New Russian tank T-14 Armata with most powerful gun

Putin unveils first new Russian tank since 1993 with most powerful gun ever as well as huge arsenal of most sophisticated military hardware

• T-14 Armata is set to go on display at the Moscow Victory Day Parade
• It is the first new Russian Army tank since the T-90 was revealed in 1993
• Part of Putin's £254bn ten-year armament program set to run until 2020

By Sara Malm for MailOnline

The Russian Army has unveiled it's powerful new tank, set to go on display at the annual World War II memorial parade in Moscow this week.

The T-14 Armata has previously only been seen with its turret covered, but these images, published by the Russian Defense Ministry, show the new tank in full. 

The tank is said to surpass all Western versions because of its remotely controlled cannon and the protection it offers its crew.

Showing muscle: The Russian Army's new T-14 Armata is set to go on display at the annual Moscow Victory Day Parade on Saturday

The T-14 Armata, which is set to undergo trials next year, is the first new Russian tank since the T-90 was put in production in 1993.

The Moscow Victory Day Parade is held on May 9th, and will this year commemorate the 70th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany in 1945.

The new tank, unveiled on the Russian Defense Ministry's website along with several other new armored vehicles, is a result of Russia's ten-year armament program, during which President Vladimir Putin plans on spending 20 trillion rubles(£254billion) on new weapons.

It produced some highly visible results last year, with the military receiving the highest numbers of new planes, missiles and armor since the 1991 Soviet collapse. 

Russian defense spending increased by one-third this year, and should reach £63.5billion by 2016.

Video : New Russian tanks unveiled during Victory Day rehearsal

 

   

Big plans: Russian President Vladimir Putin plans on spending 20 trillion rubles (£254billion) on new weapons in the years 2011-202

They see me rollin: New Russian military vehicles including the new Russian T-14 Armata tank, foreground, make their way to Red Square during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade

They hatin': The new tanks were brought out for a 'test run' during the rehearsals, which is the first time the T-14 has been seen in public

Practice makes perfect: Russian servicemen march in formation before a rehearsal for the Victory parade 

Showing off: The New Russian T-14 Armata tanks make their way to Red Square with the Historical Museum in the background, during the rehearsal

Telling the world: So far, 26 world leaders had accepted invitations to take part in Moscow Victory Day Parade, including Chinese President Xi Jinping

'The task set by the president not to allow anyone to get a military advantage over Russia will be fulfilled no matter what,' Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with the top brass in February. 

In 2014, the Russian armed forces obtained a record number of 38 nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. 

This year they are to get another 50, allowing the military to fulfill its ambitious goal of replacing Soviet-built nuclear missiles, which are approaching the end of their lifespan.

The Russian navy already has two submarines equipped with the Bulava, a new submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missile, and is to commission a third one next year. Five more are to follow.

The new tank was unveiled on the Russian Defense Ministry's website along with several other new armored vehicles, including this Boomerang Armed Personnel Carrier

Big spender: The Russian Army received he highest numbers of new planes, missiles and armor since the 1991 Soviet collapse in 2014 (pictured is a Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled artillery piece)

Russian defense spending increased by one-third this year, and should reach £63.5billion by 2016 (pictured is a Kornet-D self-propelled anti-tank complex)

Showing off: Kurganets-25 Armored Personnel Carrier will go on display at Saturday's parade 

The army's ground forces are receiving large batches of Iskander missiles, which which can be equipped with a nuclear or conventional warhead, could be used to target NATO's U.S.-led missile defense sites. 

In a show of force, Iskanders were briefly deployed in December to the Kaliningrad exclave bordering NATO members Poland and Lithuania.

The Russian air force received more than 250 new planes and helicopters last year and is set to receive more than 200 this year — numbers unseen since Soviet times.  

So far, 26 world leaders had accepted invitations to take part in Moscow Victory Day Parade, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, but the heads of many Western nations, including Germany and the U.S. have declined.

T-14 Armata Main Battle Tank







T-14 Armata