Top 10 Best Tanks in the World

Ironic it seems, while most people are advocating world peace, the government of the so-called “super powers” never stop inventing powerful and destructive weapons like fighter aircrafts, nuclear weapons, tanks and many others.

Type 99 – China

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Type 99, a 3rd generation main battle tank operated by the Peoples Liberation Army of China, is the fastest tank in the world. The ZTZ99 MBT is considered one of the 12 best tanks in the world. A unit of Type 99 is worth ¥ 17,417,659 Renminbi, approximately US$2.5 million. It is also known as ZTZ-99 and WZ-123. The newest and much improve variant is the Type 99KM

It is currently the most advanced MBT in the People's Liberation Army. It entered the PLA service in 2001.

Notable features and specifications:

• It is equipped with newer modular active protection system
• It has a JD-4 active laser defense system
• It has more powerful engine
• It is also equipped with a 155 mm gun capable of firing next-generation kinetic rounds
• It has sloped turret armor for increased protection
• The driver's compartment is in the front
• The fighting compartment lies directly behind the driver’s compartment
• Its engine is installed in the rear.
• It features a dual-axis stabilized 125mm/50-calibre ZPT98 smoothbore gun.
• It carries Russian anti-tank missiles called 9M119 Refleks.
• This tank can attain a top speed of 80km/h
• It weighs 54 tonnes for Type-99G, 57 tonnes for Type-99A1, 58 tonnes for Type-99A2
• It has a length of 11.0 meters and a width of 3.4 meters
• It is operated by 3 crews

M1A2 Abrams – USA

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Are you looking for the most powerful tank in the world? It’s right in front of you. The M1 Abrams is believed to be the most powerful tank in the world. This tank is an American third-generation main battle tank. The tank is named after Gen. Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972.

Notable features and specifications:

• It uses a powerful gas turbine engine
• It adopted a sophisticated composite armor
• It has separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety
• It is one of the heaviest tanks in service – 62 metric tons
• It is anticipated to be in U.S. service until the 2050s,
• The tank reaches a speed of 67.72 km/h.
• It costs US$6.21 million

Challenger II – UK

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The pride of the UK – the FV4034 Challenger 2, it is the main battle tank (MBT) of British Army and Oman. It is advertises as the world’s most reliable main battle tank. During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq the Challenger 2 tanks operating in the Gulf suffered no total losses to enemy fire.

Notable features and specifications:

• It can survive 14 hits from rocket propelled grenades and from one MILAN anti tank missile.
• A unit of Challenger II £4,217,000 or ~$7,921,000
• It weighs 62.5 tonnes
• It has a length 8.3 meters, 11.50 m with gun forward
• Its width 3.5 meters
• It is operated by 4 crews (commander, gunner, loader/operator, and driver)
• It can attain a speed of 59 km/h

T-90 – Russia

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The T-90 is a Russian main battle tank and presently the most advance tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Indian Army. A T-90 tank is worth $2.23 million as of in January, 2007. It entered service in 1992.

Notable features and specifications:

• The T-90 uses the tank gun and 1G46 gunner sights from the T-80U
• Protective measures include KOntakt-5 ERA
• It is equipped with Laser warning receivers
• It has EMT-7 electronic pulse (EMP) creator for the destruction of magnetic mines
• It is armed with Shtora infrared ATGM jamming system.
• It is operated by 3 crews
• Its combat weight is 46.5 tons
• It features a 4-stroke V-84ms diesel engine with 849hp.
• The fuel capacity of this battle machine is 1,600l.
• The range is 650km on paved roads and 500km on unpaved.
• The tank reaches a speed of 65 km/h.
• It weighs 46.5 tonnes
• It is 9.53 meter long

Leclerc – France

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The Leclerc is the main battle tank of France created by Nexter. It was named for Gen. Philippe Leclerc of WW II. It entered service in 1992 and is also operated by UAE – United Arab Emirates. The French Army has a total of 406 Leclercs and the UAE has 388. A unit of Leclerc is worth ₣ 29,000,000 in 1993.

