Russia: T-14 Armata super tank breaks down during parade rehearsal in Moscow's Red Square

A new high-tech Russian tank failed to get through a Victory Day parade rehearsal when it came to a juddering halt in central Moscow.

The T-14 Armata tank is due to make its full debut at Russia's commemoration of the 70th anniversary of its triumph over Germany in the Second World War on 9 May.

It has been billed as a state-of-the-art feat of military technology, boasting a remotely controlled gun-turret and vastly improved protection for its crew.

But it failed to navigate the streets of the Russian capital and stopped as other vehicles moved past it. Its driver was forced to admit defeat and held aloft a small red flag to signal that the tank was in trouble.

An attempt to tow away the stricken tank failed but it managed to move on under its own power half an hour later.

According to reports, the parade announcer claimed that the pause was intentional and intended to show how military hardware can be evacuated. The excuse was greeted with derisive laughter from those watching the rehearsal.

The T-14 Armata is the first new tank Russia has developed since the fall of the Soviet Union, having previously tweaked old models. It remains in development and will not enter mass production for several years.