic defenses that preceded "Malachite" as "Relikt" and "Contact-5".
Malachite is much better at resisting the most advanced anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs).
By reducing the amount of explosive in the dynamic protection "Malachite", the option of hitting one's own infantry and damaging the tank's observation devices is practically excluded.

Armament of the T-14 tank

gyroscopic sensors of the tank's angular orientation in space;
air temperature and humidity sensor;
wind direction and speed sensor;
barrel bending sensor from heating.

The tank receives its own coordinates using the GLONASS satellite system.

Reservation of the T-14 tank

In the production of Armata tanks, a new type of armored steel with ceramic inserts is used, which has increased armor resistance. This made it possible, with the same armor thickness, to achieve a smaller mass of the tank, and, accordingly, better dynamics. Nevertheless, it is expected that in the frontal projection, the T-14 has an armor equivalent of more than 1000 mm against sub-caliber projectiles and about 1300 mm against HEAT projectiles. This makes the tank resistant to any modern ammunition hit in the forehead and capable of withstanding such formidable anti-tank weapons as the American heavy anti-tank missile system "TOW" and American portable Javelin anti-tank missile system.

Tower T-14

Protection of tank instruments from fragments, high-explosive shells and bullet penetrations;
- reduction of radio visibility to counter ATGMs with radar guidance;
- shielding of external electronic fields, which makes the tower devices resistant to various kinds of magnetic impulses.

Below is a video with a possible device for the T-14 tank turret:

stealth technology

a unique GALS coating that reflects a wide range of waves and protects the tank from overheating in the sun;
flat reflective edges of the hull, which reduce the visibility of the tank in the radio range;
a system for mixing exhaust gases with ambient air, reducing the visibility of the tank in the infrared range;
thermal insulation on the inside of the case, which also reduces the visibility of the T-14 in the IR range;
heat traps that distort the "signature" (the visual image of the tank) in the infrared range;
distortion of its own magnetic field, making it difficult to determine the location of the tank for magnetometric weapons.

All this causes significant difficulties for the enemy in detecting the "Armata", in determining its coordinates and in general in identifying it as a tank.

Many experts believe that the T-14 Armata is the world's first stealth tank.

Engine

The box on the T-14 is automatic robotic with the ability to switch to manual control.

The engine and transmission are combined into a separate module, which makes it possible to replace a failed power unit in less than an hour.

active suspension

If earlier on Russian tanks a 6-roller chassis was used, then the Armata platform has a 7-roller one, which makes it possible to build equipment with a maximum weight of up to 60 tons on its basis. Therefore, the T-14 tank has a huge potential for all kinds of upgrades.

The suspension used in the T-14 tank is active, that is, it is capable of detecting irregularities under the tracks using sensors and automatically adjusting the height of the rollers. This feature not only increases the tank's speed over rough terrain, but also significantly (by about 1.5 - 2.0 times) improves aiming accuracy on the move. High-precision shooting while moving quickly across the battlefield is another indisputable advantage of the "Armata" when it is possible to "meet" with such quite probable opponents as "Leopard-2" or Abrams, which still use uncontrolled hydropneumatic suspension, developed more than 30 years ago.

Tank information and control system

Defense Order

By the way, the management of Uralvagonzavod indicates the cost of the tank at 250 million rubles (this is about 4-5 million dollars). This means that the entire batch of T-14s in 2300 tanks will cost our state 10 billion dollars.

Other combat vehicles on the Armata platform

Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) T-15 "Armata"

The mass of the BMP T-15 is about 50 tons, the crew is 3 people, in addition, it has a landing module for 9 people behind it.

The versatility and modularity of the Armata platform allows the T-15 BMP to have several combat configurations:

The main version with the Boomerang-BM combat module, whose armament includes the Kornet-EM anti-tank missile system, the 2A42 30 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun and the PKTM 7.62 mm machine gun, allows it to successfully withstand various ground and air targets on distances up to 4 km (universal air defense configuration).
A variant with the Baikal combat module, whose armament includes a modified shipborne 57 mm anti-aircraft gun with higher firepower and a range of up to 8 km (long-range air defense configuration).
Variant with 120 mm heavy mortar (anti-personnel configuration).

