Sergey Chemezov, CEO of the state business “Rostec,” stated on March 4 that Russia’s latest tank, the T-14 “Armata,” is in service with the Russian army.
“In the army, it is, of course, in service” – he told “RIA Novosti.”
He said that the T-14 “Armata” would not be deployed in the special military operation to safeguard Donbas owing to its expensive cost, despite its advantages over older models.
“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 told RIA Novosti.
According to him, money is now required to develop new arms. “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,” added the agency’s source.
In February, while discussing the possibility of supplying troops with “Armata” tanks, he noted that showcasing them in parades and using them in battle are very different. He stated that the “Armata” tank is new, not the cheapest, and has not yet been completely tested.
“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, including RIA Novosti.
He was asked if the demonstration of “Armata” tanks in parades was an attempt to deceive the leadership by discussing the triumphs of the Russian defence industry. In contrast, ageing tanks had to be removed from conservation with the start of the special military operation.
In early 2021, the tank’s developer, Chief Designer of the Ural Design Bureau of Transport Engineering (UKBTM, part of the concern “Uralvagonzavod”) Andrey Terlikov, told journalists that state tests of the “Armata” were underway and are expected to be finished within the next year or two. In an interview with Russian media last February, Medvedev said the trials had not yet been done.
The Ural Design Bureau for Transport Engineering developed the T-14 “Armata” tank. It stands out for its unoccupied turret, which houses three crew members in an isolated armoured capsule on the front of the hull. The tank features composite multilayer armour, a new dynamic protection system called “Malakhit,” and an active protection system complex dubbed “Afghanit.” Its main weapon is a 125mm smoothbore gun 2A82-1M, which can fire modern guided missiles with a range of up to eight kilometres.
