Battle tanks are an intrinsic part of modern ground operations dating back to the last century. While armor is a driving force for any modern military, there is always a shift in mission priorities with the passage of time. Today, we’re looking at the most advanced battle tanks around.
Which Country Has The Most Tanks?
You might rightfully presume it’s the United States that has the most tanks in the world. Surprisingly, this isn’t true, and what’s even more surprising is that the United States isn’t even among the top three countries.
This honor belongs to Russia, Egypt, and North Korea, with the United States taking up the fifth spot behind China. With over 14,777 tanks before the start of the Ukraine war, the Russian army was the most tank-heavy in the world.
Why Are Tanks So Devastating
When you combine heavy armor, significant firepower, and incredible strategy, tanks can destroy multiple targets at the same time. While you can argue that tanks are slow to move, giant targets on their own, and can be disabled by an enemy, it’s understandable why countries only put so much stock into having a large tank army.
However, the reality is that tanks are evolving with modern times to make them more mobile and agile to serve better the different kinds of wars the world is seeing. It’s unlikely a battle like World War II will play out in the future on a large grassy field where it’s completely open. Instead, urban warfare is now the dominant consideration for tank design.
31. KMW Boxer
- Weight: 49.6 tons
- Type: Infantry Fighting Vehicle / Battle Tank
- Armament: 120mm RCT120 unmanned remote-controlled powered turret with 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun and optional co-axial 7.62mm anti-infantry machine gun
- Country of origin: Germany
- Manufacturer: Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW)
- Year introduced: 2027
- Top speed: 62 mph
30. Textron Systems RIPSAW M5
- Weight: 7.5 tons
- Type: Unmanned Ground Vehicle
- Armament: Anti-aircraft / anti-tank automatic cannon and anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher (Javelin-class)
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Textron Systems
- Year introduced: 2025
- Top speed: 40 mph
29. HIT Al-Zarrar
- Weight: 44.1 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Pakistan
- Manufacturer: Heavy Industries Taxila
- Year introduced: 2004
- Top speed: 40 mph
28. Chonma-ho (Pegasus)
- Weight: 44.1 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm 2A46 main gun, 14.5mm KPV anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial general purpose machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: North Korea
- Manufacturer: Second Machine Industry Bureau
- Year introduced: 1981
- Top speed: 31 mph
27. T-64
- Weight: 43 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm D-81 smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Malyshev Factory
- Year introduced: 1966
- Top speed: 43 mph
26. Vickers MBT (VMBT)
- Weight: 42.7 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Manufacturer: BAe Systems / Avadi Company
- Year introduced: 1965
- Top speed: 31 mph
25. NORINCO ZTZ-88 (Type 80/85/88)
- Weight: 41.9 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, smoke dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: China North Industries Corporation
- Year introduced: 1985
- Top speed: 40 mph
24. Type 74 (Nana-yon)
- Weight: 41.9 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
- Country of origin: Japan
- Manufacturer: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Year introduced: 1975
- Top speed: 37 mph
23. DIO Zulfiqar
- Weight: 41.7 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Iran
- Manufacturer: Defense Industries Organization (DIO)
- Year introduced: 1996
- Top speed: 43 mph
22. DIO T-72Z (T-55)
- Weight: 39.7 tons
- Type: Main battle tank
- Armament: 105mm M68 rifled main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Iran
- Manufacturer: Defense Industries Organization (DIO)
- Year introduced: 1996
- Top speed: 40 mph
21. T-54
- Weight: 39.7 tons
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 100mm D-10TG main gun, 7.62mm SG MT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: State Factories
- Year introduced: 1949
- Top speed: 30 mph
20. TAMSE TAM (Tanque Argentino Mediano)
- Weight: 33.1 tons
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Argentina
- Manufacturer: Thyssen-Henschel / TAMSE
- Year introduced: 1983
- Top speed: 47 mph
19. T-34
- Weight: 30.9 tons
- Type: Medium tank
- Armament: 85mm D-5T / ZiS-S-53 main gun, 7.62mm DT MG coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm DT machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: State Factories
- Year introduced: 1940
- Top speed: 32 mph
18. Stridsfordon 90 (CV90 / Strf 90)
- Weight: 29.8 tons
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle / light tank
- Armament: 40mm Bofors autocannon, 7.62mm Browning coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Sweden
