By the end of this year, the Russian army will receive more than 240 modern and modernized T-72B3M, T-80BVM and T-90M Proryv tanks, the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reports.

"Enterprises of the military-industrial complex supply units of the Russian Ground Forces with modern samples of armored vehicles, which have successfully proven themselves in operation in various climatic zones," the department's website says. 

Earlier, at a single day of acceptance of military products, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said that 20 T-14 Armata tanks of the third generation and 65 T-90M combat vehicles will be delivered to the Russian Armed Forces during 2021.

In a recent interview with Krasnaya Zvezda, the interim chief of the Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Major General Alexander Shestakov, said that in 2020-2022, the department planned to purchase and repair more than 9 thousand pieces of equipment and weapons.

“This will allow us to maintain the availability of armored weapons and equipment at 100% in 2022 and achieve the required share of modern samples,” Shestakov said.

On Sunday, September 12, tankers celebrate their professional holiday in Russia.

As the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation emphasizes, tank formations still remain the main striking force of the Ground Forces of the Russian Federation, "possessing great firepower, reliable armor protection and high maneuverability."

Order No. 530 of September 8, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says that Russia occupies a leading position in the creation of armored vehicles "thanks to the labor of engineers and designers of defense enterprises."

In addition, the document gives a high assessment of the combat readiness of the personnel of the tank forces.

According to the military department, in recent years, Russian tankers have been improving their skills of shooting at long distances and from closed positions, the technique of "tank carousel", which allows covering the enemy with continuous fire and compensating for the reload time, as well as the technique of underwater march.

Recently, the cadets of the Kazan Higher Tank Command Red Banner School have been mastering a new form of training - a complex tactical and fire class, which gives them the ability to navigate the theater of war (theater of operations).

"Great progress"

Today, the Russian tank fleet is developing due to the improvement of the families of diesel and gas turbine vehicles that are already in service, as well as through the manufacture of completely new combat tracked vehicles.

In particular, the Russian Federation remains the only state in the world whose arsenal includes a third-generation tank.

One of the key design features of the T-14 "Armata" is the presence of an armored capsule that protects the crew from damage from the outside and saves servicemen's lives in the event of an ammunition detonation.

  • Tank T-14

  • RIA News

  • © Evgeny Odinokov

The installation of modern means of information processing, control and communication made it possible to integrate the "Armata" into a unified tactical control system (ESU TK), which is designed to ensure information and communication superiority over the enemy.

The system allows the T-14 to interact with reconnaissance and destruction assets in real time.

According to Rostec, the tactical link may include heavy infantry fighting vehicles (BMPs), self-propelled artillery mounts, T-90s, and attack helicopters.

At the same time, "Armata" is capable of performing the functions of a reconnaissance, target designator and fire spotter. 

“The success of network-centric wars will depend on the speed and quality of the information transmitted.

For this, the new Russian tank has all the possibilities.

The T-14 can be called the world's first SMART tank - it is so filled and permeated with modern digital electronics, ”the state corporation said.

Destruction of targets "Armata" is carried out using an uninhabited combat module with a 125-mm smooth-bore gun 2A82-1M, equipped with a fully automated loading system.

Rostec is confident that the T-14 surpasses all existing tanks in the world in terms of firepower.

The Russian designers also took care of the defensive capabilities of the "Armata".

The Russian third-generation tank has special geometric parameters that make it less visible in thermal and radar observation spectra.

According to Rostec, the T-14 armor is capable of withstanding any anti-tank ammunition hit.

Also on the "Armata" was installed an active protection complex "Afganit", which includes radar-direction finders, electronic warfare equipment and a smoke-metal curtain.

Recently, another unique type of military equipment has been supplied to the Russian troops - the Terminator tank support combat vehicle (BMPT), developed at Uralvagonzavod.

Its main task is to cover tanks in the theater of operations.

The Terminator tank support combat vehicle is a multi-purpose and highly protected vehicle with powerful weapons, modern fire control devices and high maneuverability.

"Terminator" is capable of hitting lightly armored targets, tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, together with military air defense to fight helicopters and low-flying low-speed aircraft ", - said in the materials of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

The Terminator's arsenal consists of two 30-mm cannons, four Ataka anti-tank missile systems, two AGS-17D automatic grenade launchers and a 7.62-mm machine gun.

According to the specialists of Uralvagonzavod, the combat potential of the BMPT makes it possible to replace two infantry fighting vehicles and one motorized rifle platoon with a theater of operations.

  • BMPT "Terminator"

  • RIA News

  • © Konstantin Morozov

“The combination in one vehicle of powerful multichannel weapons with a large ammunition load (it is twice as large as that of modern infantry fighting vehicles), perfect means of search and detection of targets, all-aspect protection provide BMPT with a significant superiority in military-technical level over the best examples of foreign armored vehicles of the BMP type ", - reported on the website of" Uralvagonzavod ".

In an interview with RT, candidate of military sciences Sergei Suvorov noted that it is difficult for tanks to do without the Terminator on the modern battlefield.

It is this machine, according to the expert, will solve the problem of combating low-flying aircraft and manpower, which is often equipped with mobile missile systems and hand grenade launchers.

“Despite the great progress in the means of protection, the tank cannot effectively carry out the shock and offensive missions assigned to it without proper cover.

In this context, "Terminator" allows you to solve a lot of topical problems in the theater of operations, "Suvorov said.

"Retained their meaning"

In addition to the creation of BMPT and T-14, experts call the appearance of the T-72B3M, a deeply modernized version of the Soviet tank, which has gained great popularity among the troops, as a significant achievement of the Russian industry.

This vehicle is equipped with a 125-mm 2A46M-5-01 cannon, two machine guns, a Sosna-U fire control system, and a Relikt ERA.

The armament of the tank allows you to hit ground and surface targets at any time of the day.

According to Shoigu, the T-72B3M is not inferior in its characteristics, and even surpasses modern foreign tanks in a number of parameters.

Since February 2021, Russia has been producing a tank under the name "Breakthrough", which is an improved version of the T-90 platform.

Like the Armata, the tank has ESU TZ equipment and is built into a network-centric combat control system.

The T-90M is equipped with the Relikt reactive armor modules, a multi-channel panoramic thermal imaging sight, a 2A46M-4 smoothbore gun, which can fire guided missiles of the Reflex-M and Invar complexes.

Also in the Russian army, a family of tanks with a gas turbine power plant continues to develop.

Its distinctive properties are the ability to start in subzero temperatures with virtually no preliminary warming up, maneuverability and high speed.

In particular, improved T-80BVM vehicles are supplied to the troops of the RF Armed Forces.

The engine allows the crews of these tanks to perform such a complex element as flanking - firing along the target field at various objects that imitate the enemy.

“Such a tank, of course, has its drawbacks.

For example, a gas turbine unit of the T-80 family is very voracious and does not tolerate dust.

But for the Arctic and in low temperature conditions, the ability to start the engine practically without warming up is an invaluable quality, ”Suvorov explained.

  • Combat firing of a Russian tank

  • © Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation

In a commentary on RT, military expert Alexei Khlopotov said that at present the Russian tank forces are "at the peak of their power" thanks to the implementation of modernization programs and the creation of new types of equipment.

From his point of view, the development of tank forces makes a great contribution to strengthening the military potential of the Russian army.

According to Khlopotov, as before, no ground operation can be carried out without the use of tanks.

“Tanks have retained their importance in conquering and holding territories.

The nature of modern armed conflicts demonstrates that the tank is the most powerful and mobile means of support in various operations.

Therefore, the military leadership's significant attention to the development of tank forces is more than justified, "Khlopotov summed up.