Comparisons between the T-90M and T-14 "Armata" have been ongoing for many years. On one side is the most mass-produced and battle-tested Russian new-generation tank. On the other, a vehicle that was supposed to usher in an era of fundamentally new combat platforms.
"Pervyy Tekhnicheskiy" also decided to compare both tanks and understand who proved stronger in terms of real combat effectiveness. As per tradition, we will consider five key criteria.
Firepower
The T-90M uses a modern 125-mm gun, unified in a number of solutions with the "Armata" gun. It is capable of using the latest armor-piercing shells and 9M119M1 "Invar-M" guided missiles.
However, the T-14 was initially designed around a new autoloader. Thanks to this, it can use more powerful ammunition, including the "Vacuum" family, which do not fit into the dimensions of the T-90M autoloader. The potential of the "Armata" is higher, we give it the point.
Protection
The main feature of the T-14 is its unmanned turret and armored crew capsule. Even if the turret is hit, the chances of the tank crew surviving are significantly higher.
The T-90M relies on powerful composite armor and "Relikt" reactive armor, which have already proven their effectiveness in real combat conditions. But from the point of view of technological reserve, the advantage remains with the "Armata". The second point goes to it.
Mobility
The mass of the T-90M is about 48 tons, while the T-14 weighs approximately 55 tons. It cannot be said that the "Armata" performs worse on soft ground. Thanks to its wide tracks, its specific ground pressure is at a comparable level.
The advantage of the T-90M lies elsewhere. A lighter tank is easier to transport by rail, and easier to pass through standard bridges. From the point of view of strategic mobility and practicality, the advantage remains with the "Proryv".
Reliability and Readiness
The T-90M is mass-produced and actively operated by the military. The industry has mastered the machine well, and all its components have been thoroughly studied by repair units.
The T-14 remains in a small series, and many solutions are still being refined. But in military affairs, readiness right now is often more important than capabilities that will appear in a few years, so the T-90M evens the score.
Cost and Mass Production
The T-90M was created on the basis of the well-mastered T-72 platform, so its production and maintenance are cheaper.
The T-14 uses a completely new platform, a new engine, new electronics, and a new protection architecture. All this makes the machine more expensive. As a result, the "Proryv" wins.
Final score - 3:2 in favor of the T-90M "Proryv".
The T-14 "Armata" wins in terms of technology level, modernization prospects, and crew protection. It is indeed a next-generation tank with enormous development potential.
But today, the T-90M looks like a more balanced machine. It integrates more easily into existing infrastructure, is cheaper to produce, has been mastered by the industry, and has already proven its effectiveness in the troops.