UK intelligence explains why Russia refused to use new T-14 Armata tanks

The UK Ministry of Defense tweeted this. 

UK intelligence draws attention to the fact that it was previously reported that Russia was working on the preparation of a small number of T-14 Armata tanks for the first combat deployment in Ukraine.

However, in recent months, the Russian troops did not want to accept the first tranche of T-14 allocated to them, because the machines were in poor condition.

“It is unclear exactly what aspects of the vehicles prompted this reaction, but within the last three years, Russian officials have publicly described problems with the T-14’s engine and thermal imaging systems. In 2021, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu described the planned production run for 2022 as only an “experimental-industrial” batch. Therefore, it is unlikely that any deployed T-14 tanks will have met the usual standards for new equipment to be deemed operational,” the UK intelligence came to a conclusion. 

• On January 9, UK intelligence said that Russia used its most modern Su-57 aircraft, which are located at an air base in the Astrakhan region, for missile strikes on Ukraine.