According to information released by Russian TV hosts and reporters, the Russian army has deployed the latest generation of main battle tanks, the T-14, in the Donbass region of Ukraine. This is the first information that a Russian-made T-14 Armata main battle tank has been spotted in the Donbass region. The Russian Armed Forces have so far released no official information regarding the deployment of T-14 Armata tanks in Ukraine.
T-14 Armata is the latest generation of main battle tank produced by the Russian defense industry. The T-14 project was launched in 2009 at the Ural Transport Engineering Design Bureau and was first presented to the public on May 9, 2015 at the Victory Day military parade. The tank was developed by the Ural Transport Machinery-Building Design Bureau. The vehicle incorporates many "unprecedented design solutions" for Soviet tanks, including an unmanned turret and a separate armored compartment for the crew. Citing information from the Russian news agency TASS, the Russian army received 14 T-2021 Armata tanks in 2020.
In terms of weapons, the T-14 Armata is equipped with a new generation 125mm 2A82-1M smoothbore cannon with an automatic loader and 32 rounds of shells. The main gun can also fire new laser-guided missiles with a range of 7-12 kilometers. The roof of the turret is equipped with a remotely controlled weapons station armed with a 12.7 mm Kord heavy machine gun. On top of that, the T-14 Armata is also equipped with an Active Protection System (APS), which is capable of intercepting and destroying incoming missiles and rockets, thereby countering all types of anti-tank missiles and rockets, including handheld weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades. In terms of combat technology, the T-14 Armata is also equipped with an unmanned turret weapon system, with all three crew members including the driver, commander and gunner sitting in the front of the hull. The crew's armored compartment was isolated from ammunition and fuel.