Below is an infographic from the performance characteristics of the BMP T-15 "Armata":

Armored recovery vehicle (BREM) T-16 "Armata"

Self-propelled artillery mount (SAU) "Coalition-SV"

In order to include equipment with powerful and long-range fire support in the same group with T-14 tanks and T-15 infantry fighting vehicles, it is planned to transfer equipment to the Armata heavy combat platform and our latest 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled artillery mount, which replaced the outdated 2S3 self-propelled guns "Acacia" and 2S19 "Msta-S". Developed by the Burevestnik Central Research Institute and manufactured at the Uraltransmash plant, which is also part of the Uralvagonzavod corporation, the 152 mm self-propelled howitzer has a wide range of purposes: from destroying enemy tactical nuclear weapons and destroying its fortifications to counteracting its manpower and equipment.

When designing the Coalition-SV, they also adhered to the principle of modularity and versatility, so this howitzer can be installed on almost any platform, including a ship.

Besides, on the basis of the universal platform "Armata" it is also planned to build the following types of equipment:

Fighting vehicle of flamethrowers (BMO-2)
Heavy flamethrower system (TOS BM-2)
Multipurpose engineering vehicle (MIM-A)
Transport-loading vehicle of a heavy flamethrower system (TZM-2)
Mine layer (UMZ-A)
Floating conveyor (PTS-A)
Bridgelayer (MT-A)

Prospects for the use of the tank "Armata"

As we wrote above, the T-14 Armata tank was developed within the network-centric concept, therefore it is designed to conduct combat operations as part of a tactical grouping, including equipment and systems of a very different nature: other Armata tanks or tanks upgraded for network-centric warfare T-90S, several T-15 infantry fighting vehicles, a battery of self-propelled guns "Coalition-SV", attack helicopters KA-52 "Alligator" and other equipment. At the same time, the T-14 "Armata" in this group is assigned one of the key roles, namely the role of a reconnaissance, target designator and command tank that controls the battle through a single control system.

Conclusion

P.S. Below is a video about the latest history of our tank forces, presented by the Ministry of Defense on Tanker Day, in which you can also see the hero of our review - the T-14 Armata tank.

/According to in-rating.ru/

Tank T-14 Armata – video

Active protection complex Afghanit

Complex of dynamic booking Malachite

Radar complex

Infrared target detection complex

Complex of circular target detection in infrared and ultraviolet spectra

Armament T-14 Armata

fire control system

Gun T-14 Armata

Missile weapons T-14 "Armata"

Machine gun armament

Tower armor

Hull armor

Engine and active suspension

Comparison of the T-14 "Armata" with other tanks

Purchases of T-14 "Armata" for the Russian Armed Forces

Export

Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-14 Armata

Inside T-14 Armata

History and prerequisites for the creation of a new tank "Armata"

Another way

The concept of network-centric warfare

Tank 4th generation

Platform "Armata"

The main features of the T-14 "Armata" tank

Infographics and location of modules in the T-14 tank

Radar complex

Target detection systems in the infrared and ultraviolet range

Active protection complex "Afganit"

Complex of dynamic protection "Malachite"

Armament of the T-14 tank

Reservation of the T-14 tank

Tower T-14

stealth technology

Engine

active suspension

Tank information and control system

Defense Order

Other combat vehicles on the Armata platform

Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) T-15 "Armata"

Armored recovery vehicle (BREM) T-16 "Armata"

Self-propelled artillery mount (SAU) "Coalition-SV"

Prospects for the use of the tank "Armata"

Conclusion

History and prerequisites for the creation of a new tank "Armata"

Another way

The concept of network-centric warfare

Tank 4th generation

Platform "Armata"

The main features of the T-14 "Armata" tank

Infographics and location of modules in the T-14 tank

Radar complex

Target detection systems in the infrared and ultraviolet range

Active protection complex "Afganit"

Complex of dynamic protection "Malachite"

Armament of the T-14 tank

Reservation of the T-14 tank

Tower T-14

stealth technology

Engine

active suspension

Tank information and control system

Defense Order

Other combat vehicles on the Armata platform

Infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) T-15 "Armata"

Armored recovery vehicle (BREM) T-16 "Armata"

Self-propelled artillery mount (SAU) "Coalition-SV"

Prospects for the use of the tank "Armata"

Conclusion

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