An expert of the American publication 19FortyFive, former US Army infantry officer Brent Eastwood, in a material published on September 30, questioned the real number of T-14 ARMATA tanks produced and their participation in military operations in Syria.
In particular, he admitted that the Russian tank is not an element of the "real game", but only a "paper tiger".
For the first time, the new tank was presented in 2015 at a military parade, Eastwood recalls. Then the Russian military announced that they would produce 2,300 T-14 units by 2020. But after that, according to the expert, the program has undergone many delays and cost overruns, so now the tank can be put into production no earlier than 2022.
"It is doubtful that the new vehicle was deployed in Syria in 2020. If she entered the Middle East theater of operations, she probably did not participate in the fighting," the publication says.
In addition, according to the expert, the novelty of the use of armored vehicles declared by the manufacturers does not really differ from the maneuvers practiced during the Second World War.
However, as the article says, it is impossible not to recognize the advantages of the T-14 ARMATA. In particular, the main gun of the Russian tank "may be better than [a similar gun] from the German Leopard 2."
"The fourth-generation T-14 ARMATA is certainly impressive. He has a lower silhouette, which makes it difficult to aim. The tank has improved modular armor consisting of an alloy of steel and ceramics, protection against anti-tank missiles and RPGs," informs 19FortyFive.
However, the American expert recalls that the M1 Abrams tank program of the United States, in turn, has improved the methods of identifying and destroying targets, the manner of firing, movement and communication.
Earlier, on August 23, Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of ROSTEC, said that an experimental batch of T-14 ARMATA tanks had been shipped to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
On February 26, sources in the Ministry of Defense told Izvestia that the T-14 tank will become a real mobile headquarters: thanks to a unique automated control system, commanders with the help of ARMATA will be able to control other combat vehicles in real time.
In February, ARMATA was first presented to international companies at the IDEX-2021 arms exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
ARMATA is a heavy tracked platform developed by Uralvagonzavod. On its basis, a main tank, an armored repair and evacuation vehicle, an infantry fighting vehicle and other armored vehicles are being created.
Thanks to electronic warfare, the T-14 can protect various equipment from enemy aircraft and anti-tank weapons. If necessary, he will support the BMP with fire from a unique 125 mm cannon.