Russia deploying T-14 Armata to counter Western tanks in Ukraine

Russia is losing a lot of tanks in Ukraine. Western intelligence thinks Russia has lost somewhere between 40% and 50% of its pre-war fleet.

Leopard 2s and Abrams tanks from the West will soon bolster Ukraine’s armored divisions, which means Russia may be forced to put its T-14 Armata into wider service.

Russia has expressed its willingness to collaborate with India and provide access to its T-14 Armata tank technology for the purpose of jointly developing a new Main Battle Tank (MBT). pic.twitter.com/2bIhBtglSm

— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) February 16, 2023

According to British intelligence, it’s not hyperbole to say the Armata represents the greatest leap forward in tank engineering since they were first introduced to the battlefield.

The turret is completely unmanned. It’s remote operated from within the main body of the tank where the three man-crew sits in an armored cell. In addition to a base armor made of steel, ceramics and composite material, the Armata also boasts explosive reactive armor Russia claims is next generation.

The 125-millimeter smoothbore main gun features an auto-loader and can fire programmable ammunition and anti-tank missiles. Targeting is made easier through electrical armament stabilizers and turret traverse systems. In layman’s terms, that means the gunner can find their target and fire faster.

While the Armata may be the most armored tank in the world, it can also move. The tank has seven road wheels and can reach a max road speed of 75 kph, which is slightly faster than the Abrams and Leopard 2s.

There have been reports of a few T-14 sightings in Ukraine already, but up until now, Russia has been hesitant to put its best main battle tank into full service. That’s changing with more advanced Western weapons being put to use by Ukraine.

It’s a similar story with Russia’s best fighter jet, the Su-57 Felon. British intelligence said Russia has used the Felon sparingly for fear it may get shot down in Ukraine, which would be an obvious blow to troop morale, and would expose sensitive technology.

(1/6) Since at least June 2022, Russian Aerospace Forces have almost certainly used Su-57 FELON to conduct missions against Ukraine. FELON is Russia's most advanced fifth-generation supersonic combat jet, employing stealth technologies and highly advanced avionics.

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 9, 2023

Some of the new technology on the Felon now reportedly makes the plane bionic, according to Popular Mechanics. Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau said it created new landing gear for the Su-57 that is a “bionic design,” most likely referring to the use of organic-like components. Sukhoi said the new gear is lighter and easier to produce.

The Su-57 is a twin-engine stealth fighter that entered Russian service in 2020. Western sanctions and supply line issues have hampered production of the aircraft. The Russian Ministry of Defense said it plans to have a fleet of 24 Felons in the sky by 2025.