A unique aspect of the Russian Army is its simultaneous possession of various types of tanks. This contrasts with countries like the United States and Western nations, which primarily rely on a single popular tank model such as the Abrams (USA), Leopard-2 (Europe), or Leclerc (France).
Massive Stockpiles from the Soviet Era
The diversification of the Russian Army’s battle tank types stems from the equipment traditions of the Soviet Red Army. Russia is currently the largest inheritor of the Soviet Union’s legacy, including its military aspects.
In terms of quantity, after decades of the Cold War, the Soviet Union built a colossal armored force. According to Military Magazine We Are The Mighty and Global Firepower, Russia is currently storing around 22,000 tanks manufactured during the Soviet era. In comparison, the total number of tanks possessed by NATO countries and allies is about 18,000.
The large stockpile of tanks from the Soviet era means the Russian Army currently has little need for new-generation tanks.
However, the actual number of tanks currently equipped by the Russian Army is estimated to be around 5,000. The remaining tanks are in storage, awaiting modernization. According to sources from the Russian Ministry of Defense, many of the stored tanks are in pristine condition. They were transferred directly from the factory to storage facilities in preparation for a scenario of total war.
Another issue influencing the diversity of tank models in the Soviet and Russian armed forces is the impact of the Great Patriotic War. Although it ended in 1945, the trend of focusing on tank production in anticipation of potential war scenarios continued for many decades thereafter. Many factories and design bureaus in the Soviet Union participated in this process.
A clear example is the Malyshev Factory in Kharkiv (Ukraine), which assembled the T-54/55, T-62/64 tank models and later the T-80 version utilizing a diesel engine. In contrast, the Kirov Factory in Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg (Russia), developed and assembled the T-80 tank version equipped with a gas turbine engine. The development of the T-72 tank took place at Uralvagonzavod in Nizhny Tagil, leading to the later modern variant T-90. Many units were tasked with producing specialized tanks, resulting in a diverse armored force in the Soviet Union. This tradition was then carried over to the Russian Army.
Why Did the Soviet Union and Russia Need Diverse Tank Models?
The first factor relates to personnel. Many commanders and generals of the Soviet Red Army after the Great Patriotic War had a mindset of employing armored forces as rapid assault groups and possessed extensive combat experience with these mechanized forces. This helps explain why the development and production of tanks in the Soviet Union were always prioritized.
The second factor is that the Soviet Union and Russia have vast territorial expanses (over 62,000 km during the Soviet era and more than 60,000 km for Russia), of which one-third is land. Therefore, the Soviet and Russian armies needed a large armored force to protect their territory and quickly deploy military units to hotspots.
The next factor is the Cold War. During this period, the Soviet Union not only produced tanks for the Red Army but also supplied many other countries around the world. In addition to the domestic variants for the Red Army, the Soviet Union had to develop export variants for foreign armies. This is evident in the Russian Army being equipped with the T-90A/M, while the export version is the T-90S/SM.
T-90M tank.
The T-14 Armata tank is a prime example of Russia’s tank manufacturing mindset, utilizing a common multipurpose platform shared with various combat vehicles.
Another notable point leading to the diversity of tank types in the Soviet Union and Russia is due to the competition between design bureaus. This competition drives continuous improvement in tank design, resulting in the release of superior products.
Currently, the development and manufacturing mindset of Russian tanks has undergone significant changes; however, the legacy left from the Soviet era remains distinctly influential. The Russian tank development philosophy is gradually aligning with global trends, embracing integrated platforms and sharing various equipment to reduce logistical pressure and burdens. This is clearly evident as the T-90 tank is fundamentally developed based on the T-72 and T-80 platforms, while the T-14 Armata, despite incorporating numerous breakthrough technologies, still applies many technologies that have defined the Russian tank brand. Even in upgrade packages like T-72B3 or T-80BVM, the upgraded tanks are directed towards the common use of various equipment to lower production and logistical costs.