UK intelligence: Russian forces reluctant to accept first tranche of Armata tanks

Russia is working to prepare a small number of T-14 Armata main battle tanks for the type’s first operational deployment in Ukraine. However, in recent months, deployed Russian forces were reluctant to accept the first tranche of T-14 allocated to them because the vehicles were in such poor condition.

UK Defence Ministry made the statement in its Defence Intelligence update published on Twitter on January 25, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the intelligence report, it is unclear exactly what aspects of the vehicles prompted this reaction, but within the last three years, Russian officials have publicly described problems with the T-14’s engine and thermal imaging systems.

“[Russian] Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu described the planned production run for 2022 as only an 'experimental-industrial' batch. Therefore, it is unlikely that any deployed T-14 tanks will have met the usual standards for new equipment to be deemed operational,” the report adds.