Russia has just announced how many deadly Armata tanks it will build. Russia has just announced how many deadly Armata T 14 tanks it will build.

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 made. In 2016, mass production of tanks began, which is not planned to be reduced even in times of 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 war", where the T-14, due to the circular AFAR radar used in the tank medium range, and infrared HD surveillance cameras with 360 ° circular coverage, is used as a vehicle for reconnaissance, target designation and fire adjustment of self-propelled guns, air defense systems and escorts from T-90 tanks of its 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 "signature distortion" technologies, that is, the distortion of its visual image in the indicated ranges, making it difficult to find a tank GOS ATGM class Javelin, Spike or JAGM among discarded infrared traps and clouds of dipoles. Equipped with a new generation of complex active protection"Afghanit", 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.

T-14 equipped with dynamic armor fourth generation"Malachite", capable of repelling, with a probability of more than 95%, shots from hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, as well as destroying modern sub-caliber anti-tank shells, 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 link, performing the functions of reconnaissance, target designation and remote control through single system tactical level control 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 in the Ka-band, this means that it has a theoretical accuracy of up to 5 arc minutes (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 target coordinates 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 with high-explosive fragmentation shells quite effectively. 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 can calculate the trajectories of shells like an artillery reconnaissance radar, that is, it is capable of automatically calculating the coordinates of the positions of enemy tanks and artillery using the trajectories of shells 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 Merkava, it can be expected that the accuracy of determining the coordinates of the missile launch site by this method may not be sufficient to deliver only a retaliatory artillery strike 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 give 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 will be produced 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. Chinese information 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 the 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. Afganit can destroy even shells attacking armored vehicles due to additional 2x 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 the 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, similar to the XM1209, is 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 is compensated and possible loss contact with the radar target due to the use of electronic warfare.

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, then in automatic system continuous search for targets is not involved. 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

The T-14, in addition to the optical instruments 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 the 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 military acceptance procedure for the T-14 began, 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 152 mm shells often do not require armor-piercing in the classical sense of the word, since the kinetic energy of the projectile 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 initial known standard projectiles of the Grifel family for the 2A83 gun, like any armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber projectiles, were unguided. 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 projectiles is available for scenarios combat use, rather reminiscent of self-propelled guns, is also supported by Viktor Murakhovsky, who points out the effectiveness of the fight against infantry due to high-explosive fragmentation shells with remote detonation over its 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 cannon 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 Coalition-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 at tank breakthroughs. Judging by the disclosure of data on the manufacturer's website, the T-14 guided missiles will be corrected active-reactive, since the "Trajectory", designed to monitor jet engines active rockets. 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 is the same as the Kornet ATGM and allows the use of its missiles, which have twice the range (10 km versus 5 km) and armor penetration (1400 mm versus 850 mm) than the 125 mm caliber missiles of " 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 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 fragmentation, 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 tower casing, performing the function of the "Faraday cage", is one of the means of ensuring the declared resistance of devices to electromagnetic impulse. 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, such as 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 part of the ammunition in the aft part of the turret, similar to the Leopard-2 and Merkava, which makes it possible, when the ammunition is detonated, to throw out a blast wave using the lifting panels without serious damage to the tank, and also to additionally cover the separation of the MTO from ATGMs attacking in tank roof. It is quite possible that a supply of long BOPS of increased power "Vacuum-1" is stored in the aft part 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 of ​​​​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 CICS of the tank 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, impenetrable modern missiles and projectiles, as well as an active defense system capable of intercepting even projectiles.

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 missile 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 to urgently replace 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 .

The 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.

