Aquí va un extracto del magazine de marzo del 2015 del centro FMSO Leavenworth sobre el nuevo tanque ruso sobre plataforma Armata ...
The Tank Maintains a Circular Defense: New T-14 Tank will Become the
Sensation of the Year
…What distinguishes the new-generation tank from all currently existing tanks in our country
and abroad?
The crew of three men is located in an armored capsule in the forward portion of the hull.
According to the specialists, the forward projection has multilayered, combined armor protection
which can withstand a direct hit of any type of rounds which exist today, [including] sub-caliber
and cumulative rounds. In addition, the forward hemisphere is covered with an active defense
system which is also able to intercept any type of antitank munition, including sub-caliber rounds,
something previously believed to be impossible in principle.
The Armata’s active defense deserves special discussion. In fact this is an individual anti-missile
and anti-projectile tank defense system. It defends the vehicle from strikes, including those from
the air. Thus, even the most modern Apache helicopter will not have a 100 percent chance of
destroying a T-14 with its missiles. Active defense is situated along the entire perimeter of the turret
at various levels, which ensures complete protection of the tank’s most important elements.
The central compartment, where the ammunition stores are located, is protected in such a manner
that it is not even threatened by grenadiers who have taken cover in basements. The lower side
hemispheres around the turret are shielded by counter-missiles.
The engine and the motor and transmission compartment are located in the rear of the hull. The
diesel is domestically manufactured and it has a rather unconventional construction. The published
power is not less than 1,500 HP.
The hull is extended and it has seven drive wheels, which speaks to the fact that the tank is of an
enhanced weight, possibly about 50 tons.
The combat information and control systems are constructed using modern digital technologies
and domestically manufactured solid-state basic elements. The probability of hitting the target with
the first shot is close to 100 percent. Constant monitoring of the status of vitally important elements
is provided. This allows a possible malfunction to be predicted well before it occurs. This, in turn,
significantly enhances the reliability and maintainability of the complex armored vehicle.
The hull is amply provided with video cameras. They allow the crew to observe the situation
all around the tank. If required, zooming can be switched on, and a distant object can be viewed
in detail. Heat sensing and infrared viewing capabilities are also available under any weather
conditions, day or night.
In order to appreciate the real design and technological breakthrough of the Russian tank
builders, a rather recent, but classified story should be remembered. It turned out that it is more
difficult to design and manufacture a truly new tank than a new aircraft. Fifth-generation fighters
are already flying, but only second-generation tanks are in the inventories throughout the entire
world. So the Armata will become the first series-produced third-generation tank (although there
are those who will dare to list it as fifth generation). But this is not a matter of numbers, but of the
fact that armored equipment, despite all of its external simplicity, belongs to the most complex
kinds of combat vehicles.
Sergey Ptichkin, “The Tank Maintains a Circular Defense: New T-14 Tank will Become the Sensation of the Year,” Rossiyskaya Gazeta Online, 3 February 2015, http://www. rg.ru/2015/02/02/tank.html, accessed 5 February 2015.
OE Watch Commentary: The T-14 tank, based upon Russia’s new “Armata” universal chassis system, weighs approximately 50 tons, but has a chassis that supports approximately 65 tons, likely to allow for future modifications. The road wheels are reportedly based upon the T-80 tank and were used because they were significantly lighter than the T-72 wheels (120kg vs. 194 kg, resulting in an approximately one-ton savings in weight). The T-14 tank will be equipped with an adjustable suspension capable of adapting to varying relief, terrain type, and vehicle speed, resulting in increased speed while moving in columns, as well as over rugged terrain. The suspension system will also alleviate crew fatigue, while assisting the fire control system to deliver accurate fire while on the move.
Unlike previous Soviet/Russian vehicles, crew safety (survivability) and comfort appear to be a concern. The crew is in an armored capsule that is somewhat roomy compared to other Soviet/Russian tanks. The composite multilayered passive armor protection of the T-14 tank is built with steel made by electroslag remelting and is combined with new composites to protect the T-14 against the most advanced modern weaponry. The T-14 also has the Afganit active protection complex, capable of intercepting shaped-charged grenades, antitank missiles, and subcaliber projectiles.
The tank’s main armament is the 2A82 125-mm smoothbore cannon, capable of firing high-powered munitions, including armor-piercing discarding sabot, guided missile, shaped-charge, and other types of munitions. The T-14 is equipped with the Chelyabinsk A-85-3A X-diesel engine capable of producing up to 1500 hp. It also has a tank information control system (TICS) that monitors all assemblies and components, diagnoses malfunctions, and controls onboard systems. End OE Watch Commentary (Bartles)
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