T-90M vs. T-14 Armata: Which Tank Is Russia’s Best?

Key Points – Russia’s two most advanced tanks, the T-90M Proryv and the T-14 Armata, represent two distinct design philosophies: evolution versus revolution.

-The T-90M is an upgraded T-72, retaining a traditional layout but with improved armor and fire control.

-The T-14 is a next-generation design featuring a revolutionary unmanned turret and a heavily armored crew capsule for enhanced survivability.

-While the T-14 is technologically superior on paper with a more powerful gun and advanced AI-assisted systems, its extreme cost and production challenges mean it has not been deployed to Ukraine.

-The cheaper, combat-proven T-90M remains Russia’s frontline advanced tank.

T-90M vs. T-14 Armata: Russia’s Best Tanks Go Head-to-Head 

The T-90M Proryv (breakthrough) and the T-14 Armata are the most advanced tanks in Russia at the moment.

The T-90M represents the pinnacle of Soviet tank design, while the T-14 is an entirely new platform built from the ground up.

The T-90M is a decent tank, but was designed with an outdated design philosophy.

The Armata, on the other hand, incorporates many revolutionary technologies that make it well prepared to deal with today’s and tomorrow’s threats.

T-90M vs T-14

The T-90M is an evolutionary upgrade of the T-90, which is derived from the T-72. It retains the traditional Soviet tank layout with the crew positioned in the turret.

This design choice allows for easier integration into existing Russian armored units and infrastructure. The T-90M is built with cost-effectiveness in mind, making it a practical choice for mass production and deployment.

In contrast, the T-14 Armata is a revolutionary design built on the Armata Universal Combat Platform. It features an entirely unmanned turret and an armored crew capsule located in the front hull, a radical departure from traditional tank layouts. This design prioritizes crew survivability and is intended to serve as the foundation for a new generation of Russian armored vehicles.

Protection and Survivability

In terms of crew and survivability, the T-90M has a crew of three: a commander, gunner, and driver, who are all located within the turret and hull.

While the tank is equipped with advanced armor and the Relikt explosive reactive armor system, the crew remains vulnerable to turret penetrations. The crew is also vulnerable to ammunition cookoffs in the autoloader, an issue that has plagued Soviet tanks since the T-64.

The T-14 also has a three-person crew, but all members are seated in a heavily armored capsule in the hull, isolated from the turret. This significantly enhances survivability in the event of a turret hit. Additionally, the T-14 is equipped with the Afghanit active protection system, which is designed to intercept incoming projectiles, including anti-tank guided missiles and kinetic energy penetrators.

Firepower and Mobility

When it comes to armament, the T-90M is equipped with a 125mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun capable of firing a variety of munitions, including anti-tank guided missiles.

It also features the Kalina fire control system, which includes thermal imaging and automatic target tracking. The T-14, on the other hand, is armed with a more advanced 125mm 2A82-1M smoothbore gun, with a 152mm variant planed for the future. Its fire control system is AI-assisted, offering target recognition and autonomous engagement capabilities. The T-14’s armament is designed to be more versatile and lethal, with the ability to fire programmable ammunition and advanced ATGMs.

Mobility is another area where the two tanks differ. The T-90M is powered by a V-92S2F diesel engine producing 1,130 horsepower, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 60 km/h on roads (though sources differ on this) with a range of approximately 550 kilometers.

The T-14 has a more powerful 12N360 Twin Turbo Diesel 1,500 horsepower engine, giving it a higher top speed and superior off-road performance due to its advanced suspension and power-to-weight ratio.

Additionally, the T-14’s transmission system is vastly improved, allowing 12 gears forward and 12 gears in reverse. This is a massive improvement over many Soviet tanks, most of which cannot exceed 6km in reverse.

In terms of technology and electronics, the T-90M features modernized systems such as digital communications, thermal sights, and a battlefield management system. While these upgrades make it a formidable tank, it still relies on older architecture and lacks the full capabilities of other modern MBTs.

The T-14, by contrast, is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including AI integration, radar systems, and full digital networking. It offers 360-degree situational awareness through a suite of cameras and sensors, providing a significant tactical advantage on the battlefield.

Which Tank is Actually on the Front Lines?

Thus far, the T-14 has been a clear improvement over the T-90M. However, one of these tanks is currently in use on the front line while the other has been more or less sidelined. The T-90M is being actively deployed and has seen combat in Ukraine and other theaters.

It is being mass-produced and retrofitted from older T-90 and T-72 tanks, making it a practical and combat-proven platform. The T-14, however, remains in limited deployment. It is still undergoing trials and has not yet been fielded due to high costs and production challenges. Despite initial enthusiasm, Russian military leadership has reportedly shifted focus back to the T-90M because of its reliability and affordability.

Cost and logistics play a crucial role in the viability of these tanks. The T-90M is significantly cheaper than the T-14, making it more suitable for large-scale deployment. It is also easier to maintain and integrate into existing logistics chains. The T-14, while technologically superior, is much more expensive and requires new infrastructure, training, and maintenance protocols. This has limited its deployment and raised questions about its long-term sustainability.

The T-90M serves as a bridge between Soviet-era tanks and next-generation systems. It provides a reliable and modern platform that can be produced and deployed in large numbers, making it ideal for current conflicts where quantity and reliability are crucial.

The T-14, on the other hand, symbolizes Russia’s ambition to leap ahead of Western tank designs. It represents the future of armored warfare, but until its production and reliability issues are resolved, its strategic value remains symbolic primarily.

About the Author:

Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.

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