By the end of 2025, a turning point had emerged in domestic tank construction: the focus shifted from the expensive «Armata» to time-tested main battle tanks — T-72, T-80, and T-90. Although the T-14 project was not formally closed, its future remains in question. Innovation has been replaced by pragmatism, and with it, a search for a new path for the development of armored vehicles.
«Armata» is not being buried, but there is no rush with it either
By 2022, too many questions had accumulated regarding the T-14. Tests were underway, crews were being trained, but there was no understanding of how to introduce the tank on a massive scale. An attempt to release a small series and «see what happens» turned into a dead end — the «Armata» turned out to be prohibitively expensive compared to the T-72/T-80/T-90 line.
According to analysts, only about 20 tanks were built. Official information about the number of combat vehicles was not published, but, apparently, the built «Armatas» were sent to storage until better times.
Today, the role of the T-14 is more of a laboratory on tracks, where future weapons, control, and protection systems are being tested. Mass implementation is not yet foreseen.
Who can replace «Armata»
While the «Armata» remains an experiment, the focus has been placed on modernizing the T-72B3M, updated T-80BVM, and the production of the T-90M «Proryv». The idea of reviving the Omsk project «Object 640» was also considered — an improved T-80UM, which could become a cheaper alternative.
However, there is no competition in the industry — the Uralvagonzavod Concern (part of Rostec) controls enterprises both in Nizhny Tagil and Omsk, where they only modernize existing tanks.
In the troops and industry, the opinion is voiced that «the time of tanks has passed». Analysts point to the vulnerability of armored vehicles to relatively cheap FPV drones — the loss of machines costs disproportionately more. As a result, tanks are massively equipped with grilles and nets — the so-called «mangal», turning them into armored capsules from Mad Max.
Unmanned experiments and the «Shturm» project
Back in 2020, information appeared that a new tank in an unmanned version with an open digital infrastructure was being tested on the basis of the T-14. However, the idea of turning a heavy tank into a robot looks controversial.
The «Shturm» project looks much more pragmatic — a line of combat robots based on old T-72s. By 2025, prototypes had been released for testing. This reflects the trend of recent years — there are more and more autonomous systems on the battlefield.
Earlier www1.ru reported that Iran has rethought the Yak-130 and equipped the aircraft with an air-to-air missile system.
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