The introduction of the T-14 Armata to modern military technology was very radical. Despite the advanced design and capabilities, the T-14 has had problems with practical deployment issues, most visibly during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Celebrated at first as a revolutionary advance in tank technology, the T-14 has faced serious hurdles that put its effectiveness on the battlefield into serious doubt.
The Armata T-14 was heralded with much fanfare, and one senior British defense official even called it “the most revolutionary tank in a decade.” Yet, in Ukraine, it has not proved all that much. These two factors, the cost and complexity of the tank, keep the Russian military from using them in mass if there is a possibility of losing this expensive and sophisticated machinery. Production goals have not been met, with far fewer units produced than planned. This has resulted in a fast withdrawal of the T-14 from the front lines, pointing out the broader issue of high-tech military equipment being too valuable, hence unable to risks in battles.
T-14 Armata was a very expensive investment without commensurate returns for Russia. It is quite a technical, very expensive product, which has turned it into an “example of the vanity of the Russian defense industry” and that works not very effectively so it is more a showpiece than a practical weapon. That is why the Russian military is ready to part with such tanks in each battle since they are too expensive in terms of strategy. This is just a problem other countries with expensive defense assets also face, like the US aircraft carriers that are part of the US Navy.