Russia Completes Trials of Upgraded T-14 Armata Tank with Powerful 152 mm Gun

The testing phase for a new version of the T-14 Armata tank is nearing completion at the 38th Research Institute of the Russian Ministry of Defense. As of December 2023, Rostec Corporation has made significant progress on this enhanced T-14, according to Sergey Chemezov, Rostec’s head. Chemezov highlighted the tank's advanced capabilities and potential.

Chemezov noted that the final adjustments are being made, which will soon make the T-14 more formidable. The latest T-14, built on the "Armata" platform, features advanced Russian-made electronic systems and a new fire control system. However, detailed specifications of these upgrades remain undisclosed.

Reports from the defense industry reveal that the new T-14 model replaces the 125-mm 2A82-1M gun with an improved 152-mm smoothbore 2A83-1A gun. This gun, featuring a chrome barrel, was originally developed in the '90s for the T-95, also known as “Object 195.” The project was halted in 2009 due to outdated Soviet-era technologies and excess weight.

Following this, the Ural Design Bureau for Transport Machine Building (UKBTM) initiated the “Combat System of the Future Armata” project, leading to the development of the T-14. This tank incorporates an uninhabited combat module and an isolated armored crew capsule. Various versions were created, including export models and one with a 152-mm gun.

In 2015, efforts began to develop a robotic version of the T-14 tank with a 125-mm main gun. Rostec started testing prototypes of this unmanned T-14 in April 2020. However, updates on the unmanned version have been scarce, especially since 2022, due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and increased production of T-90M tanks.

Testing of the experimental T-14 with a 152 mm gun started in February 2016. This version, intended for specialized combat missions, remains in the testing phase despite expectations of earlier deployment. There have been speculations about the project's suspension to focus on a version with a 125 mm barrel, but recent updates confirm ongoing development.

A military expert indicated that this experimental tank, built on the "Armata" platform, is demonstrating unique and versatile capabilities in tests. It features a hull nearly identical to the basic T-14 Armata tank, armed with a 152-mm gun, and includes updates for stealth and enhanced protection.

The 152-mm gun significantly increases firepower, allowing the tank to fire modern long-range ammunition, including high-explosive and thermobaric projectiles. This new ammunition led to modifications in the automatic loading system and ammunition rack placement.

The T-14 can carry 40 shells for the 152-mm version, with 24 in the autoloader. In comparison, the standard T-14 with a 125-mm gun carries 45 shells, 32 in the autoloader. The new 152 mm caliber BOPS projectile, made from heavy materials like depleted uranium, has an effective range of about 5 km.

The tank can also use advanced Krasnopol artillery projectiles and anti-tank guided missiles from the 9M133FM family, with a range of up to 10 km. This versatility allows the T-14 to function as a short-range air defense system as well.

Despite the increased firepower, the 152-mm barrel has a shorter lifespan compared to the 125-mm barrel, and the vehicle’s weight has increased, potentially affecting mobility. However, the T-14’s design allows for easy switching between different gun calibers without altering the turret ring system.

Production of the T-14 has moved to UVZ’s main tank assembly workshop No. 130 in Nizhny Tagil, where new advanced machinery has been installed. Mass production of the new T-14 tank is expected to start this year, along with development of the T-15 infantry fighting vehicle and the T-16 armored repair vehicle, as stated by military expert Viktor Murakhovski. 

US-India Stryker Partnership: A Game Changer for Indian Defense and China Containment

 As of November 2023, it has been disclosed that the US plans to start manufacturing Stryker armored vehicles in India. This initiative could mark the first time these vehicles are produced outside the US and play a significant role in countering China. Additionally, the US is attempting to push Russia out of the Indian air defense market by offering a license for the advanced Stryker M-SHORAD.

On June 19, Indian media reported that discussions have progressed, with India's Ministry of Defense now considering a three-phase cooperation plan with the US for producing Stryker vehicles. However, there are still various details and requests from the Indian side that need to be addressed.

The acquisition of Stryker armored vehicles depends on their ability to meet the specific needs of motorized rifle battalions. Recently, the US proposed a demonstration to showcase these vehicles' mobility and firepower in India's mountainous regions, indicating the Indian Army's requirement for vehicles adapted to challenging terrains like Eastern Ladakh and Sikkim.

One crucial demand from India is a high degree of production localization, including the transfer of critical technologies to a participating company, whether private or state-owned.

If India proceeds with the Stryker acquisition, it will follow a phased approach: starting with a limited purchase through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, moving to joint production in India, and eventually developing a futuristic version of the armored vehicle. Specific details of this version are yet to be disclosed.

While these ambitious plans with the US are underway, India is also pursuing its initiatives for wheeled and tracked armored vehicles to replace its fleet of over 2,000 BMP-2s.

The Stryker Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) is a family of eight-wheeled armored combat vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems for the US Army. Designed for versatility, the Stryker provides infantry transport, reconnaissance, and direct fire support. It measures approximately 22.92 feet in length, 8.96 feet in width, and 8.92 feet in height, with a weight ranging from 16.47 to 20.8 tons, depending on the configuration.

