Russia is testing a new stealth paint to make its tanks invisible or undetected by electronic surveillance systems, according to a spokesman for the Russian military.
The crews of the T-72 tanks and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles together with defense industry personnel in the central Chelyabinsk region of Russia are testing the new stealth paint at the Chebarku training range.
Yaroslav Roschuplin, the spokesman for the Central Military District of Russia, said, “The paint combines durability, surface self-decontamination capability, low observability for electronic surveillance devices and enhanced icing resistance,”
He added that color of the stealth paint was fully in line with the Russian military standards.
Russia’s T-14 Armata tank is covered with radar resistant paint
Last month, it was reported that Russia is on schedule to complete the production tests of its main battle tank T-14 Armata, which is undetectable by the enemy’s radar and thermal heat sensors.
Vyacheslav Khalitov, the director of Uralvagonzavod, the designer and developer of the Armata Universal Combat Platform, said the T-14 Armata is covered with radar resistant paint, and tank’s heat emitters are buried deep within the hull.
Russia is expected to show the T-14 Armata tank during the Russian Arms Expo (RAE2015) in the Urals this September. The Russian military is expected to have 2,300 units of T-14 by 2020. One T-14 Armata tank costs approximately $8 million.
Russia wants to replace its older T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks with the T-14 Armata, which is armed with a125-mm smoothbore cannon 2A82-1M, a fully automated ammunition loading, and computerized targeting systems. The tank is also integrated with new generation explosive reactive armor (ERA).
The T-14 Armata’s ERA system can withstand all of the anti-tank missiles commonly used by NATO countries, according to its developer. The tank has counter-mine defenses and HD video cameras, which provides Armata operators with a 360-degree sight.
Putin and Erdo?an discuss Syrian crisis
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an met on Wednesday. The two leaders discussed that deteriorating situation in Syria, and the future of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “The sides continue to have differences in views [on the Syrian conflict], but there is no doubt that they share concerns over the situation, which, unfortunately, has a tendency for deterioration.”
Earlier this month, Putin and Erdo?an blamed the West for the deepening refugee crisis in Europe.
The Turkish President accused Europe of turning the Mediterranean into a cemetery. He said, “That’s the reality on the ground because the countries bordering the Mediterranean— they do not want these people no matter what the cost.”
On the other hand, the Russian President said, the wrong foreign policy of the West in the Middle East and North Africa was the root of the migrant crisis. He added that Europe is suffering because it is “blindly following U.S. instructions.”
When it comes to the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, Peskov said Putin and Erdo?an share a “mutual understanding” on the matter.
The trade between Russia and Turkey was around $30 billion by the end of 2014. The Turkish government wants to increase its trade turnover with Russia to $100 billion by 2023.