By itself, the release of the T-14 requires expanding the criteria for comparing the performance characteristics of 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 an indispensable attribute of a 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 as a reduction in visibility, 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.
• What is required is not just 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 copies of the T-14 until 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 analysts of the US Department of Defense FMSO, 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 public council under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Scientific and Expert Council under the Committee State Duma RF for Defense, analyzing lessons from the 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 allow us 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

23:03 — REGNUM According to the latest statement of the Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov, Armed forces Russia will not massively receive new generation armored vehicles - T-14 tanks based on the Armata heavy tracked platform and armored personnel carriers (APCs) on the Boomerang wheeled platform. Instead, in order to save money, it is planned to continue upgrading the existing Soviet armored vehicles. How correct is this approach?

Ivan Shilov © IA REGNUM

Grandiose rearmament plans collide with economic crisis

For the first time, new generation land vehicles were officially demonstrated at the Victory Parade in 2015, while the development of these vehicles began much earlier than 2014 (before the economic crisis caused by falling oil prices and anti-Russian sanctions). Then, T-14 tanks and T-15 infantry fighting vehicles (BMP) based on the Armata heavy tracked platform, infantry fighting vehicles based on the Kurganets-25 medium tracked platform, armored personnel carriers based on the Boomerang wheeled platform passed along the pavement of Red Square "and 152 mm self-propelled artillery mounts(ACS) "Coalition-SV".

Vitaly V. Kuzmin

In the future, this really promising and modern armored vehicles were regularly demonstrated at the Victory parades in Moscow. In addition, it is undergoing military tests, and there is already a contract for the same T-14 tank - it is planned to supply the first series of 100 vehicles. Now the question becomes whether this contract will also be fulfilled. As for the plans that existed before, the need to supply 2,000 T-14 tanks was also discussed.

The main argument in favor of reducing purchases new technology budget savings become, because the same T-14 is noticeably more expensive than the T-90 even in the latest modification, and even more expensive than the upgrade package Soviet tanks T-72 to the level of T-72B3 or T-72B3M. Another argument that Borisov cites is the lack of tanks in potential opponents that are superior in capabilities to the upgraded T-72s.

Daria Antonova © IA REGNUM

To some extent, we can agree with this, but only in part. For example, the modernization of the T-72 does not include the installation of an active protection complex (KAZ), and this is one of the main directions in the development of armored vehicles. These systems are capable of detecting and shooting down ammunition flying towards the tank. For example, Israeli Merkava Mk.4 tanks have been equipped with the Trophy KAZ for quite a long time, which proved to be quite good in the fight against grenade launchers and anti-tank guided missiles. The T-14 is also equipped with a KAZ system called "Afghanit". The real test results of the Afganit are unknown to the general public, but, according to official information, it is capable of shooting down even armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber shells (BOPS) - the main weapon of enemy tanks. No other known system is capable of dealing with such ammunition.

I must say that it is precisely such advanced electronics and sensors that greatly increase the cost of the T-14, and their installation on the same modernized T-72s will greatly increase the cost of upgrade packages. However, the installation of KAZ is a necessary thing, especially considering the fact that Russia actually participates only in local conflicts, where crew survival plays a key role, and a huge amount of armored vehicles is not needed.

What is the best way?

A complete rejection of the T-14 tank and other promising ground weapons is fundamentally wrong. First, it took a lot of time and money to develop them. Secondly, in terms of categories such as infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, Russia has a serious backlog. The Russian army mainly uses the Soviet BMP-1 and BMP-2, which are very outdated in terms of weapons, and especially protection. The existing BMP-3s also have problems with security, and in general are much less convenient for use by motorized rifles than their Western counterparts. It is the new models of infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers that are able to solve this problem - although they have large dimensions (according to some experts, they become more noticeable to the enemy, which is becoming less relevant in the age of drones and other modern systems intelligence), but due to this, it is provided noticeably best level security and ergonomics. Upgrading the existing BMP-1 to the level of "Basurmanin" and BMP-2 with the installation of the "Berezhok" module only partially solves the problem - the security of the vehicles still remains low. The same can be said about the modernization of the BTR-80.

