TANKS

NATO forces like to strike where the enemy is not expecting it, so their tanks are built to manoeuvre off-road over long distances. The Russians, however, have a different approach: concentrate the firepower on one spot, using tanks to break through enemy defences. Russia’s new T-14 tank, currently in field tests, is the world’s most deadly. For the first time in a turreted main battle tank, the entire crew is cocooned inside an armoured capsule in the hull. The T-14 is also the first main battle tank to have a fully automated, unmanned turret. Which is even worse for what it means is coming in the future. “A remote-controlled turret lends itself to building what could be the first remotely operated tank,” says Tack. “We’ve seen the rise of UAVS over the past decades. We could see a similar evolution for actual ground combat vehicles as well.” The good news for NATO is that the Russians may not be able to afford many T-14s. “By the time they can field the T-14 in any numbers, the next-generation tank might be ready and they’ll be back to the same game,” Tack says.