[sukhoi-30mki]

Supposed Armata image. Source: btvt.narod.ru

[Celtic Conservative]

So secret, we’re here talking about it on an open forum...

CC

[DB]

I thought the arctic was supposed to be melted by now... Submarine tank?

[clearcarbon]

Unless it runs on bio-fuel or batteries, comrade obama will deem it inferior.

[SpaceBar]

Stopped being top secret about twenty minutes ago.

[DemforBush]

Looks like an armored ammo storage box at the rear of the turret.

Wikipedia has an article on the vehicle, btw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armata_Universal_Combat_Platform

I think the really interesting thing is that the Russians apparently intend on using the platform to build heavily armored IFV’s and APC’s. I know in the past they’ve converted some old T-55’s and the like to serve as heavy troop carriers, due to heavy BMP/BTR losses in places like Chechnya, etc. But, AFAIK, this is the first time they’ve intended to build a heavy IFV/APC from the ground up.

It should be interesting to see how that experiment shakes out. There is almost surely going to be increased survivability, but I would imagine maintenance and repair costs will also shoot up - depending on just how “heavy” the new IFV is, of course.

[Makana]

If it moves or radiates, it can be found and killed. I suspect it will generate some heat.

[Moltke]

Reardensky Metalski.