Daria Antonova © IA REGNUM

At the same time, in no case should you refuse to modernize a huge fleet of armored vehicles, but you should have enough significant amount new modern armored vehicles that can be used in real local conflicts, securing the crews as much as possible, is also necessary. In this sense, it would be worth finding a "golden mean" - 2000 "Armat" today is really a lot for the Russian budget, but it's worth having 200-300 cars of this type, the same goes for Kurganets-25 and Boomerang. Do not forget about the export potential of these machines - it is unlikely that someone will acquire them if the Russian Ministry of Defense does not first. At the same time, the cost of vehicles is high precisely in Russian realities - in fact, promising vehicles are close in cost to Western models of armored vehicles.

Background

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 were 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 "" and "" did not give 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 () required a long search for both layout solutions and the creation of fundamentally new components.

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 -. Variants of the layouts considered in the 80s are considered in the material -.

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 Leningradsky, which had a very bold layout. Which, along with objective reasons characteristic of the 90s, prevented its implementation.

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 him embellished qualities, to he called something 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 control of weapons 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 is done, the crew is accommodated in fairly 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. At the same time, the railway dimensions do not allow increasing the width of the hull.

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

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 control button block

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

PMF-5.0 monitors with LCD panels high definition from a series of multifunctional panels "5".

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), information exchange, the issuance of navigation cartographic information, as well as the 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 - a big step forward compared to 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 forward hull module, 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 internal surfaces 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, just as the developers of the promising Soviet-era tank - the Hammer and the Note - also came.

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).

The turret is covered with super-dynamic protection, and the DZ 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 against 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 tank is the use of a set of means to protect against high-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 destroy anti-tank missiles attacking a target in flight, 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 high-powered 2A82-1M cannon. Judging by the patents, the gun can use both regular shots and newly developed shots with an 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 remotely controlled installation 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 monitoring 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 BPSs designed for the "Armata" are likely to reach levels in excess of 800mm (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 stiffness 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/m 2 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

positive side project in that it was nevertheless implemented, to a greater extent than any of the existing projects of a promising tank 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, this is the impossibility of providing a sufficient size of the onboard 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's and gunner's 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, they have been released for this moment a small amount of. Most of the systems installed in the "Armata" have not yet been sufficiently mastered, undoubtedly it will be required big time to cure childhood illnesses. So to be or not to be "Armata" time will tell.

Tank on the universal platform "Armata"

Tank T-14 on the universal platform "Armata" has already passed through Red Square, but still remains a mystery. The characteristics of the tank are known fragmentarily, but even according to these data it can be argued that a new word in tank building in the world sense.

Main predicted performance data of the T-14 Armata tank:

• The total maximum weight is 48 tons.
• Crew members - 3 people.
• Gun ammunition - 48 pcs.
• Combat rate of fire - 12 high / min.
• Engine power - 1200-1500 hp
• Travel speed up to 90 km/h
• Power reserve - over 500 km
• Target detection range - 5 km
• Target range - 8 km
• The time required to replace the engine is 0.5 hour.

The main feature of the T-14 tank is an uninhabited turret. The crew can control the weapon remotely, being in an isolated armored capsule that protects people in case of a hit. However, knocking out "Armata", according to experts, will be very, very difficult.

The tank is equipped with the most modern electronic equipment, including a unique radar station that can simultaneously control up to 40 ground and 25 air targets within a radius of 100 kilometers. The active protection system monitors the shells fired at the tank and is able to intercept them on the approach. At field tests, this system has already proven itself to be a solid five - it was not possible to hit the tank.

There are also innovations in the armor of the Armata tank - it was developed using a new grade of steel, ceramic and composite layers. Such a puff "pie" is able to withstand the hit of any of the existing and even promising warheads. An additional plus is that this armor can be used in the most difficult climatic conditions.

