The tank first appeared on the battlefield over a hundred years ago. The army that had more of these military vehicles was considered the strongest. In the 20th century, the outcome of the military conflict was determined by tanks with better armor protection and a powerful weapon. In the ground forces, this military equipment is the main one. With it, you can break through the enemy’s defense line, destroy armored objects and enemy infantry. In order to effectively counter these fighting vehicles, various anti-tank weapons are being created. However, tanks are also being improved. Today they still constitute the main striking force of the ground forces. When discussing military equipment and weapons, experts often address the issue of which tank is the best in the world. The importance of this topic is evidenced by the fact that many states spend several tens of millions of dollars each year on the design of new combat vehicles or the improvement of old ones. The top 10 best tanks in the world are presented in the article.
What are the criteria for evaluating?
According to experts, it is possible to determine which tank is the best in the world by considering two parameters: security and firepower. Since modern heavy tanks are designed to break through the enemy’s key defensive positions, it is not necessary for combat vehicles to possess high speed, experts say. Also, tanks are evaluated by the type of shells used. Mostly this technique is equipped with armor-piercing.
In which countries is tank building developed?
According to experts, the tank building industry is well developed in the UK, Russia, the United States of America, Israel, Germany, Ukraine and China. In these countries, with serious tank-building schools, serial production of units of armored vehicles has been established. According to experts, in these countries there are all conditions to create the best tanks in the world. A fairly good tank-building industry is available in India, Pakistan, Turkey, Poland, Japan and North and South Korea. Below is a ranking of the 10 best tanks in the world.
"Arjun Mk.I"
Opens the top of the best tanks in the world model, created in 2011 by Indian weapons designers. Design work on the combat vehicle was carried out for 35 years. This is a completely independent development of Indian gunsmiths.
The mass of the tank is 58.5 tons. There are four people in the crew. Military equipment is equipped with a 120-mm rifled gun capable of launching guided missiles. Within one minute, up to 8 shots can be fired. Despite the fact that the Indian model was among the ten best tanks in the world, today its technical solutions are already outdated.
99A2
The ninth position among the best tanks in the world is occupied by the Chinese 99A2 combat vehicle. According to experts, it is not a completely independent development of Chinese designers. As the basis for the combat vehicle was the Soviet tank T-72. It has been in service with the Chinese Army 99A2 since 2011.
The mass of the tank is 58 tons. There are three people in the crew. For the Chinese version, a 125 mm smoothbore gun was developed. Within one minute, no more than 7 shots can be fired from the main gun. On a flat surface, the tank moves at a speed of 70 km / h. Unlike the Soviet tank, the Chinese version has a new welded tower and more advanced modern dynamic defense. Also, the combat vehicle is additionally equipped with a special laser complex, which can blind the enemy.
AMX-56 Leclerc
In the eighth position of the 10 best tanks in the world is the French Leclerc combat vehicle. It has been in service with the French army since 1992. At that time, the tank was considered one of the most modern and technologically advanced. Today, this combat model is not mass-produced. Leclerc is the most expensive tank in the world. The cost of one unit is at least 6 million euros.
The mass of the tank is 57.4 tons. A 120-mm smooth-bore gun is used as the main armament. Engine power is 1,500 horsepower. In Leclerc, charging is automatic. Such a design solution is not typical for tanks in Western European countries. There are three people in the crew. The place for the loading machine was the stern insulated part of the tower.
Challenger-2
A combat vehicle has been manufactured in the UK since 1994. According to experts, Challenger-2 is recognized as one of the best tanks in the world. The military equipment weighs 62.5 tons. The tank uses a 120 mm rifled gun. The crew consists of four people. According to experts, the main advantage of Challenger-2 is its armor protection, which can provide the crew with a high level of security. In addition, the designers installed additional dynamic protection on the tank. The power unit is 1200 hp. The maximum speed of the tank is 56 km / h. The Balkan armed conflict and the second Iraqi campaign were carried out using these tanks. Confronted Challenger 2 to Soviet combat vehicles. Using the obtained real combat experience, the English gunsmiths in 2008 carried out a deep modernization of equipment. As a result, the tank was equipped with a new gun, engine and transmission. The changes affected the system that controls the shooting. Challenger 2 is in seventh position in the top of the best tanks in the world.
About the Black Panther
Since 2015, the K2 Black Panther tank has been in service with the South Korean army. It is considered the first independent operating time of South Korean tank builders. According to experts, this military equipment is quite expensive. The price of the tank is 8.5 million dollars. It weighs 55 tons. The crew of the tank is three people. South Korean engineers for the K2 developed a 120 mm smoothbore gun. As a basis used the German tank gun Rh-120, which today is considered one of the best. The Black Panther uses an automatic loader, which is structurally similar to the one equipped with the French Lecler.