- Manufacturer: Hagglunds / BAe Systems
- Year introduced: 1993
- Top speed: 43 mph
17. NORINCO ZBD2000 (Z-Series)
- Weight: 28.7 tons
- Type: Amphibious ARV / IFV / Light Tank
- Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: China North Industries Corporation
- Year introduced: 2006
- Top speed: 40 mph
16. NORINCO ZTQ-15 (Type 15 / VT-5)
- Weight: 27.6 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 105mm turret gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: China North Industries Corporation
- Year introduced: 2021
- Top speed: 43 mph
15. M41 Walker Bulldog
- Weight: 25.9 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 76mm M32 main gun, 12.7mm M2 Browning anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm Browning M1914A4 coaxial machine gun
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Cadillac Gage
- Year introduced: 1951
- Top speed: 45 mph
14. NORINCO Type 62 (WZ131)
- Weight: 23.1 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 85mm type 62-85TC rifled main gun, 7.62mm type 59T coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm type 59T bow-mounted machine gun, 12.7mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: China North Industries Corporation
- Year introduced: 1963
- Top speed: 37 mph
13. Type 85 (YW531H)
- Weight: 22 tons
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: 85mm main gun, 14.5mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm general purpose machine gun
- Country of origin: North Korea
- Manufacturer: State Factories
- Year introduced: 1985
- Top speed: 37 mph
12. Cadillac Gage Stingray
- Weight: 21 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 105mm L7A3 rifled main gun, 12.7mm Browning anti-aircraft heavy maching gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Cadillac Gage / Textron Systems
- Year introduced: 1988
- Top speed: 43 mph
11. BMP-3 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)
- Weight: 20.6 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 100mm 2A70 rifled main gun, 30mm 2A72 coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
- Year introduced: 1987
- Top speed: 43 mph
10. NORINCO Type 63 (WZ211)
- Weight: 20.3 tons
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: China
- Manufacturer: China North Industries Corporation
- Year introduced: 1963
- Top speed: 40 mph
9. 2S25 (Sprut-SD)
- Weight: 19.8 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 125mm 2A75 main gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Year introduced: 2007
- Top speed: 43 mph
8. Jagdpanzer SK 105 Kurassier
- Weight: 19.5 tons
- Type: Light tank
- Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Austria
- Manufacturer: Saurer-Werk / Steyr-Daimler-Puch
- Year introduced: 1971
- Top speed: 43 mph
7. BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)
- Weight: 16.1 tons
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 30mm 2A42 main gun, 7.62 PKTM coaxial machine gun, 9M113 Konkurs mssile launcher, smoke dischargers
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
- Year introduced: 1982
- Top speed: 40 mph
6. BMD-4 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)
- Weight: 15 tons
- Type: Light infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 100mm main gun, 30mm cannon, AT-5 Spandrel anti-tank guided missile launcher, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, 5.45mm general purpose machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: Russia
- Manufacturer: Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Year introduced: 2005
- Top speed: 43 mph
5. BMD-3 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)
- Weight: 14.6 tons
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: 30mm cannon, 7.62 machine gun, AT-4 ATGW launcher, 5.45mm machine gun, 40mm grenade launcher, smoke dischargers
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Year introduced: 1990
- Top speed: 44 mph
4. BMP-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)
- Weight: 13.8 tons
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: State Factories
- Year introduced: 1966
- Top speed: 40 mph
3. BMD-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)
- Weight: 12.7 tons
- Type: Amphibious light tank
- Armament: 30mm 2A42 cannon, ATGM missile launcher, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Year introduced: 1985
- Top speed: 50 mph
2. Alvis FV107 Scimitar
- Weight: 8.9 tons
- Type: Armed reconnaissance vehicle
- Armament: 30mm L21 RARDEN cannon, 7.62mm L37A1 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Manufacturer: Alvis
- Year introduced: 1971
- Top speed: 50 mph
1. BMD-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)
- Weight: 8.3 tons
- Type: Infantry fighting vehicle
- Armament: 73mm 2A28 smoothbore cannon, 9M14M anti-tank guided missiles
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
- Manufacturer: Volgograd Tractor Plant
- Year introduced: 1966
- Top speed: 50 mph
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