Russia’s T-14 Armata Tank Now Looks Like a Paper Tiger

We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

Key Points: The Russian T-14 Armata tank, touted as a next-generation game-changer, has proven to be an overhyped disappointment. With a price tag between $5 million and $9 million per unit, it has been plagued by production delays, maintenance challenges, and limited deployment in Ukraine.

-Its advanced features, including a 125mm smoothbore gun, improved explosive-reactive armor, and an armored crew capsule, have failed to translate into combat effectiveness.

-Primarily relegated to rear positions, the T-14 has not outperformed older Russian tanks like the T-90.

-Despite its initial promise, the T-14 exemplifies Russia’s broader struggles in modern armored warfare.

T-14 Armata: Why Russia’s “Super Tank” Failed in Ukraine

The Russian T-14 Armata next-generation tank is a paper tiger.

It has never lived up to its inflated reputation and has been a major disappointment.

The tank is just too expensive. Crews are not trained in its intricacies. There are few spare parts or maintenance personnel to keep it running. It has not been combat-effective, and it is being taken out of the mix and removed from the battlefield.

Here is what we can tell you with certainty about the T-14 and what could come next:

T-14 Aramata Tank: Can You Say Over-rated?

Russia had grand plans for the T-14 Armata. It was designed to take out American Abrams tanks, British Challengers, and German Leopards.

Oh, how wrong Vladimir Putin and his generals have been. The Armata has no teeth, which has been a headache for the Russian armor branch.

Not Worth the Cost

The T-14 has proven to have a high price tag. Each advanced tank costs between $5 million and $9 million, which is more expensive than other tanks in the fleet, such as the T-90, T-80, and T-72.

The Ukrainians believe it has not deployed in great numbers and hasn’t made a difference on the battlefield.

It Certainly Was Based on Interesting Concepts

The Armata was much hyped. The 125mm smoothbore gun was supposed to overwhelm enemy tanks. The three-man crew operates out of the front turret in a specially armored capsule while remotely controlling the gun, which should give the soldiers better survivability. The tank carries 45 rounds and can even fire a longer-range anti-tank missile. There is also an optional 57mm grenade launcher on the side of the turret.

The T-14’s explosive-reactive armor has also been improved. The sensors are designed to better react to enemy fire. The new tank was said to be able to avoid anti-tank missiles.

It Has Been Difficult to Produce in Numbers

But the new systems have proven to be faulty on the T-14 Armata. There have been numerous delays in the program, and the Russians keep revising downward the number of T-14s that they would order.

Since the Armata is a new platform, it could not use existing production lines. It is also heavier than other tanks in the Russian arsenal.

Not Combat Effective in Ukraine

The T-14’s involvement in battles has been limited, and of course, as with any war, press reports are all over the place when it comes to the T-14’s involvement in the conflict.

Most reports agree that the Russians mainly kept it in the rear, using the T-14 for fire support instead of serving at the point of attack. The Russian army has decided to use the older T-90 tank to lead assaults.

But Russia has struggled with all of its tanks. Ukraine has successfully used drones to attack from directly above the vehicles’ turret, which has weaker armor. Javelin anti-tank missiles have been proven effective against Putin’s armor. The newly acquired Bradley Fighting Vehicle has been surprisingly effective against Russian tanks.

Quick History of the T-14

Russia began developing the T-14 in 2013. The defense company Uralvagonzavod delivered the prototype in 2015. The engineers initially hoped the T-14 would lead to a fully remote robotic tank. The Armata was designed to take the initiative and lead attacks in mechanized warfare quickly. It was thought to intimidate the enemy with its powerful gun and use countermeasures to foil enemy tank fire and anti-tank missiles.

Tested in Different Environments

The Russian army has always claimed the T-14 cut its teeth in a deployment to Syria. They also tested it in the Arctic region. That’s why it is surprising that the T-14 has had trouble in Ukraine since it should have easily adapted to the climate in the Donbas region.

The T-14 Aramata and Reality

The T-14 Armata has been a cautionary tale. The Russian army doesn’t seem to get anything right regarding armored warfare. Ukraine has even captured Russian T-90 tanks, re-purposed them, and then have put them back to use by friendly forces. The T-14 should have been more of a factor in the war. I admit I have been wrong about the T-14 in the past. In a master’s course I taught on the International Security of Russia, I claimed that the T-14 would be a significant success if Russia ever went to war in Ukraine. Like Putin’s generals, I was overconfident in how Russia would fight in the Donbas.

The T-14 must be considered a failure and is unlikely to make a difference in the war.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare, plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.