Armor from 1980-1989
The Cold War officially ends the decade as the battlefield enters the era of digital warfare.

1 2S-6M Tunguska (SA-19 Grisom) The 2S6M Tunguska is a self-propelled air defense system that combines both cannon power and surface to air missile power. The targeting system relies on a radar sensor with fire control handled via IFF. Turret traversal i... 1986

2 AMX-10RC ... 1981

3 AS-90 Bravehaert The AS90 began life as the prototype GBT in 1981 under the Vickers production banner. AS90 is a 155mm self-propelled gun that equips six Field Regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery. Fitted with a stand... 1989

4 BMP-2 The BMP-2 (now the BMP-2 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a progression of the BMP-1 series of APC. The BMP-2 is larger in some respects but has a greater combat range than it's predecessor. The more powerful engine is coupl... 1982

5 BTR-70 The BTR-70 represents a further development of the successful line of BTR-60 armored personnel carriers of Soviet design. They are eight-wheeled lightly armored systems capable of off road and amphibious travel and can field ... 1980

6 Challenger 1 (FV4030/4) The Challenger series was an off-shoot of the main battle tank designed to an Iranian export order that was to be designated as the "Shir 2". When the Shah of Iran was overthrown by a fundamentalist regime in 1979, the initia... 1983

7 Chenowth Desert Patrol Vehicle (DPV) The DPV is a three man vehicle used for many long range desert operations including close air support or combat search and rescue missions. Originally designated as the FAV (Fast Attack Vehicle) the DPV has seen service prima... 1987

8 FV4333 Stormer Based on the Alvis Scorpion CVR(T) model, the Stormer was a further development primarily for export. The Stormer, like it's Scorpion counterpart, can be adapted to serve a variety of battlefield and peacetime roles. The Alvi... 1981

9 General Dynamics M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams was designed by Chrysler Defense and produced under the General Dynamics brand. The tank was introduced in 1979, entered service in 1980 and is still undergoing production. The system has been featured in the 19... 1981

10 HMMWV (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle) / (Humvee) Aside from the M1 Abrams, perhaps no other American armored vehicle has represented the American Army more than the venerable Humvee series of four-wheeled vehicles. Since its inception, the Humvee has become a staple of mili... 1985

11 HMMWV Avenger The Humvee Avenger is a modified form of the M1037 shelter carrier Humvee. It is a short-range mobile anti-aircraft defense platform utilized by the United States Army, Taiwanese Army and the Egyptian Army. It is a relativel... 1989

12 Land Rover Defender 110 The Defender 110 is produced by the British Land Rover Company for military and recreational use. The British Army and some Commonwealth nations have used the Land Rover series of SUV's since the 1950's. The type dates back t... 1983

13 LAV-25 The LAV-25 8x8 wheeled system was designed and produced by General Motors of Canada (which went on to become General Dynamics Land Systems) to meet a requirement as put forth by the United States Marine Corps. The LAV-25 offe... 1983

14 M2 Bradley The M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle fulfilled a US Army requirement started in the early 1960's for a mechanized system to operate alongside the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (detailed elsewhere on this site). The resul... 1981

15 M270 MLRS The M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is a battlefield support weapon produced buy the Lockheed Martin Vought firm. The system yields an impressive assault armament of 12 tactical battlefield rockets and missiles with... 1983

16 M3 Bradley The M3 Bradley CFV (Cavalry Fighting Vehicle) is very similar to the M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and only varies from it in a few subtle ways and by role. The M3 is classified as an armored reconnaissance and s... 1981

17 M60A1 AVLB The M60A1 AVLB (Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge) is a battlefield engineering vehicle used for launching and retrieving a 60-foot scissors-type bridge. As with most combat engineering vehicles such as this, they are often jus... 1989

18 MIM-104 Patriot ... 1985

19 Oerlikon ADATS The ADATS is categorized as a low-level, short range air defense (SHORAD) system. The Canadian ADATS air defense system is mounted on various modified US M113A2 or M3 Bradley chassis. The Canadian version utilizes the M113 ch... 1988

20 Olifant (Elephant) The Olifant is a further development of the successful British Centurion tank design. When the UN imposed a trade embargo on military good sales into South African, the African nation searched from within to find a suitable c... 1983

21 Oto Melara C-1 Ariete A conventional, if unspectacular, main battle tank in service with the Italian Army. The C-1 Ariete Main Battle Tank belongs to the same family of vehicles produced by the consortium of IVECO and Oto Melara that includes the ... 1984

22 Oto Melara OF-40 The OF-40 main battle tank is produced jointly by the Oto Melara firm and FIAT. The weapon system is a bit under-gunned by current standards which dictate a frontline MBT to utilize at least a 120mm main weapon. FIAT produced... 1981

23 ROTEM K1 (88 Tank) The South Korean military has used tanks developed and produced in the United States from the time of the Korean War. In the 1970’s the Korean Government was concerned with its aging American family of tanks made up of the ... 1986

24 Saxon AT105 APC ... 1983

25 Type 80 The NORINCO Type 80 is based on the Type 69 main battle tank albeit with an entirely new hull design making the Type 80 an entirely new breed of tank in the series. As no automatic loading system is present in the turret, a c... 1980

26 Type 85-II The NORINCO-produced Type-85-II is a further development of the Type 80 main battle tank but offers up a host of improvements over its predecessor. Borrowing from design lessons learned from previous purchases of Soviet-era e... 1985

27 VCC-1 Camillino Italy already maintained several thousand license-production American M113 armored personnel carriers by OTO Melara, so it was no surprise that a decision was made to develop the system further with Italian modifications made... 1982

28 Warrior IFV The Warrior IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) was designed with speed and cross-country ability to keep pace with the Challenger 2-series of main battle tank for the Royal Army. Other considerations made in the design process w... 1986