The Sun: Russia has begun to transfer T-14 Armata tanks to the zone of itsRussia has begun to transfer T-14 Armata tanks to Ukraine, writes journalist Tarik Tahir in an article for The Sun.
These vehicles are equipped with advanced weapons and can be invisible to the enemy, he notes.
Russia has thrown new robotic T-14 Armata tanks to the front line in anticipation of the Kiev forces' offensive.
The tank has an uninhabited tower with a powerful cannon with a range of 8 kilometers. It is believed that it turns cities into ruins "in a matter of minutes."
The Russians also claim that the tank has a special stealth coating, thanks to which it remains invisible to enemy radars.
Reports of the transfer were made on the eve of the long-awaited spring counteroffensive of Ukrainians.
It is expected that it will become a key moment of the conflict, and experts believe that Ukraine will try to oust the Russians from Crimea and liberate the first territory seized by Vladimir Putin.
Russia has already started using new tanks to shell Ukrainian positions, but they have not yet participated in "direct assault operations," the state news agency RIA Novosti reports.
It is reported that the tanks received additional protection of the sides, and the crews underwent "combat coordination".
There were shots of the tank conducting tests and firing.
The T-14 was first introduced in 2017. It has been developed for several years, and Russia has made loud statements about its capabilities.
Its UV detectors instantly warn of the approach of fire, and the 125 mm smoothbore cannon has a rate of fire of 100 rounds per minute.
Professor of artificial intelligence and robotics at the University of Sheffield, Noel Sharkey, warned that the firepower of the tank "can destroy our cities in a matter of minutes."
The Russians also boast of a fully autonomous turret that can rotate 360 degrees at high speed and strike back at targets in any direction.
In addition, the tanks received lattice armor that provides protection against high-precision anti-tank weapons and melee weapons, including hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers.
At the same time, the Russians have developed a special masking coating for the T-14 called "Mantle", which absorbs radar waves, repelling and simultaneously scattering them.
The thermal signature of the running engines has been reduced to the background level. At the same time, one engine masks the other, making it difficult to detect.
As a result, the machine is actually "invisible" to the warheads of the American Javelin MANPADS with thermal guidance.
The tank also boasts a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour — comparable to its Western counterparts.
The Russians do not disclose the cost of the tank, but according to preliminary estimates it is about 3 million pounds per car.
At the same time, Armata was plagued by technical problems: it was assumed that the first batch of 2,300 cars would be delivered by 2020.
Although tanks appeared at the annual Victory Parade on Red Square in Moscow, it was the first time they got to the front line.
In January, British military intelligence said that Russian troops in Ukraine refused to accept the first batch of tanks allegedly because of their "poor condition."
"Apparently, only a few dozen have been produced, and the commanders are unlikely to trust the new machine in battle," the British military said at the time.
"The program has been developed for eleven years and has been marked by delays, reductions in the planned size of the fleet and production failures," they added.
The Interfax news agency reported in December 2021 that Rostec Corporation had begun production of a batch of about 40 tanks that would arrive after 2023.
To resist the "Armata" in the upcoming battle will be the latest weapons of Ukraine: the main battle tanks "Challenger 2" and "Leopard 2", armored vehicles "Striker" and "Bradley", as well as new artillery systems.
In addition, the United States is dramatically accelerating the supply of M1 Abrams tanks — crew training will begin next month.
Thanks to the new weapons, theoretically they should surpass the Russians, laying the foundation for a new offensive.
It is assumed that the new British "Challengers 2" will lead the Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Author: Tariq Tahir
