The Russian armed forces pushed back plans of mass production of the Armata next-generation main battle tanks due to a high cost of new combat vehicles, according to the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov.

On 29 July, the Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said that the Russian armed forces do not aspire to purchase the tanks of “Armata” in large quantities because of their high cost, preferring to increase the combat potential of existing military vehicles due to its modernization.

“Well, why flood the all Armed Forces with the Armata tanks, we have the T-72s in great demand in the market, they take it all, compared to the Abrams, Leclercs and Leopards, for their price, efficiency and quality, It’s the same situation with “Boomerangs,” – Yury Borisov told.

“We don’t really need to for this (mass purchases of new tanks – ed.), these models are quite expensive in relation to existing ones,” – noted the Deputy Prime Minister.

To date, Russian defence funds were diverted into the modernisation of older armoured vehicles and Russia’s army decided to upgrade its fleet of Soviet-designed T-72, T-80 and T-90 main battle tanks. Russia returned and creates new tank’s brigades equipped with updated  upgraded  T-72B3, T-80BVM and T-90M main battle tanks.

Russia’s Armata next-generation main battle tank is a departure from the previous Soviet practice of developing relatively simple, inexpensive but specialized platforms.

Featuring a number of innovative characteristics, the T-14 Armata represents a new generation of Russian main battle tanks. The most significant novelty is an unmanned turret, with the crew of three seated in an armored capsule in the front of the hull.