Next generation machines are just around the corner (debut in September, 2013)
MBT generetion change unlike game consoles has nothing to do with market dynamics, and technology advance isn't smth well accepted in terms of what is generational leap and what is not. So there's a lot of cheap journalism in saying that given machine belongs to said generation, but if smth that has never been changed in tank design for a whole century and finally is about to change -- I believe there's a solid reason to call it nextgen (or 4th to be precise).
Behold... Armata (R&D codename):
I was a little confused when I first saw the model. There're some leaked vague photos of early prototypes that badly represent current state of development and quite a few fake renders, so that devalues them a lot compared to this even though it's just a model. Thankfully after some time I was able to get a confirmation from person who actually saw the thing in real life that the turret (the fantasy of mad scinetist) is a complete and purposeful fake, while the platform itself is rather accurate. This pretty much proves that Armata is going to have a fully separated fighting compartment, enclosed in armored capsule (see the position of optical devices and hatches just in front of the turret, for example), thus the first machine to enter service since Renault FT (1917) which is going to have different design layout rather than classical one.
This fall Armata along with other machines intended for heavy brigades will debut on the show in Nizhny Tagil, chances are high though that they'll be shown only to certain persons who oversee the development, that means no press around. The machine is planned to enter serial production by 2015.
