Russia’s Advanced T-14 Tanks vs. Ukrainian Anti-Armor Missiles .. Who Wins?

By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization

(Washington DC) Russia’s T-14 Armata main battle tank might be operating in the war in Ukraine if recent reports are to be believed. If so, what is the MBT’s impact?

There are several key variables to consider when answering that question, including ability to mass and tactical dynamics.

Russian news reports and other assessments of the T-14 Armata have hyped the tank as having advanced weaponry, composite armor, an unmanned turret, and speeds reaching up to 55 miles per hour.

Some of this may be difficult to confirm, and the combat value of technological advances depends on their being paired with effective tactics.

Ukrainian Anti-Armor Tactics

For instance, Ukraine’s anti-armor tactics have been extremely effective. The Ukrainians use terrain, buildings, and narrow passageways to conduct hit-and-run ambush attacks against Russian tanks. Could T-14 Armata armor perform better than Russia’s T-72 and T-90 tanks?

It seems likely, given reports the T-14 is equipped with active protection systems. 

Russian tanks have been destroyed by the thousands in Ukraine. They are especially vulnerable to attacks from above. If T-14 Armatas have hemispheric active protection systems, they might be better positioned to sense, detect, and intercept top-down anti-tank missile attacks, thus countering a key Ukrainian tactic. However, many active protection systems are not hemispheric — they can only detect ordnance fired from the side or straight-on, meaning these systems leave tanks vulnerable to attacks from above.