The T-42 "ARES" Tank (a design submitted to the Armored Warfare contest)
T-42 “ARES” (ARES-I)
Class: Heavy Assault Tank
Contents:
“The calm before the storm. And the storm itself.”
Amid the resource crisis of 2042, when traditional calibers could no longer penetrate the new-generation composite armor, engineers at Uralvagonzavod presented a radical solution. The T-42 “Ares” is not just a tank—it’s a mobile power plant built around a monstrous 50-mm railgun.
Designed to breach the most heavily fortified sectors, the “Ares” uses a hybrid powerplant. While on the move, it burns fuel, but upon entering the “Red Zone,” it switches to silent electric propulsion, transforming into an invisible predator.
Crew: 2 (Commander/Gunner, Mechanic/Driver) + “Volkodav” AI
Combat weight: 49.8 metric tons (optimized through the use of lightweight materials)
MOBILITY (HYBRID SYSTEM)
The “Marsh-Boy” hybrid system offers flexibility in its application.
- Main engine (internal combustion engine): Multi-fuel turbo diesel (1,250 l.s.)
- Maximum speed (highway): 76 km/h
- Range: 600 km
- Combat Tractor (Electric): Two high-torque electric motors (total peak power of 1,400 l.s.). Powered by supercapacitors.
- Maximum Speed (Combat): 42 km/h (activates automatically in stealth mode or when the railgun’s capacitors are discharged)
- Features: Instantaneous torque, silent operation.
WEAPONS
- Primary weapon: 50-mm RG-50 “Gromoverzhets” (EMG-50) railgun.
- Projectile type: Tungsten kinetic rods with high penetration capability.
- Initial velocity: HYPERSONIC (~2,400 m/s—subsequent upgrades may increase this by a factor of 2–3).
- Penetration: Penetrates all modern main battle tanks head-on; capable of penetrating barriers (WALL-BANG).
- Firing Modes:
- I: “Hunter” (Stealth): Single shots (6 rounds/min), minimal heat signature.
- II: “Storm” (Overload): Automatic burst (10 rounds with automatic cutoff, rate of fire 60 rounds/min). Cooling-down period: 30 seconds.
- Ammo capacity: 45 rounds.
- Defensive weapons: Two KAZT “Cerberus” automatic turrets (12.7 mm caliber).
- Type: AI-guided air defense/anti-drone machine guns.
- Field of fire: 360° horizontally, from -10° to +85° vertically.
- Functions: Automatic interception of FPV drones, UAVs, and infantry.
- Ammo capacity: 1,200 rounds (600 per turret).
DEFENSE
The focus is on multi-level, technologically advanced protection while keeping the housing lightweight.
- Primary Armor: Hexa-Core Composite Armor with ceramic and polymer inserts. Lightweight, yet effective against kinetic threats.
- Dynamic Protection (DP): “Relikt-242” modular hexagonal DP system. Interchangeable panels.
- Active Protection System (APS): “Cerberus” (multi-layered system).
- Level I: AI turrets (interception of ATGMs and drones).
- Level II: KAZT “Drozd-M” (firing projectiles at ATGMs in the turrets’ blind spots).
- Camouflage: “Phantom” active camouflage system (optical and thermal panels; operates only in Electro-Propulsion mode). Reduces detectability in the IR and visible spectrums by 45%.
SPECIALIZED SYSTEMS AND AI
- “Volkodav” AI:
- Coordinates the operation of the hybrid system.
- Controls the “Cerberus” KAZT.
- Automatically switches the tank to “Assault” mode when it is under threat of destruction.
- “Wolf Pack” Network Interoperability: A direct, encrypted link with armored vehicles (reconnaissance). Receiving 3D terrain scan data to enable firing through obstacles without visual contact.
- Sensors: Commander’s multispectral sighting system, 360° panoramic view, laser warning system.
