After more than a year of war, Russia has sent its “super tank” T-14 to Ukraine for the first time. Tass reported that Russia has begun using its new T-14 Armata main battle tanks to shell Ukrainian positions, “but they have not yet engaged in direct attack operations.” The tanks have not yet been sighted. It is normal for the newly arrived units to first complete simple missions in order to practice working and coordinating under real combat conditions. But even in attack operations, the T-14 will not be able to perform miracles. Things looked very different when it debuted in May 2015. The T-14 Armata was the first of a new generation of main battle tanks that conceptually outclassed the models of the Cold War era. He was better armed and protected than any of his opponents. Its chassis was also superior to all other models. There were also passive and active protection systems. The T-14 should even be able to turn invisible.
However, it quickly became apparent that the tank’s concept might have been future-oriented, but its idea was far ahead of its time and the possibilities of the Russian defense industry. This is mainly due to the fact that the crew is sitting in a sealed-off security cell. Every action and every perception of the environment happens through the sensors. If the electronics malfunction, the crew is deaf, blind and helpless.
As a result, the T-14 went from one delay to the next disruption. The production figures of 2000 pieces by 2020 mentioned at the premiere come from the realm of propaganda, such quantities could never have been produced under peacetime conditions. In fact, only a handful of prototypes or pre-production models have ever been made, and so far the T-14 is said to have been assembled in a quasi-manufacturing process rather than in series. By the end of 2021, 20 T-14 should have been regularly integrated into the army. It is likely that more were produced, but even with the prototypes, Russia has far fewer than 100 examples – maybe just 50. Because soon after the presentation in 2015 it became clear that Moscow had decided to go for the bulk of the army to modernize older main battle tanks and only build the T-14 in small numbers. Probably in the sense of permanent development and testing.
In the Ukraine war, the T-14 will not have a penetrating effect. The small numbers make sure of that. If the reports of the tank’s vulnerability are true, the error rate may be more important than minor improvements in combat effectiveness over the modernized T-90.
In addition, Ukraine has proven to be a very unfavorable battlefield for main battle tanks. Open movements of large masses of tanks are not to be expected either from the Ukrainian or from the Russian side. With the omnipresence of surveillance drones and the ability of both sides to deliver precise strikes even at a distance of 40 kilometers, the steel giants are in danger of being taken out on approaching their attack space. Typical tank killers in Ukraine are guided missiles, kamikaze drones, artillery and mines. They attack every tank. Even artillery hits close by damage the sensors mounted on the outside, so that even a modern tank is no longer operational.
Well-protected models like the Armata T-14, the German Leopard 2 or the British Challenger are not immune to these threats. Perhaps they will not be destroyed, only damaged, and the crew will be able to disembark unharmed. In general, the nature of the fighting in Ukraine has so far leveled out the differences in the technical level of the tanks. So much so that both sides – including Kiev – are using ancient T-55 models.
Resounding successes are unlikely, the danger of a loss of prestige remains. The Russian side is eager to provide the first images of a destroyed modern western tank. And Kiev should also try to shoot down a T-14 Armata.
So why take the risk? If the T-14 cannot be sent to war at all, that is also a loss of prestige. It would be an admission that the “super tank” is still useless eight years after its presentation. And indeed there is a role for which the T-14 would be ideally suited in combination with modernized T-90: that of the mobile fire brigade.
Russian troops are currently digging in along the front. Above all, the sections that are interesting for a Ukrainian counter-offensive will be reinforced. In the protected positions it would make sense to use older equipment. These barriers of trenches, kill zones, strongpoints, minefields and restricted areas are not insurmountable. The opponent should lose power, time and attack momentum in the event of a breakthrough. If his weary troops eventually break through the last rigid line of defense, they will have to meet mobile forces. Then there could be a movement battle of armored troops. And the tank oldies wouldn’t stand a chance here. Only T-14 Armata and T-90 could stop modern western tanks in open field.
