Russian army receives over 100 tanks in 2013

Over 100 modernized tanks entered service with the Russian armed forces in 2013, the Defense Ministry reported Sunday, when Russia celebrates Tank Crewmen’s Day. “The tank forces have received more than 100 modernized tanks this year as part of efforts to implement rearmament plans,” the ministry said in a statement. “By 2020, the share of modern armored vehicles in the forces should reach 70 percent,” it said, RIA Novosti reported. On Saturday, the head of Russian Tank Forces said that the prototype of Russia’s next generation Armata main battle tank is ready for testing, which will begin by November, “The prototypes will be unveiled soon at an exhibit in Nizhny Tagil, and their tests will kick off within a month or two, I believe,” Lt. Gen. Alexander Shevchenko said on Echo Moskvy radio. The biannual Russian Arms Expo will run in the Urals city in September 25-28 this year. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said in July that the country’s leadership will get a sneak preview of the new tank during the arms fair. An unmanned version of the Armata main battle tank is also on the cards, Shevchenko said. Armata is a universal combat platform that is to be utilized for production of various armored vehicles. Shevchenko said on Friday that prototypes are already created for an Armada-based main battle tank, heavy infantry fighting vehicle and armored recovery vehicle. The combat platform, named after a 14-century Russian cannon, is being designed since 2009 by the state-run corporation Uralvagonzavod, headquartered in Nizhny Tagil. Armata-based vehicles will be a match for their existing NATO counterparts and even excel them in certain areas, Shevchenko said Friday, without elaborating. Not much is known about the upcoming Armata battle tank, tentatively scheduled to enter military service in the Russian army in 2015. Media reports and military officials said earlier that its turret would be unmanned, with three-man crew residing in the better protected chassis area, and that the main gun may utilize either shells or missiles.