Tanks and Troubles: Russia's Tank Reserves Drastically Depleted, Yet Output Skyrockets - Yet Shortages Persist
Russia's tank manufacturing is increasing, but significant obstacles loom, potentially hampering progress.
Let's dive into the intriguing world of Russia's tank production, a topic that's been buzzing quite a bit lately. Sit tight, as we dissect the facts, rumors, and theories surrounding the current status of Russia's tank reserves!
Russia, once boasting virtually inexhaustible tank stocks, now finds itself in a surprising predicament. According to intel from NATO, the production of tanks, armored fighting vehicles, and troop carriers has reached an all-time high. But here's the catch – the focus appears to be on restoring older models, of which only a few thousand may remain.
At a summit in The Hague, a high-ranking NATO representative shared some fascinating insights with journalists. He revealed that the defense industry has reached its peak production rate, which can be sustained for at least another year. This means the industry can churn out hundreds of tanks, armored fighting vehicles, and troop carriers each month.
But here's where it gets intriguing. Russia is reportedly producing around 130 combat tanks per month, according to the NATO representative. However, most of these new tanks aren't brand-spanking-new; they're restored and modernized old tanks. Ukraine reported 136 destroyed or damaged Russian combat tanks in May alone. With June numbers coming in lower, it seems Russia is successfully offsetting its current losses in the war through its defense industry.
However, the stock of combat tanks that the defense industry can use for restoration is questionable. NATO estimates that Moscow currently has around 2000 old combat tanks at its disposal. But a significant portion of these are only suitable for "cannibalization," meaning they're primarily used for spare parts.
If Russia continues to lose tanks in Ukraine, and these losses are offset by restored models, the number of old combat tanks is likely to dwindle steadily. But it's unlikely that Russia will run out of old combat tanks any time soon. A report by the Washington Post last month suggested that, at the beginning of the war, Russia had an estimated 13,000 mothballed Soviet-era tanks in its reserves. Based on calculations by Western experts, this stock could plummet in the coming months.
Russia may find itself unable to afford the massive losses it experienced in the past. This could go hand-in-hand with the fact that Ukraine has reported fewer destroyed or damaged tanks in recent months. In February, there were almost 12 per day on average, which fell to 8.8 in March, 7.76 in April, and around 4.38 in May. As of June, the average is only 4 destroyed tanks per day. The exact reasons are not known, but it could mean that Kremlin forces are being more frugal, sending fewer vehicles into battle.
No Expectations for Increased Production Volumes
NATO estimates that Russia has lost at least 2700 tanks since the start of the full-scale invasion in Ukraine. Ukraine has reported nearly 11,000 destroyed or damaged examples.
The NATO representative also addressed main battle tanks and unarmored troop transports. Russian production capacities are estimated at around 183 units. "However, I emphasize that despite their high production, they have lost at least 5,000 since the start of the large-scale war - that's twice as much as they originally prepared for in 2022," the representative said. The Ukraine even speaks of around 23,000 destroyed or damaged Russian armored combat vehicles.
The defense industry has apparently reached its maximum production capacity, and NATO does not expect Russia to be able to increase its production volumes. This, along with the massive losses and the dwindling number of old combat tanks, paints a complex picture regarding the future of Russia's armored forces.
In conclusion, Russia is grappling with extreme tank attrition in its current conflict with Ukraine, demonstrating that it's lost more tanks than it had on active duty at the war's outset. With the defense industry focused on restoring older models, the long-term sustainability of Russia's armored forces hinges on continued production and careful combat deployment. Current trends indicate stability over the next few years rather than immediate exhaustion.
- The community is growing increasingly concerned about Russia's employment policy, particularly in the defense industry, as the country is producing a high volume of tanks but losing them at an alarming rate in the conflict with Ukraine.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, it is essential to consider the implications of this situation, as the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine are significantly impacting Russia's employment policy and overall general-news landscape.
