Recently, the Ukrainian Internet publication Defense Express once again recalled the project of the Object 477 main battle tank. It was argued that the latest version of such an MBT, known as "477A" or "Nota", in terms of characteristics and capabilities could surpass the modern Russian T-14 Armata tank - if it existed in reality. However, this MBT never appeared. Work on the "Note" stopped at an early stage, even before the appearance of a full-fledged prototype. All further attempts to continue development have failed.
At the design stage
Let us recall that the projects of the MBT family "477" were developed by the Kharkov Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering with the participation of a number of other enterprises. The purpose of these works was to create a tank of "limiting parameters": due to new solutions and components, it was planned to obtain the maximum possible tactical and technical characteristics.
By the beginning of the nineties, the KMDB managed to create several versions of the "Object 477" project, which also bore the name "Hammer". After the collapse of the USSR, work on the topic "477" did not stop. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to continue the development of a promising tank. A new technical task was formed, according to which they began to design the "Object 477A", also called "Note".
The development of "Nota" was carried out at an unfortunate period. Lack of funding and problems of organizing international cooperation limited the pace of work and did not encourage optimism. Finally, at the beginning of the 2000s, the Russian side decided to abandon the joint project and redirect resources to its own developments.
By this time, up to ten prototypes had been built, with the help of which certain technical solutions were worked out. These products were made on the basis of existing tanks by installing the necessary equipment. Full prototypes, reflecting the design appearance of the new MBT, did not have time to build.
After the refusal of the Russian side, the future of Object 477A turned out to be a big question. Ukraine did not have all the capabilities necessary to complete the design, construction and testing of experimental equipment and the subsequent launch of serial production. However, the design did not stop. Later, an improved version of the project with the index "477A1" was created.
Independent work
After the termination of Russian-Ukrainian cooperation, the 477A1 project was not formally closed, but the work for objective reasons slowed down, and sometimes even stopped altogether. Independent Ukraine could not cope with these problems on its own, which predetermined the further fate of "Nota".
The main problem of the now own Ukrainian project was the lack of the necessary funding. The main customer of the "Object 477A1" was the Russian Ministry of Defense, which also assumed almost all the funding. After his exit from the project, KMDB could not find a new source of money that could pay for the completion of the work.
A number of Russian organizations and enterprises took part in the joint project "Nota", which were responsible for conducting various research and development of parts of components and assemblies. In the early 2000s, these ties were severed. To continue the work, Ukraine would have to re-establish international cooperation or solve the problems facing it on its own.
The problems that arose were resolved only partially. So, it was possible to reduce the dependence of the tank on imported products and change the range of units planned for purchase. The 477A1 project envisaged a wider use of units of Ukrainian or foreign production while reducing Russian production.
However, the Nota project did not receive the required funding. Despite constant talk about the upcoming modernization of tank forces, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has not found the funds to develop its own new generation MBT. Moreover, other projects that were less novelty also did not receive adequate support.
Looking for a customer
KMDB, to the best of its strength and capabilities, tried to develop the Nota project and even created an improved version of it. However, the necessary support was lacking, and the project actually died out. He was remembered from time to time, but there was no talk of continuation and completion with all the desired results.
The inability of Ukraine to pay for the continuation of the work became obvious long ago, and KMDB began to search for foreign customers. As it became known later, at the turn of the 2000s and 10s, Saudi Arabia became interested in the Nota project. It was argued that this state could fund the continuation of development and then order a number of tanks.
The latest reports of possible Ukrainian-Saudi cooperation took place in 2019, then it was argued that interest from the foreign army persists and could lead to the emergence of a real contract. However, over the past time - as well as over the previous 10 years - the situation has not changed. Saudi Arabia is not helping Ukraine with money and is not going to buy its tanks.
Also, in recent years, interest from other countries was mentioned, which could also help with the development of a new MBT and order serial equipment. However, as in the case of the hypothetical Saudi order, so far there are only conversations without any real continuation.
Stored history
According to known data, after the breakdown of cooperation in Ukraine, 6 or 7 prototypes of "Nota" remained, as well as a significant number of various units, spare parts and ammunition. Until recently, equipment and some other products were stored at the Bashkirovka test site in the Kharkov region, where they were previously tested.
According to Defense Express, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine took out mock samples from the test site and placed them in a special storage facility. In addition, the fate of the remaining 152-mm rounds for the Object 477 cannon was decided. Previously, they were planned to be disposed of as unnecessary, and now they will also be sent for storage.
It is also reported that the development work "477A1" or "Nota" is not closed and formally continues. However, the continuation of the development of such an MBT in its current form requires a lot of time and money. Accordingly, completion of work in the near future is unlikely or impossible.
Non-existent future
The development of the Object 477 main battle tank and its modifications has been going on for about 30-35 years, but has not yet led to the desired results. It was possible to build only a dozen "defective" samples, and they appeared at least 20 years ago, and since then the situation has hardly changed. Apparently, in the future, everything will remain the same, and no breakthroughs can be expected.
The history of the Nota project perfectly shows the real state of the Ukrainian tank building and the defense industry in general. The country still retains a school of design that can still come up with bold and promising ideas. However, the independent implementation of such ideas turns out to be impossible due to the limited financial and production potential. In addition, there are no opportunities for industrial modernization, restoration of lost competencies and development of new directions.
Obviously, the ROC "Nota" continues only on paper. This project, despite all the hopes of the past and bold statements of the present, has no real prospects for a long time, and there are no prerequisites for changing this situation. Real "Objects 477A1" will never appear, will not go to the test site and will not go into service. And attempts to compare such technology - if it existed - with real serial samples look like a cruel joke on the Ukrainian industry, which is already not easy.
