WSJ learned about the reduction of the state order on the “Armata” – RBC

Tank T-14 “Armata»

Photo: Oleg Yakovlev / RBC

The Russian military has reduced the number of tanks “Armata”, which they had intended to buy from Uralvagonzavod, due to rising costs of production, writes The Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the Russian Defense Ministry. This decision calls into question the future of the project, the newspaper notes.

«Armata”, like most of the new generation of weapons systems produced for the Russian Armed Forces, is extremely expensive. This angered M inisterstvo Defense of Russia “, – said the WSJ information sources, publications director of the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslan Pukhov.

In November 2014, the deputy head of the board of the Military-Industrial Commission of the Russian Federation Oleg Bochkarev said that the cost of new tanks “Armata” is too high. According to him, the contract has been signed, and the price of equipment is determined, but “we must continue to work».

In a January interview with RBC General Director of Uralvagonzavod Oleg Siyenko commented on the claims of customers: “We have only had one complaint – the price . It is impossible for the goods of high quality asking price three times less unique. ” “Inflation and exchange rate say that we made a good car at the best price, probably, in the world”, – he added, without disclosing the value of the tank.

In January, the deputy director of Uralvagonzavod Vyacheslav Halitov told Tass that the price of “Armata” “worked out by the method of the Ministry of Defense, it is perfectly acceptable for the new generation of machines with all the military authorities agreed.” “The cost is too high and not too low, it corresponds to this type of weapons, and the Ministry of Defense in accordance with it” – he added. Deputy director Alexei Uralvagonzavod Zharich agency said that an increase of the order will be to try to reduce the price.

May 7 RBC TV in a report on the final rehearsal of the Victory Parade has reported that the price of a tank “Armata”, according to some estimates, 400 mln., which is cheaper Western counterparts.

The new tank, which has the letter ‘T-14 is equipped with a remote-controlled turret and an armored crew capsule that protects it from the detonation of ammunition. He must replace the main Russian army tank T-90.

At the beginning of the year Bochkarev told Tass that the first tanks will be delivered to the troops in February, but after the Victory Parade on Red Square on their return to the manufacturer for revision. Trial operation of the troops, he said would take about three years, and the mass production of “Almaty was” due to start in 2018.