Notable features and specifications:

• It has a weight of 54.5 tonnes
• It has a length of 9.87 meters
• It has a width of 3.71 meters
• It has a height of 2.53 meters
• It is operated by 3 crews (commander, gunner and driver)
• It can attain a speed of 71 km/h

Leopard 2 – Germany

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The Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of Germany. It entered service in 1979. It first saw combat in Kosovo with the German Army and has also seen action in Afghanistan with the Danish and Canadian ISAF forces. The Leopard 2 is one of the most expensive tanks in the world where a single unit is worth US$4.5 million (Leopard 2A6).

Notable features and specifications:

• It features digital fire control systems with laser rangefinders
• It has a fully stabilized main gun
• It is equipped with coaxial machine gun
• It has advanced night vision and sighting equipment
• It has the ability to engage moving targets while moving over rough terrain.
• It can drive through water 4 meters deep using a snorkel
• It can climb vertical obstacles over one meter high.
• It is powered with a turbo-charged multi-fuel V12 diesel engine that produces 1,500 PS
• It weighs 62.3 tonnes
• It has a length of 9.97 meters
• It has a width of 3.75 meters
• It is operated by 4 crews
• It can reach a speed of 72 km/h

Merkava - Israel

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The Merkava, which is means Chariot in Hebrew, is the main battle tank of Israel Defense Forces. A Merkava tank is worth $4.5-$5 million in 2006.

Notable features and specifications:

• The turret assembly is located nearer the rear that gives the crew additional protection against a frontal attack.
• The rear entrance’s clamshell-style doors provide overhead protection when off- and on-loading cargo and personnel.
• It weighs 65 tonnes
• It has a length of 9.04 meters
• It has a width of 3.72 meters
• It is 2.66 meter tall
• It is operated by 4 people (commander, driver, gunner &, loader)
• It can attain a speed of 64 km/h.

CI Ariete – Italy

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The C1 Ariete is Italian Army’s main battle tank. This tank carries the latest optical and digital-imaging and fire-control systems, enabling it to fight day and night and to fire on the move. The first deliveries were in 1995, and the last occurred 7 years later in August 2002.

Notable features and specifications:

• It is mounted with a 120 mm smoothbore Oto Melara cannon
• It is also equipped with a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
• It also has a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun manned by the tank commander.
• It is 54 tonnes in weight
• It is 9.67 meters in length
• It is operated by 4 crews
• It can attain a speed of 70 km/h

Arjun – India

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Arjun is India’s main battle tank. An Arjun tank is worth US$3.8 million. Its name was taken from one of the main characters of the longest epic in the world from India, the Mahabharata.

Notable features and specifications:

• It is equipped with a 120 mm main rifled gun with indigenously developed APFSDS ammunition which has capability of defeating superior armor
• It has one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
• It is also equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun.
• It is powered by a single MTU multi-fuel diesel engine rated at 1,400 hp
• It can achieve a maximum speed of 70 km/h
• It is operated by 4 crews: commander, gunner, loader and driver.
• It has an automatic fire detection and suppression
• It has NBC protection systems
• It has a weight of 58.5 tons
• It has a length of 10.68 meters

T-84 – Ukraine

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The T-84, the main battle tank of Ukraine, is one of the fastest existing MBTs in the world, It entered service in the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 1999.This tank was developed from Soviet T-80. The T-84 Oplot is an advanced version incorporating an armored ammunition compartment in a new turret bustle. The T-84-120 Yatagan is a prototype model intended for export, mounting a 120 mm gun capable of firing standard NATO ammunition and guided missiles.

Notable features and specifications:

• It has a 26 hp/t power-to-weight ratio (compared to 18 hp/t of the contemporary Russian T-90
• It is designed to perform well in hot climates, and even includes an air-conditioned crew compartment
• It weighs 46 tonnes
• It has a length of 7.086 meters
• It has a width of 3.775 meters
• It has a height of 2.215 meters
• It is operated by 3 crews
• It can attain a speed of 65 km/h

See also

• World’s Most Powerful and Most Destructive Weapons Ever Built

• 14 Most Expensive and Most Powerful Fighter Aircrafts

• 14 Most Expensive and Most Powerful Fighter Aircrafts II

• Uniquely-Designed and Awesome-Looking Flying Objects

• World’s Largest Aircrafts in Existence: Certified Top Ten

• Uniquely-Designed and Awesome-Looking Flying Objects

• World’s Largest and Longest Aircrafts

• World’s Fastest Flying Machines Ever Built

• World’s Largest Machines Ever Built