Editing T-15 Kinzhal (section)

==History==
Class: Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Prototype)</br>
Developed: 2018-2019</br>
Service: N/A</br>
Vehicles Built: 2-3</br>
Operators: Russia

In 2019, a different version of the T-15 heavy IFV appeared in public. Instead of the standard Bumerang-BM turret, it featured a different combat module called Kinzhal. The main difference between the turrets is the presence of a 57mm gun, a massive upgrade over the original 30mm autocannon.

The Kinzhal module was developed in 2018 by the Burevestnik design bureau and first appeared in public at the Army 2018 expo, although the module displayed back then was either a mock-up or a prototype. The finalized variant (which can be recognized primarily by hooded ATGM tubes) only appeared a year after, in 2019, during the Victory Day military parade.

This module's raison d'être is likely not just the ability to engage slower flying targets at longer ranges, but also the ever-increasing protection levels of modern western IFVs. The 30mm caliber is generally considered obsolete and is being moved away from, even though modern autocannons of this size still get developed. The battlefield isn't what it used to be - either you participate in asymmetric warfare, or you face modern opponents. The days of thin-skinned IFVs such as the BMP-1 invading en-masse are long over.

With that being said, not even Russia - typically known for exaggerating the intended service numbers, is planning to produce the T-15 heavy IFV with the Kinzhal module en masse. The Armata platform is expensive and equipping large amounts of infantry unit with this behemoth is simply not viable. The intentions are clear - arm only the elite, specialized units with the T-15. However, whether that will really happen or not remains to be seen. Right now, two or three pieces of this vehicle exist and are participating in various expos and parades.