The T-95 ("Object 195") is a promising Russian third-generation main battle tank that was under development from the 1990s until 2010. It remains the "greatest tank that Russia never built", military expert Steve Balestrieri writes in an article for 19FortyFive.
The developers planned to implement the following design features in the T-95: an unmanned turret and an isolated armored capsule for a crew of 2-3 people. This technical solution became the basis for the creation of the T-14 "Armata".
In the expert's opinion, the T-95 could have revolutionized tank building. However, the Russian defense industry was unable to implement these innovations in the T-14 and establish mass production, he emphasized.
What is known about the T-95 main battle tank
The combat vehicle was developed by UVZ specialists. The project provided for installing a 152 mm main gun and a 30 mm cannon on the tank.
It was assumed that the T-95 would be equipped with improved multilayer composite armor, the Drozd-2 active protection system, and Relikt reactive armor.
The tank is new, the problems are old
Russia called the T-14 the most advanced tank. Unlike many combat vehicles, the "Armata" is a technologically ambitious project, the expert believes.
The tank is armed with a 125 mm smoothbore gun that can be operated from a protected armored capsule. The shell is capable of withstanding a direct hit from a projectile of any type, which increases crew survivability. The T-14 also received the Afghanit active protection system.
Many of the problems encountered by the T-95 developers also arose during the creation of the T-14. Therefore, production of the "Armata" was limited to a handful of units.
Given the high cost of the T-14, the Russian Ministry of Defence decided not to use the tank in real combat operations, Balestrieri claims. Instead, outdated Soviet T-62 tanks that had been stored in depots were sent to the troops.
Read more materials on the topic:
- The first footage of the T-95 tank project has appeared: the forerunner of the T-14 \"Armata\"
- China copied the idea of the \"Armata\": a new tank with an unmanned turret has entered serial production
- Footage has appeared of tests of the \"Armata\" tank against EW from different angles
