No Analogue: Russia's Armata Tank Blasts Through West's Post-Soviet Expectations
In an interview, military expert Ivan Konovalov said that the West never thought that Russia's military-industrial complex would be able to create the advanced T-14 Armata tank.
His interview came after UK military intelligence said in a five-page report that the T-14 is the most breakthrough step in tank design in the last 50 years. "Without hyperbole, Armata represents the most revolutionary change in tank design in the last half century," the report said, citing the vehicle's speed, radar systems and turret design.
Commenting on the matter, Konovalov said that the West, especially the UK, was highly impressed by the fact that the Russian defense industry could develop, create and actually start mass-producing such a breakthrough tank.
According to him, the T-14's sophisticated characteristics set a new trend in tank construction. Konovalov said that "the West will have to either create the T-14's analogue or admit that they currently need no tanks on the potential battlefield."
The Armata tank features sophisticated weaponry, a remote control turret and outer armor that explodes on impact to prevent shells from reaching the crew inside.