Russia’s Next Generation T-14 Armata Tanks Outfitted for Longer Missions - Latrine Facilities Installed

Russia’s  T-14 Armata next generation battle tank has incorporated a number of features not previously found on the country’s armoured combat vehicles, from fully automatic loading and fire control for its cannon to high end anti aircraft capabilities. Most recently, Russian designers have equipped the tanks with lavatories to facilitate longer mission times for crews, according to a statement from the Director for Quality and Information Technologies at the Urals Design Bureau of Transport Machine-Building Ilya Baranov. The director noted that while tanks were equipped with rations necessary for personnel to remain inside for very long missions, often hours at a time, one thing that had long been lacking were latrine facilities. "A major hassle for them is that they cannot relieve their natural functions. That is, water and field rations are available in the tank, but all the other conveniences are, unfortunately, absent. Only the Armata vehicles solved this dilemma.”

Director Baranov further noted regarding the unique nature of the Armata design: "from the very outset, this tank provides this possibility for a crew to perform lengthy combat missions, that is why the so-called life support system or, simply speaking, a lavatory, is available in it.” The T-14 has entered limited service with Russia’s ground forces, though it is unlikely to enter mass production until at least the mid 2020s due to its considerable cost and Russia’s confidence in the capabilities of lighter existing platforms such as the T-73B3 and T-90M. Likely to deploy where the fighting is thickest, perhaps spearheading assaults into heavily defended enemy territory, Armata crews are potentially expected to perform much longer missions which could take them behind enemy lines. The tank is notably considerably larger but carries less crew than its predecessors - making it more spacious inside and allowing for extra ‘life support’ facilities.

Among the T-14’s advanced features include a new 125mm cannon, new stealth features, new explosive reactive armour and a fully remote controlled fire control system. The tank represents the most prolific platform in a new generation of Russian armoured vehicles, which also include the T-15 APC and 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV mobile artillery piece. The T-14 is capable of deploying a wide variety of munitions specialised for engaging various targets, including aircraft, and doing so at extreme ranges. The Russian military is reportedly testing a number of new weapons types on the T-14 chassis including a 152mm cannon - previously developed for the smaller T-80 battle tanks - which will likely extent its range and further improve its firepower.