Powered by a Caterpillar C7 diesel engine delivering about 350 horsepower, the Stryker can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour and has a range of around 330 miles on a full tank. Its eight-wheel drive (8×8) configuration enhances mobility across various terrains, and it is equipped with run-flat tires and a central tire inflation system for sustained operational capability even after wheel damage.

The Stryker offers advanced armor protection against small arms fire, artillery fragments, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It features modern communication and navigation systems to enhance situational awareness and command-and-control capabilities.

The Stryker family includes various variants, such as the Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV), Mobile Gun System (MGS), Reconnaissance Vehicle (RV), Commander's Vehicle (CV), Fire Support Vehicle (FSV), Engineer Squad Vehicle (ESV), Medical Evacuation Vehicle (MEV), and Anti-Tank Guided Missile Vehicle (ATGMV).

Weaponry on the Stryker AFV varies by variant, with common armaments including the M2 .50 caliber machine gun, Mk 19 40mm automatic grenade launcher, and M240 7.62mm machine gun. The MGS variant features a 105mm tank gun, while the ATGMV is equipped with TOW missile launchers.

The Stryker AFV's primary purpose is to provide a highly mobile, protected platform for transporting infantry and conducting various combat operations. Its versatility allows it to perform a wide range of missions, making it a crucial asset in modern military engagements.

US Army Pushes For Lighter, High-Tech Abrams Tank with Enhanced Capabilities

 

The U.S. Army has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) a contract to begin preliminary design for a new variant of the Abrams tank, designated M1E3. This new tank is expected to be lighter and incorporate advanced technologies to enhance its battlefield survivability, according to Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman, the head of combat vehicle modernization.

The contract aims to align the development of the M1E3 Abrams with the M30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, hoping to field both simultaneously within armored brigade combat teams. Whether this alignment is possible will depend on factors such as technology maturation and budgets.

The Army is currently running a competition between American Rheinmetall Vehicles and GDLS to develop the XM30 vehicle, which will replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. A winner is expected to be chosen by late fiscal 2027 or early fiscal 2028.

The preliminary design schedule for the M1E3 is under review, with a more concrete timeline anticipated by fall. The Army decided last fall to abandon its upgrade plans for the Abrams tank in favor of a more significant modernization effort, resulting in the end of the M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 4 program.

The M1E3 will be an engineering change proposal with a different design approach to meet existing requirements, resulting in a very differently configured Abrams tank. Over the next 18 months, the Army will focus on technology maturation efforts, including autoloader capabilities, alternate power trains, active protection systems, and aids for fully buttoned-up crew operation.

The goal is to reduce the tank's weight from its current 73 tons to under 60 tons, though this is considered ambitious. Changes may include a revised crew configuration, possibly involving a remote or optionally manned turret. Hybrid power trains will also be examined to reduce fuel consumption and achieve silent watch and drive capabilities, while still maintaining high dash speeds.

The M1E3 will feature an integrated active protection system as a core component of its design to enhance vehicle survivability. This new tank variant represents a major step in the modernization of the U.S. Army's armored forces.

U.K. Approves $1.6B Upgrade for Warrior Vehicle

LONDON - The 1 billion pound ($1.59 billion) program to update the British Army's Warrior infantry fighting vehicle has been given the go-ahead by the government.

A 1 billion-pound program update to the British Army's Warrior infantry fighting vehicle has been approved. (BAE Systems)

Prime Minister David Cameron's announcement that the Ministry of Defence will sign a contract with Lockheed Martin UK to upgrade the Warrior ends months of speculation over whether the program would proceed or be struck down by Britain's defense spending cuts.

The contract is expected to be signed by the end of the month.
Although given the go-ahead, the program is much delayed. A Lockheed spokesman said production will start in 2018, and full operational capability is expected in 2020. At one stage, the British Army wanted to have the updated Warrior operational by about 2012.
The number of vehicles to be updated has also slipped to about 380, and not all of those will receive the full upgrade package. Originally, 643 vehicles were to be included in the program, of which 449 would receive the full upgrade.
Lockheed was named as the only contractor remaining in negotiation with the MoD at the start of this year, after BAE Systems was knocked out of the running.
The Warrior Capability Sustainment Program will involve a raft of improvements, including fitting a new turret with a 40mm cannon supplied by CTAI, an Anglo-French subsidiary of BAE Systems and Nexter.
Other key improvements include a new open electronic architecture and better armor protection.
The MoD says the update could keep the vehicle in service until 2040 and beyond.
Lockheed's contract is valued at 642 million pounds. The remainder of the 1 billion pound cost of the program comprises government-furnished equipment, such as the new cannon, and government taxes.
Major suppliers include the Defence Support Group, Rheinmetall Defence, Curtiss-Wright, Thales UK and Meggitt.
The deal is the first major announcement since the appointment of Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond. He replaced Liam Fox earlier this month after Fox resigned in the face of controversy over his links with lobbyist and adviser Adam Werrity.
Fox's resignation held up the announcement of the deal.