Russia's drive to modernize its military is in full swing, and the country appears ready to equip its armed forces with the latest and most modern mechanized platforms. The first batch of Armata battle platforms - vehicles specifically geared to face modern military challenges - is expected to arrive this month. The new tank will make an appearance in the May 9 military parade that marks the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II, which in Russia is dubbed the Great Patriotic War.
As reported by the daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, Russia's military was long overdue to replace its workhorse T-72 main battle tank, which was developed in the 1970s. Numerous upgrades of this tank could not make up for its shortfalls as a truly modern machine - especially after the 1991 Gulf War, when the American M1 Abrams tank became the military standard by which all other tanks are judged.
KP reports that a radically new platform had been expected to replace the T-72 - a tank developed under the code "Object 195" and outfitted with a powerful 152-mm cannon housed in an unmanned turret. That design incorporated a low tank profile, with a three-man crew placed in an armored capsule housed within the tank chassis. Several captured images may have revealed the prototype, but the Russian government offered no official comment. The prototype passed initial tests, but the Russian military-industrial complex could not handle mass production. Right now it looks like "Object 195" will be replaced by the "Armata" heavy weapons platform.
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China is the biggest threat to Russia, not the Ukraine, the Europeans, or the U.S. In due time they will need such armaments, just not on the front that most people expect.
ReplyDeleteYes and Russia would probably defeat Ukraine completely in 3 days.
DeleteThats a Biggun
ReplyDeleteDid France release the ships Russia had contracted with France to build. Russia
ReplyDeletehad already paid for the commission. The US sanctions, for whatever reason, was
preventing their discharge.
I forgot about that and good question.
Delete