New Russian Tank 'Like Playing Computer Game'

One of the designers behind Russia's new state-of-the-art tank has claimed operating the machine is like "playing a computer game".

The Armata tank, which features a remote-controlled turret and highly complex defence systems, featured prominently in the Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square last month.

The new emblem of the country's resurgent military power could eventually evolve into a fully robotic vehicle that could operate autonomously on the battlefield, its designers claim.

They say it is 15 to 20 years ahead of the current Western designs.

Ilya Demchenko, deputy chief designer, said: "A new philosophy of these machines is that they have a remote controlled combat module, multi-spectre channels, new algorithms and, if I may draw an example, it's as if the crew, roughly speaking, plays a computer game.

"It's only left to take some conclusive action, make decisions."

Chief designer Andrei Terlikov added: "The level of automisation, the principles we put in it, the technological edge we created represent a decisive step towards more advanced unmanned machines, including those which could operate autonomously in combat situation, at some moments even without an operator controlling it."

The price has not been announced, but some observers have speculated it could be as expensive as a fighter jet - a financial burden that could be too heavy to bear for a struggling economy.

President Vladimir Putin's expensive arms build-up could be hit by Western sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine and falling oil prices.

The 22 trillion rouble ($400bn) programme, which calls for the acquisition of 2,300 new tanks, hundreds of aircraft and missiles and dozens of navy ships, was drawn up at a time when the Russian economy was in a healthier position.

Mr Putin has vowed to continue with the military upgrade, and this year's military budget rose by 33% to around 3.3 trillion roubles ($60bn).

However, some observers say the Kremlin will inevitably have to revise the plans amid a grinding recession.

The ending of military ties with Ukraine dealt another blow to the re-armament effort.

Ukrainian factories had exported a wide range of weapons and sub-systems to Russia, and officials have acknowledged it will take years and massive resources to make up for that shortfall.

Mr Putin has emphasised the need for Russia's defence industries to lose their dependence on imported components at a time of heightened tensions with the West.