According to preliminary estimates, the military-technical level of the T-14 tank is almost four times higher than that of the T-72B, and its tactical effectiveness is 25-30% superior to foreign competitors. All information about the combat situation is sent to the crew on monitors in a protected capsule from laser, television and thermal imaging sensors, and a panoramic view allows the commander and gunner to see the battlefield in 360 degrees. In addition, "Armata" can exchange data with other tanks and the command post. All this greatly improves the coordination of actions and reduces the time required to search for and destroy the target.

Video of how the "Armata" fires: shooting from the fighting compartment:

Planned TTX T-14

The main armament of the T-14 should be a 125-mm 2A82 smoothbore gun with various types of ammunition. As additional weapons, a modernized Kalashnikov machine gun of 7.62 caliber and a robotic heavy machine gun"Kord", but the modularity laid down in the basis of the tank will make it possible to flexibly change weapons and additional equipment depending on the tasks being solved.

Armor

In the production of the tank, a new lightweight armor steel of the 44S-sv-Sh grade will be used. The use of this steel grade will reduce the weight of the machine by several hundred kilograms.

The hardness of the steel is at least 54HRC, but so far its plastic characteristics remain at the level of serial steels with a hardness of 45-48HRC. This combination allows you to reduce the thickness and weight of armor by 15% without reducing protective characteristics and survivability at low temperatures.

Engine

The A-85-3A engine (alternative designations 2A12-3, 12CHN15/16 and 12N360) with a motor life of at least 2000 hours was chosen as the power plant for the Armata. with a rated power of 1500 hp But it is assumed that in order to increase the motor resource, the power will be reduced to 1200 hp. The 12N360 engine passed the entire range of life and sea trials in 2011.

The mass of the unit is about 5 tons. MTU volume up to 4 m3.

Production and operation

It is planned that on May 9, 2015, 12 new Armata tanks will leave the pavement of Red Square for the Parade in honor of the 70th anniversary of Victory Day, which will then go for testing to military units. Serial production of the T-14 is scheduled to begin in 2016.

The first photos of the "live" tank Armata appeared on the network

Comparison of T-14 projections with the T-90 tank

Comparison of T-14 projections with the Abrams tank

After the first appearance of the Armata on the streets of Moscow, the tank was rated very highly, but the first claims appeared:

1. There is no dynamic protection on the hatches and one of the hatches opens to the side in such a way that it can interfere with the rotation of the gun.

2. KAZ does not have the ability to provide protection against ammunition attacking from above and the tank is defenseless against American Javelins and other ammunition according to the "shock core" scheme. In the projection "from above" the RPG-7 of the 60s also becomes dangerous.

3. There is no machine gun coaxial with the cannon, which is considered quite strange.

4. When hitting the lower part of the barrel and turret, the projectile can cause damage to the crew, because. no decent horizontal armor was seen in this zone.

Tank troops are considered one of the most powerful components of the modern army. Developers around the world pay special attention to the improvement of tanks and other heavy armored vehicles, in order to fulfill a large number of combat missions.
Russia was no exception, where specialists decided to create powerful combat vehicles based on the Armata special tracked platform, which would allow unifying armored units and units.

Of the entire Armata family, the most anticipated novelty in military engineering was precisely the main tank - a new combat vehicle, on the creation of which Uralvagonzavod specialists, engineers and designers worked hard.

Technical and technical characteristics of the tank Armata T-14

1. Combat weight 48 tons
2. Crew - 3 people
3. Booking
- combined multilayer armor
- active protection complex Afghanit
- dynamic protection Malachite
4. Armament
- Smoothbore gun 125 mm 2A82-1M (152 mm 2A83)
- Gun ammunition 45 shells (32 pieces in the automatic loader)
- Machine guns - 1 × 12.7 mm Cord; 1 × 7.62 mm PKTM
5. Engine
- multi-fuel A-85-3A (12N360)
- Engine power 1500 hp
6. Highway speed - 80 - 90 km/h
7. Cross-country speed - about 70 km/h
8. Cruising range on the highway - over 500 km
9. Specific power - 31 l. s./t
10. Suspension type - active.

