PRODUCTION TESTING OF RUSSIA’S ARMATA TANK TO END IN 2016

Production testing for Russia’s new Armata battle tank will be completed in 2016, Russian Land Forces’ commander Col. Gen. Oleg Salyukov said Friday.

“Armata will go through production testing, after that a decision will be made regarding military testing, then a decision will be made regarding adopting it in arming. The production testing will end in 2016,” Salyukov told the press.According to Salyukov, land forces will meet their 70 percent equipment modernization target by 2020.

Armata tanks were unveiled during the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow commemorating the 70-year anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II.

The tank is operated by a three-member crew from an armored capsule at the front. Its main armament includes a 7.62mm remote-control machine gun and a 125mm smoothbore cannon.