From the main K2 gun, 15 shells can be released in one minute. A complex active defense is provided for the South Korean combat vehicle, thanks to which the Black Panther is invulnerable to enemy shells and guided missiles. Engineers assembled the entire electronic stuffing of the combat vehicle into a single TIUS network (tank information management system). It provides automatic control of tactical tank formations, information exchange between tanks and other military equipment. "Black Panther" in sixth place in the ranking of the best tanks in the world. (Photo K2 below).
About BM Oplot
In the fifth position in the rating, the development of Kharkov tank builders is the Oplot combat vehicle. The base for the Ukrainian tank was the Soviet MBT T-80U. "Oplot" weighs 51 tons. A KBAZ smooth-bore gun of 125 mm caliber is used as the main gun. The guns are designed for Combat guided missiles. The crew of the tank consists of three people. The power unit is 1200 hp. The specific power indicator is 24.7. On a flat surface, the tank can accelerate to 70 km / h. According to experts, military equipment has a high level of protection. In the "Hold" used as a multi-layer armor protection, and dynamic "Doublet". In addition, a special Barrier Defense System was developed for the combat vehicle, which successfully resists enemy shells and anti-tank guided missiles. To create a camouflage smoke screen, the Oplot was equipped with a complex of electron-optical active protection KOEP "Warta". With the help of a thermal imaging complex, the tank crew can detect a target from a distance of 8 thousand meters. Recognizes an object from a distance of not more than 4.5 km. Identification is carried out from 2.5 thousand meters.
About T-90
In fourth place in the top is a combat vehicle created by Russian weapons engineers. The base for the T-90 was the Soviet tank MBT T-72. The first samples of the T90 appeared in the 90s. The tank weighs 46.5 tons. There are three people in the crew. Military equipment is equipped with a 125mm 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun. Guided missiles are used as ammunition. The tank is equipped with a V-92S2F engine. Power plant capacity 1130 hp For various modifications of the T-90, compactness, lightness, maneuverability, high speed characteristics and high firepower are inherent.
For the manufacture of armor, gunsmiths used composite steel. The combat crew of the T-90 is reliably protected from the enemy’s anti-tank guns. According to experts, on the world arms market various modifications of the Russian T-90 tank are the best-selling.
About American Abrams
This model has been mass-produced since 1980 in the United States of America. Ambrams is the main tank of the US Armed Forces. Some units are available for export. For several years, "Abrams" repeatedly modernized. The latest and, according to military experts, the most advanced modification is the M1A2 SEP tank. The mass of the combat vehicle is 63 tons. The crew of the tank consists of three people. As the main gun used 120 mm smoothbore gun. The tank is equipped with an AGT-1500 gas turbine engine with a maximum power of 1,500 horsepower. On a flat surface, Abrams can move at a speed of 66.8 km / h. According to experts, the crew of the M1A2 SEP is reliably protected. Combined armor and dynamic protection are provided for the tank.
In addition, “Abrams” was equipped with a special system, the purpose of which is to blind enemy guided missiles using infrared guidance. The place for the combat kit was an armored niche. With their detonation, this design feature gives the tank crew a chance of survival. "Abrams" are equipped with armor-piercing ammunition, sub-caliber shells and ammunition containing programmable fuses. Additionally, “Abrams” provides for high-explosive armor-piercing shells filled with white phosphorus. In the event of their entry into the enemy’s tank, the enemy crew burns alive. In the top M1A2 SEP in third place.
Leopard 2A7
Second place in the ranking is given to the seventh modification of the Leopard 2, designed by German gunsmiths. The public saw the seventh model for the first time in 2010. The mass of the tank is 70 tons. The combat crew consists of four people. The main weapon was one of the best guns in the world - the RH-120. The tank has a diesel engine MV 873 Ka-501, the power of which is 1,500 hp. The maximum speed of the tank on a flat surface is 70 km / h. Despite the large mass, this tank has good maneuverability. "Leopard 2A47" is equipped with high-quality dynamic protection that can successfully withstand guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades and shells. Pay attention to the mine protection crew. The tank is equipped with the latest subcaliber shells that contain tungsten cores that can hit any modern tank. The 2A47 is capable of carrying programmable high-explosive fire.
Top leader
According to military experts, the best modern tank in the world is the Russian T-14 Armata. The public first saw this model in 2015.
The tank belongs to the new generation of military equipment. T-14 weighs 55 tons. The crew consists of three people. "Armata" is equipped with a 125mm 2A82-1M smoothbore gun with remote control. Within one minute, 12 shots can be fired from the main gun. The enemy’s object is destroyed at a distance of 7 thousand meters. The function of additional weapons will be performed by the Kord anti-aircraft machine gun, controlled remotely by a commander or gunner, and paired with the main gun, a modernized Kalashnikov machine gun. The tank is characterized by a special layout: the tower is uninhabited, and the front part, namely a special armored capsule, became the location for the crew. According to information sources, the design work on the T-14 has not yet been completed. It is planned to equip Armata with a radar using a phased array and a large number of cameras. The tank will use integrated dynamic and mine protection.