Introduction
Hello defence lovers, in one of our previous articles, we looked at the operation of a battle tank. The world of armoured vehicles arouses many people around the world. Battle tanks are upgraded and designed as per the specific requirement of different countries. Some tanks are built with heavy armour while others are light weight. They are differentiated by their firepower, armour and technological advancements in their fire control systems. In this article we will have a look at 10 most advanced and popular battle tanks of the world.
Technical terms
Before we head towards the 10 best battle tanks of the world, it will be helpful for us to understand a few words about the features of the tank: –
1. Composite armour: This kind of armour of a tank consists of various layers of different materials like metal, ceramic, plastic etc. The purpose of this armour is to provide better protection and cushioning to the tank against explosive anti-tank weapons.
2. Active protection system: It is the protective system of the tank which can detect and intercept any anti-tank weapon that is coming towards the tank and can even neutralize it. It is available in the modern tanks which entered in service in the 1980s and ‘90s.
3. Explosive reactive armour: It is another kind of armour which uses explosives inside the armour to mitigate the impact of anti-tank weapon. When a projectile hits this armour, a small explosion happens inside the armour. It repels the impact of the projectile’s explosion and armour and crew are not harmed much.
4. APFSDS rounds: It stands for Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot. It is a dart like weapon which uses kinetic energy to pierce the armour and attack the armoured vehicle.
5. HEAT rounds: They stand for High Explosive Anti Tank round. It is a conical shaped ammunition which uses explosion near the armour to penetrate the armour and attack the vehicle.
With this knowledge we will be able compare the different tanks in effectively.
1. M1A2 Abrams (USA):
The M1A2 is the latest version of the M1 Abrams main battle tank. It is currently in service with the US Army and several other countries. It was introduced in 1992 and has since experienced gulf war, Iraq invasion and Afghanistan as well. Here are some of its features and capabilities:
Firepower: It is equipped with a 120mm smoothbore cannon as main gun. It can fire a range of ammunition types, including armor-piercing, high-explosive, and anti-tank missiles. The tank also has a .50 caliber M2 machine gun and a 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun along with the main gun, as well as a remote weapons station on the turret that can mount a machine gun as well.
Protection: The M1A2 has advanced armor protection, including a Chobham armour (a type of advanced composite armour developed by UK), reactive armour, and an active protection system. The tank also has a laser warning system, a missile approach warning system, and a radio frequency jammer, which provide additional protection against various threats.
The tank can achieve a top speed of 67 km/hr and a range of 426 kms. It has an advanced kind of hydraulic suspension system. Therefore, it can traverse rough terrain and obstacles easily.
Technological features: The M1A2 has a digital fire control system which improves accuracy and reduces crew workload. The tank also has a Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) that allows the commander to scan for targets independently of the gunner’s sight. It also has a battle management system, which allows it to receive and share battlefield information with other units.
Overall, the M1A2 is a highly capable and advanced main battle tank that has proven its effectiveness in combat. Its firepower, protection, and mobility make it one of the most formidable tanks in the world.
2. T14 Armata (Russia)
The T14 Armata is the new generation Russian main battle tank. It was first showcased in the victory day parade of Russia in May 2015. It is portrayed as a contender to the modern battle tanks of NATO countries. Key features of this tank are as follows: –
Armament: It is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore cannon, which can fire different types of projectiles, including armour-piercing, high-explosive, and even guided missiles. It also has a 12.7mm machine gun and a 7.62mm machine gun as secondary weapons.
Protection: The T-14 Armata has advanced armor protection, including composite armor, reactive armor, and active protection systems. It also has a low profile and reduced radar signature, which makes it difficult to detect and track.
Mobility: The tank achieves a top speed of 80 km/h and provides a range of up to 500 kms.
The special feature of the tank is its automated turret (the upper half of the tank). It has a crew of three, consisting of a commander, a gunner, and a driver. The tank has a high level of automation which reduces the workload of the crew. T-14 Armatas are limited in number because they are presently in the evaluation phase. Also some manufacturing defects were also noticed which are presently being rectified. As per a report by UK intelligence, they are being deployed on Ukrainian soil but they will not be used in active combat.
The technological advancements and enhanced firepower with accuracy makes it a justified contender in the list of top 10 battle tanks.
3. Leopard 2A7+ (Germany)
The Leopard 2A7+ is a modern German main battle tank (MBT). It is an upgraded variant of the Leopard 2 tank, which was serving the German Army since the 1970s. The tank features a number of improvements over its predecessor. They include upgraded armor protection, improved mobility, and enhanced fire control systems. It is also equipped with a number of advanced sensors and electronic systems to improve situational awareness and target acquisition capabilities.
Firepower: It is armed with a Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun. It is capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), and canister rounds. The tank can be integrated with a 7.62mm machine gun and 40mm grenade launchers or a .50 calibre machine gun.
