Russia Shelves Its Prized T-14 Armata Tank in Ukraine, Citing Cost Concerns

Russia has opted against deploying its cutting-edge T-14 Armata tank in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The decision is attributed to the tank's high production cost, according to Sergei Chemezov, CEO of state defense conglomerate Rostec.

While acknowledging the T-14 Armata's advanced capabilities, Chemezov highlighted the financial constraints Russia faces at this time. "There's no point in using it now," he explained, "Why would we need an Armata? The T-90 is a very good machine."

This decision signals Russia is prioritizing cost-effective solutions in the protracted conflict against Ukraine, implying potential challenges in funding its ambitious military modernization plans.

T-14 Armata Background​

First unveiled in 2015, the T-14 Armata showcased Russia's technological prowess, boasting features like an unmanned turret and advanced armor. However, its production has reportedly been slow and expensive.

Fears of reputational damage should the advanced tank be destroyed in Ukraine likely also played into Russia's decision to withhold it from combat.

Implications and Analysis​

Russia's choice to sideline the T-14 Armata underscores the delicate balance it must strike between maintaining its military edge and managing the economic toll of a lengthy war.

Analysts suggest this could point to wider difficulties in financing advanced weapons development while the conflict in Ukraine continues.

It leaves open the question of whether the T-14 Armata program will face long-term reassessment or if production will ultimately ramp up as economic pressures ease.

 

[NSR]

Neither Russian Armata, nor western super tanks, to speak succinctly not any tank, AFV, APC, WhaP, etc is safe from the drones of all kinds, and also from smart ammunitions.

Russia-Ukraine war is a new PARADIGM SHIFT in tank warfare, to be blunt.
Countries must find a defensive systems consisting of EW systems and high velocity supporting guns to destroy the drones.
Even after these remedies, there will still be substantial losses,, for sure.

 

[Kira]

Even without substantial export orders,it was always a daunting task for the Russians to actually produce this entirely new generation of tanks,which leave behind the typical Soviet lineage carrying over from the days of the T-34.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Quite frankly, its not all that surprising. In a war its important to be able to mass produce weapon systems and that requires mature design which can easily be adapted and modified as per requirements on short notice. However, introducing a rather fancy new, equipment right in the middle of war is a recipe for disaster. new designs would always have teething trouble which are subsequently resolved as time passes. Its brutally difficult to address niggling issues as well as increase production of a relatively new platform suddenly in the middle of war.

Russians seem to learned their lessons from WW2 quite well. Remember the King Tiger Tank, a nearly 70ton behemoth that was supposed to be virtually invulnerable. However, its new design and complex suspension ment it had horde of niggling issues with engine overheating and suspension just collapsing under extreme stress. Same is the issue with Me-262 jet fighters.

 

[Anil Kumar]

So sad very bad for Russian weapons fan and import lovers. I have full sympathy with them, can understand their frustration. Now Russia also realising that their most of the tanks are useless in real war conditions

 

[CCPSmasher]

Here goes another so much vaunted Russkie maal into the scrapyward. Old story continues. With santions on chip supplies, special metalurgies, engines, pain jons, etc Russia has not much choice rather to scrap the extreme end of their barrel. I mean how many washing machines one is willing to sacrifce for an underperfom T14 is the moot question at this point lol

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

T-14 tank was developed keeping in mind export market as well. Namely India. Russians new that IA has fetish for russian systems and they would go head over heels for this new tank and spend outragious amounts of money on it.

 

[Sandeep]

Ukraine hardly has any tanks but it doesn't have any superior tanks that are more advanced than a T90 so it makes sense to use cheaper and easy to build tanks on foreign soil and Russia can use the T-14 tank to protect Russian territory if its ever threatened which will never happen.

 

[Avada kedavra]

Well obviously they are scared that even their most advanced t 14 will get smashed in ukraine.
Same for su57.
By making cheap 3rd class junk they might save some money but they will lose something more valuable. Their young workforce.
Majority of soldiers who died were all working age conscripts.
It's even worse for the fact that Russia is also going through a demographic time bomb.
Now putin is forced to tell evey Russian woman to have 8 children
If this continues. Russia will cease to exist very soon.

And most importantly why did the Indian military decide to buy such cheap junk in so large numbers.
Maybe coz they also don't value the life of their soldiers.

 

[Pad UwU]

Ukraine war is a testing field for armata it might soon phase out t72 until it's inventory depleted and the only remaining model would be the t14, t80's and t90's