Russian Defense Ministry Reveals First Photo of New Armata T-14 Tank

The Armata battle tank is part of a massive rearmament program costing hundreds of billions of dollars that aims to restore some of the military might that Russia lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Russia's Defense Ministry on Tuesday published the first official photo of the country's much awaited new T-14 Armata battle tank.

Ten Armata tanks are set to take part in Moscow's Red Square Parade on May 9, according to details published alongside a photo of the tank in an interactive section dedicated to Victory Day on the ministry's website.

The Armata is part of a massive rearmament program costing hundreds of billions of dollars that aims to restore some of the military might that Russia lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Photos claiming to show the weapon were leaked on the Internet in late March, when tanks covered in tarps and resting on a train carriage were spotted in Alabino outside Moscow.

The tanks were reportedly rehearsing their movements for this year's Victory Day Parade, when Russia celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

The ministry's newly launched interactive portal specifies the lineup for each Victory Day parade planned for 26 cities across Russia — including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok and Crimea's Sevastopol.

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