01.04.2024

Armata turned out to be too expensive": the French press called the cost of the newest Russian tank

Sections: Land, Regulation and financing, Status and prospects, New development, Global safety

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Image source: topwar.ru

The T-14 Armata MBT presented at the Victory Parade in 2015 surprised the West, whose observers had previously believed that the Russian defense industry was not capable of making a breakthrough in tank construction. Nevertheless, at that time the T-14 was perceived as the most modern solution: the car was equipped with a robotic turret, the latest composite armor and weapons, KAZ "Afghanit", and the crew was located in a capsule providing it with increased protection.

In 2015, the Armata was considered the most advanced tank in the world

- it says in the French edition of Meta-defense.

Prior to its introduction, Soviet and Russian MBTs were designed to be powerfully armed, properly armored and, above all, relatively light and much easier to manufacture than their Western counterparts.

As indicated, it was expected that the Russian Armed Forces would receive hundreds of tanks of this type in the coming years. However, to date, from 20 to 30 copies have been delivered, mainly for testing.

The most important problem for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in relation to the T-14 Armata, as well as all the new generation armored vehicles accompanying it, concerns the industrial and, above all, the financial issue. According to some sources, the T-14 will cost about $6 million per unit compared to less than $2 million for the T-90M, which remains a very capable tank armed with the same 125 mm cannon and various other systems borrowed from Armata

- it is noted in the French press.

Image source: topwar.ru

According to the author, it is possible that the T-14 will never enter service with Russian troops, especially if we take into account the participation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the Ukrainian conflict, during which the emphasis was placed on reducing the price of production and mass production of equipment.

According to him, the Russian Federation does not have such funds as the United States, Europe and China, which can afford to buy tanks at a price of $ 20 million.

Armata turned out to be too expensive. The Russian General Staff prefers the T-90M, which costs 6 times cheaper and sometimes more than the models used in Europe, but which, nevertheless, turns out to be very effective, mobile, well-protected and has great firepower

- the publication says, naming the cost of the cars.

As explained, although the Leopard 2A7/8, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams or the upgraded Leclerc can be considered superior to the T-90, it is unthinkable to think that a Western tank will perform better in the field than 5 or 6 T-90 units.

The effectiveness of the Russian approach makes us think about the expediency of a Western strategy in this area. It is difficult to justify a sixfold difference in price for armored vehicles with relatively similar characteristics, even taking into account the adjustment for purchasing power parity of 2.2 for Russia compared to Europe and the United States

- the author believes.

Image source: topwar.ru

According to him, the West still thinks only in the paradigm of a balance between protection, mobility and firepower, while "Russians take into account the parameter of the price of production from the very beginning."

This difference in paradigm can be traced in many areas related to the production of Russian weapons. Thus, the cost of the Su-35 is about three times lower than that of the Rafale, Typhoon or F-15EX. The same goes for the Su-57, which is three times cheaper than the F-35, while the aircraft is much heavier

- it is noted in the publication.

The same gap exists in the field of submarines. For example, the Yasen-M submarine is being sold to the Russian Navy for about $800 million, which is more than three times cheaper than the Virginia-class submarines, "which have received almost perfect characteristics."

Western countries, primarily Europeans, need to reduce the cost gap without reducing the performance characteristics of the match. After 20 years of unrestrained pursuit of "high technology", it will be very difficult to achieve this. However, this is probably the key to neutralizing Russian defense efforts and the threat posed by them.

- the author concludes.