Protection: Being an upgraded variant of leopard 2a6, it features a modular protection system which includes passive armour modules. It provides crew 360° protection against ATGMs, mines, IEDs and RPGs.
Mobility: The tank is powered by a 1,500-horsepower MTU diesel engine. It provides a maximum speed of over 70 km/h and a range of up to 550 kms.
Fire control system: The tank features advanced fire control systems, including a laser rangefinder, a thermal imaging system, and a digital fire control computer. Therefore ,the tank can engage targets accurately at long ranges. The tank has been exported to several countries. Which includes Qatar and Hungary. It has also been deployed on peacekeeping missions in Mali and Afghanistan. Overall, the Leopard 2A7+ is a highly capable and advanced main battle tank that is designed to excel in a wide range of combat situations.
4. Challenger 2 (UK):
The Challenger is the main battle tank (MBT) of the British army. It was introduced in service in 1998 and has been deployed in various conflicts. It was deployed during the gulf war, the Iraq invasion, and the war in Afghanistan. The features of this tank are
Armament: The tank is equipped with 120mm L30A1 rifled main gun which is Capable of firing APFSDS rounds and high-explosive squash head (HESH) rounds. Along with it, it also has 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns for additional firepower.
Technological features: The tank flaunts advanced Fire Control Systems, Laser rangefinder Thermal imaging and night vision systems for better target identification and accuracy. It also has an infrared jammer and NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system.
Protection: It is protected by Chobham composite armor which provides excellent resistance against both kinetic and chemical energy rounds. The composition and the technology used in this armour is highly classified. It is also considered one of the best in the world.
Mobility: It is Powered by a 1200HP V12 diesel engine which provides it a maximum speed of 59km/hr and a range of 450kms.
The tank will undergo an LEP (Life Extension Program) upgrading the existing features. It will be outfitted with modern network and surveillance capabilities. New variant tanks will be known as Challenger 3 and have a service life till 2035.
5. T-90 (Russia):
T-90 is the third generation Russian Main Battle Tank which is developed from T-72. It is indeed one of the most widely used tank in the world. These tanks are also built in India under license at Heavy Vehicle factory in Tamil Nadu. Indian army presently operates 1100 T-90 tanks in its armoured fleet.
Armament: This tank is equipped with 125mm 2A46M smoothbore main gun which is capable of firing APFSDS rounds, HEAT rounds, and guided missiles. Secondary armament includes 12.7mm Kord HMG and 7.62 mm machine gun.
Technological features: It flaunts advanced fire control systems like Thermal imaging, night vision systems and laser rangefinder. They help in better target acquisition and better accuracy.
Protection: Its armour is composed of a combination of steel, composite, and explosive reactive armor (ERA) which features Shtora-1 active protection system. It provides protection against nuclear, Biological and Chemical attacks on the machine.
Mobility: The tank is powered by a V-92S2F diesel engine which provides a maximum speed of 60km/hr and a range of upto 650 kms. The T-90 is a main battle tank that has been in service with the Russian Army since the early 1990s. It has a vast combat experience and has proven its mettle in Chechen invasion, Syrian civil war and is presently being used in Ukraine war by Russia.
6. K2 Black Panther tank (South Korea)
The K2 black panther is a Korean Main battle tank which was introduced in service in 2014. The tank has since been in service with the South Korean army. Last year in April, Polish army signed a deal with Hyundai Rotem (manufacturer) to purchase 180 K2 tanks.
Armament: It has a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun as the main gun along with a Coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and 12.7mm K6 heavy machine gun as the secondary weapon. The main gun is capable of firing APFSDS rounds and HEAT rounds.
Armour: The tank is fitted with advanced composite armour which provides protection against IEDs and enemy fire. The armour is designed to be lighter and more effective on the battlefield which helps the tank to navigate and move easily. It also has APS to intercept incoming projectiles. The armour also provides protection against NBC attacks.
Fire control system: it has an automatic target tracking system which can detect and track multiple targets at the same time and provide real time information to the crew. It is also equipped with laser range finder and thermal imaging
Mobility: It can attain a maximum speed of up to 70 km/h and run up to a Range of 450 km. The tank is fitted with battle management system keeping in mind the network centric nature of future warfare. It also has a semi active suspension which allows it to kneel, sit or stand thereby adjusting the height and viewing angle of crew.
7. Merkava Mk4 tank (Israel)
The Merkava Mk 4 is a main battle tank that has been in service with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) since 2004. It is designed with a focus on crew survivability, and its advanced protection systems make it one of the safest tanks for its crew.
Firepower: The tank is armed with a 120mm MG253 smoothbore gun, which is capable of firing APFSDS rounds and HEAT rounds. It also has a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm machine gun mounted on the turret.
Armour: In terms of protection, the Merkava Mk 4 features the Trophy active protection system (APS) that is designed to intercept incoming projectiles. It has a modular composite armor with metal balls attached to chains on the sides. They detonate inbound projectile before it hits the tank. It also has special armor protection for the crew cabin, smoke grenade launchers, and an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system.
