Key Points and Summary: The T-95 was once Russia’s most ambitious tank project, featuring a remote-controlled turret, a 152mm smoothbore cannon, and enhanced crew survivability.
-Developed in the late 1980s, it aimed to replace aging Soviet-era tanks with cutting-edge firepower and protection.
-However, economic struggles, competition from the T-90, and corruption at Uralvagonzavod led to its cancellation in 2010. Instead, Russia shifted focus to the T-14 Armata, incorporating some T-95 innovations but suffering similar production woes.
-Had the T-95 entered service, it could have posed a serious challenge to Western tanks—now, it remains one of Russia’s great missed opportunities.
T-95 Tank: Russia’s Lost Opportunity for a Game-Changer?
In the history of Russia’s tank-building industry, many models were designed and tested but never saw the light of day. One of the most important failed projects was the T-95 (or Object 195, as it was actually called).
Promising a host of advanced capabilities, the T-95 would have brought a new level of firepower and protection far surpassing any modern Russian tank and perhaps even many Western tanks.
However, the project was ultimately canceled due to Russia’s faltering defense budget and high-level corruption.
A Quantum Leap in Russian Tank Design
Research on the T-95 began as far back as 1988 under the project name “Improving-88.” The intent was to replace the already aging T-72 with a main battle tank (MBT) with increased protection and firepower.
In the interest of increasing crew survivability, the designers decided to seat all of the crew in the hull, opting for a remote-controlled turret. The crew would be in an armored capsule completely isolated from any ammunition and thus safe from any hazardous cook-offs.
The unmanned turret was supposedly armed with a 30mm autocannon and the Kord 12.7mm machine gun.
However, one of its most terrifying features was its monstrous 152mm smoothbore cannon, a massive upgrade to the 125mm cannon on the T-72 or the 120mm cannon on the Abrams.
Unfortunately, the downside to the larger caliber meant that the T-95 had to carry less ammo or have its hull enlarged to take sufficient amounts.
In addition to its improved armaments, the T-95 possessed new running gear, power plant, fire control, reconnaissance, and target identification facilities.
Unfortunately, these systems’ details are classified, so we can only guess how effective they may have been.
The tank was also said to be fitted with the Arena Active Protection System (APS), which would have protected it against ATGMs.
Economic Constraints for This Tank
Despite its capabilities, by 2008, development on the tank was still incomplete, and by 201,0 the project was suspended entirely.
Russia’s then-deputy defense minister, Nikolay Makarov, said the tank had become “morally obsolete,” an interesting comment inviting much speculation.
Why had the T-95 been canceled despite its massive potential?
One possible reason is that Russian tank manufacturing in the early 2000s was at an all-time low. Following the economically disastrous 90s, Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) struggled to stay afloat, even after the recent introduction of the T-90. UVZ received a second wind after India purchased many T-90s, but Russia’s industry was still recovering.
In these conditions, starting production on a highly advanced tank that UVZ had no way to produce in large numbers didn’t make sense.
With competition from the T-90 and the T-80 Black Eagle (another project later suspended), UVZ and the Russian Ministry of Defense ultimately opted for the cheaper option.
Corruption on T-95 Tank Project?
Some analysts, however, speculate that some greedy executives at UVZ decided to pull the plug on the T-95 to secure funding for other projects.
After all, at the time, altogether new projects received more attention and funding from the state than decade-old projects that had gone nowhere.
One of these new projects turned into the infamous T-14 Armata project, which incorporated many of the technologies from the T-95, such as the unmanned turret and overall hull design, into the platform. Thus, corruption in the design bureaus ultimately led to the cancellation of the T-95 in favor of the T-14.
Image of T-14 Armata tank in the Russian Military. Image Credit: Vitali Kuzman.
While it promised new and advanced capabilities, the T-95 never saw the light of day due to economic constraints and corruption.
In retrospect, the T-95’s cancellation may have been a blessing in disguise for the West.
Even if its electronics didn’t meet expectations, its unmanned turret and high-caliber cannon would have made it a formidable opponent on the battlefield.
T-14 Armata Tank from Russia
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
