Russia brings new tanks with remote-controlled guns to the battlefield

A Russian T-14 Armata tank at a rehearsal for the Victory Parade in Moscow last year. Photo: Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images Europe

Moscow has begun using its new battle tanks with remote-controlled guns to shell Ukrainian positions despite warnings of their «bad condition.»

A source told Russian state media that the T-14 «Armat» «have not yet participated in direct assault operations», but additional protection was installed on their flanks, and the crews underwent «combat coordination».

The tank has an uninhabited turret, while the crew remotely controls weapons from an «isolated armored capsule located in front of the hull.» According to the RIA news agency, the top speed of the vehicles is 50 miles per hour.

In January, British military intelligence reported that Russian troops were reluctant to accept the first batch of tanks because of their «poor condition.» 34; and described any T-14 deployment as a «high-risk decision». primarily for propaganda purposes.

«Production is probably only a few dozen, and commanders are unlikely to trust the vehicle in combat,» said the British military.

&#34. Eleven years of development of the program were accompanied by delays, reductions in the planned fleet size and reports of production problems"

T-14 «Armata»

RIA reports that the tanks were equipped with additional flank protection, and the crews underwent «combat coordination». at training grounds in Ukraine.

The Kremlin ordered the production of 2300 tanks, first introduced in 2015, by 2020, but later, according to Russian media reports, this date was postponed to 2025.

< img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/b82b0a11f13fc12a76dee0293822ffce.jpg" /> T-14 Armata tanks on Red Square in Moscow during the Victory Day military parade in May 2016. Photo: KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP < p>The Interfax news agency reported in December 2021 that the state conglomerate Rostec had begun production of 40 tanks with an expected delivery after 2023.