The Russian media has recently resumed discussion of the secret tank, dubbed Black Eagle, which was developed by the Omsk Transmash design bureau and whose pictures were shown in several publications and on the Internet.
"There was no such project...and those 20-year-old pictures show amock-up of a futuristic tank which remained just a product of someone'simagination," Col. Vladimir Voitov, head of research at the MainDirectorate of the Armored Troops, said in an interview with the EchoMoskvy radio on Saturday.
He added that he was aware of a prototype of an experimental tank,but insisted that 'the turret of the vehicle did not have anythinginside."
According to the Russian media, an early prototype of the BlackEagle was shown at an arms exposition in Siberia, in June 1999. Itappeared to be based on a lengthened T-80U hull, and to have very thickfront armor and new-generation Kaktus explosive reactive armor.
However, recent reports in open sources suggest that the Black Eagleprogram has been halted due to the acceptance of the T-90, built by theUralvagonzavod plant, into the Russian military in the mid-1990s.
In addition, Russia has reportedly opted for Uralvagonzavod as thedeveloper and manufacturer of a new-generation MBT, which will mostlikely have a designation as T-95.
Sergei Mayev, head of the Federal Service for Defense Contracts(Rosoboronzakaz) told a news conference in July 2008 that the RussianArmed Forces would start receiving new-generation tanks superior to theT-90 main battle tank after 2010.
The new tank will feature better firepower, maneuverability, electronics and armor protection than the T-90 MBT.
Its speed will increase from 30-50 kph to 50-65 kph (19-31 mph to 31-40 mph).
According to some sources, the new tank may be equipped with a152-mm smoothbore gun capable of firing guided missiles with a range of6,000-7,000 meters.
In comparison, the T-90 MBT has a 125-mm 2A46M smoothbore gun, whichcan fire AT-11 Sniper anti-tank guided missiles with a range of 4,000meters.