Multi-level protection of the Armata tank

The main feature of the T-14 tank is the uninhabited tank turret - the crew is located in an isolated armored capsule, among other things, a multilayer combined armor barrier is installed in the front projection of the combat vehicle, protecting tankers during frontal hits of anti-tank shells and missiles. This approach to the design of the tank allows the combat vehicle to withstand the hit of most modern and promising ATGMs and anti-tank shells, while saving the lives of tankers. Control computers are also located in the habitable armored capsule, which makes the tank more tenacious in modern combat conditions.

Arrangement of nodes and modules of Almaty

The engine, transmission, and automatic loader with ammunition are isolated from each other, which dramatically increases the survivability of the Armata even in the event of penetration of the turret armor or engine/transmission compartments of the tank. That is, if there is no direct hit in the compartment with ammunition and an automatic loader, then there will be no detonation of the ammunition. Even with a lot of tank penetrations, the armored capsule will protect the crew and fire control systems, allowing the robotic uninhabited tower to fire. The original solution is also that the crew is located in a row, which reduces the area of ​​​​the lateral projection of the habitable armored capsule, dramatically reducing the likelihood of hitting it.

On the T-14 tank, a new anti-mine V-shaped armor was used, remote mine detectors were installed on the tank, which are connected to the destruction system anti-tank mines, which allows the tank to overcome minefields.

T-14 Armata tank turret

The tower of the Armata T-14 tank, as we wrote above, is uninhabited, its armor consists of anti-fragmentation casings to protect instruments and weapons. The steel casing protects the turret instruments, as well as the dynamic protection modules from light shrapnel damage, an additional function of the casing is to reduce the radio visibility of the tank against ATGMs / ATGMs with radar guidance of the JAGM type, due to the surface geometry.

Active protection complex "Afganit"

But the armor cannot 100% protect the tank from modern anti-tank weapons, so the T-14 is equipped with the Afghanit active protection system, which has the ability to intercept modern ATGMs, cumulative grenades from RPGs, as well as sub-caliber armor-piercing shells.
Defense Update experts, when analyzing the Afghanit system on the T-14, indicate that it consists of damaging and masking elements. The striking elements are located in the pedestals-shotguns under the turret, which work similarly to the KAZ "Drozd", but more efficiently - the reaction time allows you to intercept even sub-caliber shells. The developers of "Afganit" also received a patent RU 2263268 for an active protection system based on the principle of a "shock core", which allows you to shoot down promising ammunition at speeds up to 3000 m / s.
The masking elements of the Afganit active protection complex are located in small mortars on the roof of the tank turret. Defense Update experts report that, presumably, the masking elements work simultaneously as: a smoke screen, a multispectral curtain (including the IR range) and a curtain opaque for millimeter radars (by ejecting a cloud of miniature dipoles). According to Defense Update, this completely blocks anti-tank systems built on the principle of laser (ATGM Hellfire, TOW, Fagot, Skif, Stugna-P), IR guidance (ATGM Javelin, Spike) and with its own MW radar (ATGM JAGM, Brimstone) , making Armata protected from these anti-tank missiles, as well as from planning homing charges ("roof-breakers").

To counteract guidance radars and AWACS aircraft, the T-14 tank uses modern elements of stealth technology with characteristic flat edges (see, for example, the casing on the turret of the Armata tank). Defense Update experts indicate that the combined destructive and camouflaging KAZ "Afganit" is triggered by an AFAR radar, which is spaced into 4 separate matrices directed in different directions, the rear matrices are turned up to control the upper hemisphere, so the AFAR radar has a circular coverage. The optical means of observation of the tank are also integrated with the system of advanced delivery of curtains.
Earlier, the developers of the T-14 also reported that, according to data from the AFAR radar, the machine gun mount is capable of protecting the tank not only by shooting down incoming anti-tank missiles, but also by having a significant probability of hitting anti-tank shells in order to change the flight path of sub-caliber shells or damage the cumulative ammunition.