Fire control systems: The Merkava Mk 4 is equipped with advanced fire control systems including a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging and night vision systems, an advanced fire control computer, and an automatic target tracking system.
Mobility: The tank attains a maximum speed of up to 64 km/h and a range of up to 500 km. The Merkava Mk 4 has impressive firepower and mobility and certainly a force to reckon with. It has seen action in several conflicts in the Middle East including the 2006 Lebanon war and Gaza war.
8. Type 99A tank (China)
The Type 99 tank is a third-generation main battle tank that has been in service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) since 2001. It is built on the chassis of T-72 tanks of Russia and manufactured by Chinese firem Norinco.
Firepower: The tank is armed with a 125mm smoothbore main gun. It is capable of firing a wide variety of ammunition types including APFSDS rounds, high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds, and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). It also has a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm machine gun mounted on the turret. The turret can carry 42 rounds with 22 in auto loader.
Armour: In terms of protection, the Type 99A features a composite armor with explosive reactive armor (ERA) modules and an active protection system (APS) that is designed to intercept incoming projectiles. It also has an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system.
Fire control systems: The Type 99 tank is equipped with advanced fire control systems that includes a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging and night vision systems, an advanced fire control computer, and an automatic target tracking system along with a ballistic computer.
Mobility: The tank is powered by a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine. It provides a maximum speed of up to 80 km/h and a range of up to 600 km.
The tank is also equipped with laser weapon which can detonate aerial missile, infrared guided weapons before contact with the tank and impair enemy gunner’s vision. It also features encrypted laser communication system and other communication devices.
The advanced features in terms of fire control systems and encrypted communication brings it in the list of 10 best battle tanks of the world.
9. Leclerc Tank (France)
The Leclerc tank was first introduced into service with the French Army in 1992. It has since been used in several conflicts, including the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the Libyan Civil War. The Leclerc tanks are undergoing modernization and are being upgraded to Leclerc XLR. It is one of the most modern tanks in service with any army in the world today.
Armament: The Leclerc is armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun, which is able to fire a variety of ammunition, including APFSDS rounds, high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds, and high explosive (HE) rounds. The battle tank also has a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm machine gun mounted on the turret.
Protection: The Leclerc is protected by modular composite armor. It provides a high level of protection against a variety of threats, including armor-piercing rounds and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). It also has a laser warning receiver and a radar warning receiver to detect incoming threats. For more protection, it has infrared deception technology and anti-IED equipment which can disrupt cellphone signal in its vicinity.
Fire control systems: The Leclerc tank’s fire control system includes a gunner’s sight, a commander’s sight, and a ballistic computer. Both sights are equipped with laser rangefinder, thermal imaging and day sight. The ballistic computer calculates various factors on the battlefield like the target’s distance, its movement, tank’s position etc. and provides firing solutions to the commander.
Mobility: The Leclerc is powered by a 1,500 horsepower diesel engine and has a maximum speed of around 72 km/h. It has a range of approximately 550 km on a full tank of fuel.
10. Arjun Mk1 A (India)
Arjun Mk-1A is an advanced variant of the Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) designed and developed by the DRDO. Here are some of the key features and specifications of the Arjun Mk-1A:
Armament: The Arjun Mk-1A is equipped with a 120mm rifled main gun. It is capable of firing various types of ammunition including APFSDS, HEAT, and HESH rounds. The tank is also equipped with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, and a smoke grenade launcher.
Protection: The tank features a combination of composite armor, explosive reactive armor (ERA), and bar armor. The armour is named Kanchan armour. It is composed of ceramic tiles and composite plates placed between Rolled Homogenous Armour (RHA). It is designed to provide high level of protection against both kinetic and explosive threats, including anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
Mobility: The Arjun Mk-1A is powered by a 1,400 horsepower diesel engine, which gives it a maximum speed of around 70 km/h. The tank also features a hydro-pneumatic suspension system, which allows for improved ride comfort and stability.
Fire control system: The Arjun Mk-1A is equipped with an advanced fire control system. It includes a ballistic computer, a gun stabilization system, and an automatic target tracking system. Both commander’s and gunner’s station is equipped with a panoramic sight, a laser range finder, and a thermal imager.
The tank is also equipped with an auxiliary power unit (APU), which allows for operation of the tank’s systems and equipment when the main engine is turned off. Overall, the Arjun Mk-1A is a highly capable tank designed and developed to meet the requirements of the Indian Army. Considering its latest features and impressive firepower, it is a legit contender in the list of top 10 battle tanks of the world.
Conclusion
All of the above tanks are designed to suit the requirements of the respective countries. They are also meant to adapt to the changing nature of warfare which is becoming more dependent on advanced communication and AI driven. More advanced tanks are in the development phase like the German KF-51 Panther and American Abrams X. Therefore, we are witnessing the transition phase in tank development and soon present armoured fleets will get replaced by 4th generation of battle tanks.
