In a “tank battle” between two rivals Russian T-14 Armata and M1A2 Abram of America. Can T-14 Armata tank withstand against American tanks use armor-piercing bullets with depleted uranium cores, can the Russian T14 tank survive?
Since its debut in 2015, Russia’s T-14 Armata main battle tank has been highlighted by the Russian media and officials several characteristics of this tank that is considered special and revolutionary. Amata is also considered one of the few fourth-generation tanks in the world.
Currently, Russia is simultaneously producing T-14 and T-90M tanks. Compared to the T-14, the T-90M tank is lighter in weight and and in service 2020, and uses many new technologies similar to the T-14. T-14 is a typ`e of tank staple more advanced, more expensive, with the potential to huge modernize, and its chassis is also used as infantry fighting vehicle T-15 and for many fighting vehicles other in the future.
In addition to the armor with better protection, for the first time the T-14 main tank also uses an unmanned remote control turret design for the main battle tank. All three members are gathered at the front of the bodywork and sit side by side in a separate armored compartment
The crew can control all operations of the tank in the cockpit, and this is a function that is not available on other tanks. The main weapon of the T-14 is the 125mm 2A82-1M smoothbore cannon, considered by many analysts to be the most powerful tank gun in the world today.
The large size of the T-14 turret allows the manufacturer to use larger caliber guns, and it is likely that in the future there will be a 152mm tank gun installed on this tank.
During the Cold War, Soviet tanks used armor that provided better protection than Western armor. During the Iran-Iraq war (1981-1988), the most advanced American and British M60 and Chieftain tanks at that time could hardly penetrate Soviet tank armor like the T-62 and especially the T-72.
Faced with the above situation, since the 1980s, the US has equipped armor-piercing bullets with shells, with depleted uranium bullet cores; This is a powerful anti-tank weapon. The 120 mm main gun on the M1A1/A2 Abrams tank has considerable armor penetration against armored enemy targets.
However, the uranium-cored armor-piercing shells of American tanks have never been able to destroy the tanks equipped with the Soviet army or the tanks of the Warsaw Pact; but only destroyed tanks with severely degraded armor configuration, produced by the Soviet Union for export to third world countries in the 1980s.
Because uranium has been depleted, has a very high density, up to 19.1 g/cm3 (68.4% higher than lead) and as a radioactive element, depleted uranium armor-piercing ammunition is considered a weapon effective to attack armored vehicles. But for people living in areas where the U.S. military has used depleted uranium munitions (like Iraq), it had very serious negative effects, including skyrocketing rates of cancer and mortality rates, high rate of birth defects.
There is still fierce debate about whether the most advanced tanks in the Soviet army such as the T-80UK, T-72BM or T-64B can survive the attack of Abrams tanks. The United States, with armor-piercing ammunition with a core of uranium, has impoverished or not, there is still no convincing conclusion.
But it can be affirmed that the latest Russian tanks, especially the T-14 Amata, are well-armed and capable of withstanding various attacks. Armor and active protection system, fully capable of resisting armor-piercing bullets using depleted uranium cores.
Especially the Afganit active protection system used on the T-14 tank, can protect the vehicle from supersonic armor-piercing bullets using depleted uranium cores and protect the vehicle from missiles. anti-tank; while providing 360 degree protection around the vehicle.
Recently, the Afganit active protection system also conducted a successful interception test of a depleted uranium core armor-piercing projectile, which was previously considered impossible.
The Afganit defense system has at least 5 launchers, located at the connection between the turret and the body, which can launch fragmentation shells to intercept incoming armor-piercing bullets; Active defense has been greatly improved.
The principle of operation is that around the turret are arranged millimeter wave radars, which can detect many incoming targets. With this early warning ability, Armata can defend against attacks from a variety of weapons.
Along with that is a combination of active phased array radar and ultraviolet (UAV) detector, to identify incoming enemy shells and missiles, to activate an interceptor grenade launcher system. However, this system can pose a danger to nearby infantry.
Currently, Russia is working to further upgrade the Afganit active defense system and improve computer algorithms. The addition of a new generation UV hazard detection system significantly improves the operational efficiency of the Afganit system, increasing the tank’s chances of survival in combat.