May 13, 2026

Of Course, Russian Weapons Are Best


Of Course, Russian Weapons Are Best
The world's best tank is Russian, according to Russians.  Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

It should come as no surprise that the Russian Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT) found Russian military weapons superior to their German counterparts. CAWAT touted experience from Russia’s War on Ukraine as proof of their findings.

While Deutsche Qualität has long been a comforting assurance that an item meets the most exacting of production standards, CAWAT’s analysis hoped to make potential arms buyers skeptical of German quality claims.

Aside from CAWAT’s other research projects for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and other military and technical complexes, how exactly did they come to the conclusion that Russian weapons are better?

Simple – by digging up the German Bundeswehr’s reports of supplies sent to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Then, an “impartial comparison” demonstrated that the Russian weapons are more reliable, easier to operate and maintain, and overall more balanced in their parameters.

To further drive the point home, captured weapons and vehicles from Western countries have been sent on publicity tours, while others are displayed at Moscow’s Victory Museum.

If CAWAT’s self-congratulatory notes on weapons were not enough of an ego boost, they also named the Russian T-90M as the world's most advanced tank. Development of the T-90 began under the Soviets, with the expectation that it would replace the tired T-72 (which hasn't quite happened yet).

Notably, Russia’s next-generation main battle tank, the T–14 Armata, has seen little production or deployment since its embarrassing 2015 unveiling. The costly units are sparingly deployed on the front lines in Ukraine, and claims circulate that there are just a dozen or fewer T-14s.​ They are considered high-quality in domestic reports, yet are too valuable to use in combat.

You Might Also Like

Immortal or No?
  • August 18, 2024

Immortal or No?

Russia's Immortal Regiment demonstrations have petered out, reflecting a distaste for grassroots patriotism.
Victory (Kinda) on Display
  • June 02, 2024

Victory (Kinda) on Display

Russian diplomats recently perused a display of captured Western equipment brought from Ukraine to Moscow.
Snowing on Your Parade
  • May 12, 2024

Snowing on Your Parade

A few things were notably absent (and present) from this year's Victory Day parade.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955