New steel for Armata tank armor

For combined layered armor specialists of the Research Institute of Steel have developed a new armored steel grade 44S-SV-Sh of electroslag remelting of high resistance, as well as new materials and designs of the filler. This made it possible to reduce the total weight of the tank's armor protection by 15% while maintaining armor resistance. The dynamic protection of the T-14 was created according to the principle of the designer and configuration changes for the scenario of the combat use of the tank. On the march, dynamic protection can be removed, and additional modules can be installed for the urban combat scenario.

Chassis and engine of Almaty

The new medium tank Armata is equipped with a 12-cylinder four-stroke X-shaped turbocharged diesel engine A-85-3A (12N360) with a capacity of 1500 horsepower. The 12N360 engine is multi-fuel, with direct injection, developed by the Chelyabinsk design bureau Transdiesel and manufactured at ChTZ (Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant).
The tank has a 7-roller active suspension on paddle-type shock absorbers with a differential steering mechanism with hydrostatic transmission. The new active suspension eliminates the swaying of the tank during movement, which makes it possible to reduce the time it takes to capture targets with optoelectronic guidance devices by 2.2 times, reducing the time to hit a tank-type target by 1.45 times!
The T-14 Armata is equipped with a tank information and control system (TIUS), which controls all components and assemblies, manages on-board systems, and diagnoses malfunctions, which allows the driver to control the engine and chassis without leaving the armored capsule for inspection and diagnostics - the need for repair determines electronics.
In the T-14, the design of additional fuel tanks was changed, for the first time for Soviet and Russian tanks they became fixed and recessed behind the armor and anti-cumulative screen. In this case, the tanks participate in additional engine protection, taking on impact deformations. The exhaust of the Armata engines is produced through pipes running through additional fuel tanks, which, given the high heat capacity of hundreds of liters of fuel, reduces the visibility of the tank in the infrared range.
Although the new tank is being built according to all the standards of Russian tank building and is often compared with the Black Eagle, the model is an absolute novelty that has no analogues. An important distinguishing feature is the development of a high level of crew security, which will be placed in a special armored capsule.

Tracked platform Armata - universal combat transformer

"Armata" is a heavy tracked platform, which was developed by the Uralvagonzavod enterprise and can be used unified in production. various types modern heavy armored vehicles. On the basis of this unique project, it is planned to create several types of armored vehicles, the development of which Russian specialists have already begun to engage in. The main positions are:
T-14 (object 148) - Main battle tank;
BMP-T T-15 (GBTU index - object 149) Infantry fighting vehicle;
BREM-T T-16 (object 152) - recovery vehicle;
BMO-2 - flamethrower combat vehicle;
TOS BM-2 - heavy flamethrower system;
TZM-2 - transport-loading vehicle of a heavy flamethrower system;
2S35 "Coalition-SV" - self-propelled artillery mount;
USM-A1 - mining system;
UMZ-A - mine layer (project);
MIM-A - multi-purpose engineering vehicle;
MT-A - bridge layer (project);
PTS-A - floating conveyor (project).
Also, the Armata universal tank tracked platform can serve as the basis for creating a chassis for artillery self-propelled units and all sorts of specialized engineering machines. For the first time, the general public met the Armata at the Victory Parade on May 9, 2015. The participation of the new T-14 Armata tank attracted the attention of not only Russians, but a huge number of military specialists from all over the planet followed the new tank.
Update: According to the head of Uralvagonzavod, Oleg Sienko, the Russian Ministry of Defense has agreed on the cost and volume of orders for new T-14 Armata tanks until 2035. The previous volume of deliveries of Armata to the troops, approved until 2020, will be adjusted. According to Sienko, the first batch of Armata tanks will enter the tank units of the RF Armed Forces by 2018. General need ground forces in the new combat vehicle is 2000 - 2300 units.