Verification within Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program
The information being circulated online about the alleged acknowledgment by the USA of the superiority of the Russian tank T-80BVM over its Western counterparts is false. This claim was made by the American magazine Military Watch Magazine.
However, this is a fake. Military Watch Magazine is an unreliable source that regularly spreads pro-Russian propaganda. Ukrainian and Western analysts, as well as crews of Western tanks, speak positively about them.
Screenshot of the post
The post mentions that the source of this news is Military Watch Magazine. The resource Media Bias / Fact Check, which aggregates ratings from independent fact-checkers in the IFCN network, assesses the publications of Military Watch Magazine as biased and dubious. Additionally, there is a lack of transparency regarding the ownership, leadership, and editorial staff of the website. Therefore, it is impossible to determine whether the materials are indeed authored by US citizens and whether the media is genuinely “American.”
Furthermore, the media outlet regularly disseminates Russian propaganda. For example, the magazine spread Russian claims about the destruction of the Patriot missile defense system on May 16, 2023, although representatives of the United States and independent analysts did not confirm this. Later, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi stated that no American systems were destroyed. Military Watch also published information about alleged oppression by the “Nazi regime” of Ukraine against students from India, although foreigners were actually returning and continuing their studies. The magazine claimed that Ukrainian air defense systems failed to intercept ballistic missiles and praised the effectiveness of Russian and North Korean missiles used against Ukraine. It also positively highlighted the capabilities of the Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft, which was shot down by Ukrainian air defense a few days after the publication of the material.
In this material, Military Watch Magazine refers to the words of a Russian T-80 crew commander from a report by “RIA Novosti” dated January 4, 2024. They do not provide examples of other positions or opinions. Such claims are part of the Russian narrative that Western technology is inferior to Russian counterparts.
Ukrainian and Western experts have repeatedly noted the advantages of tanks from NATO countries. Ukrainian expert Mykola Salamakha, comparing the Soviet T-72B tank with the Leopard 2A4, points out that the latter surpasses the Soviet tank in combat capabilities. He also speaks positively about the Leopard 1/2 and Challenger 2 in general.
For example, Salamakha highlights the firepower, accuracy, reliability of systems, engine, and protection of the Challenger 2, explaining that the gap between it and the T-80B is 20 years. He also mentions the technological advancement of the Leopard 2, and the reliability of its armor and gives an example of how this tank survived a battle with several Russian tanks simultaneously. Salamakha explains that the Challenger 2 and Leopard 2 mainly do not encounter obstacles when driving through marshes.
Regarding the Leopard 1, he notes that technologically it is an outdated machine that has been out of service for quite some time, but it has a good 105mm gun, the ammunition for which is better than the Soviet and Russian 125mm ammunition. The performance indicators of this equipment include speed and mobility, so much depends on the command and crews.
Former Director of Operations for the US European Command’s ground forces, Gordon Davis, also notes that Western tanks surpass Soviet/Russian ones.
Similar feedback can be heard directly from crews, for example, those operating the Leopard 2. They highlight the frontal armor of the Leopard 2 tank, crew survivability, its ergonomics, and mobility, especially its fast reverse.
In the propagandist post, it is stated as if the US recognized the superiority of Russian tanks over Western ones. However, one cannot generalize the opinion or information from one media outlet as the position of an entire state. In fact, only one magazine wrote about it, noted for spreading Russian propaganda. It cannot represent the position of an entire country.
Attention
The authors do not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have no relevant affiliations
