Russian Army Opts Against Deploying T-14 Armata Tank in Ukraine Conflict Due to High Costs

Russian Army has decided against deploying the T-14 Armata tank, considered Russia's most modern, in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War due to its high cost.

Sergey Chemezov, the head of Russian defense company Rostec, confirmed on March 4 that the decision, initially made in September 2023, was primarily influenced by the exorbitant cost of the T-14 Armata.

"The Armata is, in general, a little expensive. In terms of functionality, it is, of course, much superior to existing tanks, but it is too expensive, so the army is unlikely to use it now. It’s easier for them to buy the same T-90s," Chemezov was quoted as saying by Russian state-controlled media.

Chemezov's comments have ignited discussions regarding the responsibility for the tank's high cost and the necessity of reevaluating defense spending priorities.

He added that the T-14 is currently in use by the army. "In the army, it is, of course, in service," Chemezov acknowledged.

In February, while discussing the possibility of supplying troops with “Armata” tanks, Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, noted that showcasing them in parades and using them in battle are very different. “Parades are parades. War is war. These are completely different things. The ‘Armata’ tank is a new tank; it has not yet fully undergone testing. It’s not the cheapest tank,” Medvedev said in an interview with Russian media.

Chemezov emphasized the need for funds to develop newer and more cost-effective tank models. He stated, "Now we need money to create new tanks, new weapons, perhaps cheaper ones. So, if there is an opportunity to buy cheaper ones, why not?"

Initially planned to produce 2300 units of the T-14 Armata tank, which faced numerous issues during the development process, by 2020, it is estimated that only a few dozen tanks have been produced so far. The mass production date of the tank has been postponed to 2025.

T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank

The T-14 Armata is a main battle tank developed by the Russian company Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) and was unveiled at the Moscow Victory Day Parade in May 2015. The tank has dimensions of 10.8 meters in length, 3.5 meters in width, and 3.3 meters in height, with a combat weight of 48 tons. It features an unmanned turret, a first among modern main battle tanks (MBTs), and can accommodate a crew of three in an armored compartment with an automatic loader.

The specifics of Armata's armor technology are undisclosed, but it is inferred to include armor steel for the welded basic structure, composite armor reinforcement, cage armor against anti-tank munitions, Malachit reactive armor modules in the front area, and the AFGANIT active protection system.

The T-14 Armata is equipped with a 125mm gun, the 2A82-1M, capable of firing anti-tank missiles. It stands out for its unoccupied turret, housing the crew in an isolated armored capsule on the front of the hull. The tank features composite multilayer armor, a dynamic protection system called "Malakhit," and an active protection system complex known as "Afghanit."

In addition to the main gun, the tank is armed with a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a remote-controlled 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun. It is powered by a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine, enabling speeds of nearly 90 km/h on regular roads and around 50 km/h off-road, with an operational range of approximately 500 kilometers.