Russia, as recalled in the department, carried out work on preparing a small first batch of “Armat” for deployment in Ukraine, but the soldiers were reluctant to accept weapons due to poor technical condition.
Russian servicemen are wary of using T-14 “Armata” tanks in battles against the Ukrainian Defense Forces. About it says in the latest military intelligence report from the UK Department of Defense on 25 January.
The agency recalls that earlier Russia carried out work on the preparation of a small number of T-14 Armata battle tanks for the first operational deployment of this equipment in Ukraine.
However, the Russian troops, which are involved in hostilities in a neighboring country, were reluctant to accept weapons due to their extremely unsatisfactory technical condition.
“It is not clear what characteristics of the Armat caused such a reaction, but over the past three years, Russian officials have publicly described problems with the engine and thermal imaging systems of the T-14,” the British intelligence officers continued in their report.
Separately, the department notes that in 2021, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called the “experimental-industrial” batch of T-14 tanks, the serial production of which was planned a year later. Therefore, taking into account the above, the intelligence officers come to the conclusion that all the Armats deployed on the territory of Ukraine will not meet workable standards for new equipment.
Please note that at the end of December Russian propagandists announced the transfer of T-14 Armata tanks to Ukraine, which are considered in the Russian Federation as one of the most modern. The combat vehicles were equipped with the Malachite dynamic protection and the Afghanit active protection complex, which should counteract anti-tank missiles.
Moreover, British intelligence in its report of January 19 already commented possible transfer of T-14 “Armata” tanks to Ukraine. The department called the redeployment of military equipment risky due to the problems of adapting the supply chain.
