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Main Battle Tanks (MBT)


Armor | Battlefield

Despite advances in armor-defeating weapons, the Main Battle Tank remains the cornerstone of every modern land army's true strength on the battlefield.

The Main Battle Tank (MBT) became a primary battlefield fixture in the years following World War 2 (1939-1945). During the conflict, land forces relied on a mix of light, medium and heavy tank types to fulfill various requirements. The MBT arose out of a need for a 'Universal Tank' concept capable of achieving the same results through a single design. With the advent of lighter composite armor, engineers fashioned a new fighting machine which has remained the mainstay of modern land forces today.

The first true Main Battle Tank came from the British who unveiled their Centurion A41 in 1945. This was then followed by competing designs from the Soviet Union (the classic T-54/T-55 lines) and the United States (through their M60 'Patton'). In more recent years, some land forces have been abandoning the MBT concept in favor of more mobile, lightweight wheeled armored vehicles. Additionally, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs)) have increased their lethality and forced major protection revisions from MBT designers - leading to the thought that the MBT may very well be seeing its last decade of battlefield dominance.

There are a total of [ 85 ] Main Battle Tanks (MBT) entries in the Military Factory. Entries are listed below by initial year of service descending. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator.




1
Picture of the AMX-30
National Flag Graphic
1966
AMX-30
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
2
Picture of the AMX-32
National Flag Graphic
1979
AMX-32
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
3
Picture of the AMX-40
National Flag Graphic
1986
AMX-40
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
4
Picture of the AMX-56 Leclerc
National Flag Graphic
1992
AMX-56 Leclerc
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
5
Picture of the Bernardini MB-3 Tamoyo
National Flag Graphic
1983
Bernardini MB-3 Tamoyo
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
6
Picture of the Centurion (A41)
National Flag Graphic
1945
Centurion (A41)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
7
Picture of the Challenger 1
National Flag Graphic
1983
Challenger 1
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
8
Picture of the Challenger 2 (FV4034)
National Flag Graphic
1998
Challenger 2 (FV4034)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
9
Picture of the Challenger 3 (CR3)
National Flag Graphic
2027
Challenger 3 (CR3)
Main Battle Tank
10
Picture of the Chieftain MBT
National Flag Graphic
1965
Chieftain MBT
Main Battle Tank
11
Picture of the Chonma-ho (Pegasus)
National Flag Graphic
1981
Chonma-ho (Pegasus)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
12
Picture of the CIO Ariete
National Flag Graphic
1995
CIO Ariete
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
13
Picture of the CM-11 Brave Tiger (M48H)
National Flag Graphic
1990
CM-11 Brave Tiger (M48H)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
14
Picture of the Denel Olifant (Elephant)
National Flag Graphic
1978
Denel Olifant (Elephant)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
15
Picture of the DIO T-72Z (T-55)
National Flag Graphic
1996
DIO T-72Z (T-55)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
16
Picture of the DIO Zulfiqar
National Flag Graphic
1996
DIO Zulfiqar
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
17
Picture of the DRDO Arjun (Lion)
National Flag Graphic
2004
DRDO Arjun (Lion)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
18
Picture of the DRDO Tank EX / MBT Ex (Karna)
National Flag Graphic
2002
DRDO Tank EX / MBT Ex (Karna)
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Project
19
Picture of the Duro Dakovic M-95 Degman
National Flag Graphic
1995
Duro Dakovic M-95 Degman
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Prototype
20
Picture of the Engesa EE-T1 Osorio
National Flag Graphic
1987
Engesa EE-T1 Osorio
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Project
21
Picture of the FNSS KAPLAN MT (Medium Tank)
National Flag Graphic
2017
FNSS KAPLAN MT (Medium Tank)
Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT)
22
Picture of the HIT Al Khalid (MBT 2000)
National Flag Graphic
2001
HIT Al Khalid (MBT 2000)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
23
Picture of the HIT Al-Zarrar
National Flag Graphic
2004
HIT Al-Zarrar
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
24
Picture of the Hyundai ROTEM K2PL
National Flag Graphic
2025
Hyundai ROTEM K2PL
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
25
Picture of the IAEME Atharva
National Flag Graphic
2027
IAEME Atharva
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Proposal
26
Picture of the Karrar (Striker)
National Flag Graphic
2018
Karrar (Striker)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
27
Picture of the Khalid (Sword)
National Flag Graphic
1981
Khalid (Sword)
Main Battle Tank
28
Picture of the Leopard 1
National Flag Graphic
1965
Leopard 1
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
29
Picture of the Leopard 2
National Flag Graphic
1979
Leopard 2
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
30
Picture of the Lion of Babylon (T-72M1)
National Flag Graphic
1989
Lion of Babylon (T-72M1)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
31
Picture of the M-84 (MBT)
National Flag Graphic
1985
M-84 (MBT)
Main Battle Tank
32
Picture of the M1 Abrams
National Flag Graphic
1980
M1 Abrams
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
33
Picture of the M2020 (M-2020)
National Flag Graphic
2020
M2020 (M-2020)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
34
Picture of the M60 (Patton)
National Flag Graphic
1960
M60 (Patton)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
35
Picture of the M60 Super/AX (Super M60)
National Flag Graphic
1980
M60 Super/AX (Super M60)
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Prototype
36
Picture of the Magach (M48/M60)
National Flag Graphic
1968
Magach (M48/M60)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
37
Picture of the MBT-70 (KPz-70)
National Flag Graphic
1965
MBT-70 (KPz-70)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
38
Picture of the Merkava (Chariot)
National Flag Graphic
1979
Merkava (Chariot)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
39
Picture of the NORINCO Type 59
National Flag Graphic
1959
NORINCO Type 59
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
40
Picture of the NORINCO Type 69
National Flag Graphic
1982
NORINCO Type 69
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
41
Picture of the NORINCO Type 85-II
National Flag Graphic
1985
NORINCO Type 85-II
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
42
Picture of the NORINCO VT-1A (MBT2000 / Type 90-II)
National Flag Graphic
2000
NORINCO VT-1A (MBT2000 / Type 90-II)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
43
Picture of the NORINCO VT-4 (MBT-3000)
National Flag Graphic
2014
NORINCO VT-4 (MBT-3000)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
44
Picture of the NORINCO ZTZ-88 (Type 80/85/88)
National Flag Graphic
1985
NORINCO ZTZ-88 (Type 80/85/88)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
45
Picture of the NORINCO ZTZ-96 (Type 96)
National Flag Graphic
1997
NORINCO ZTZ-96 (Type 96)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
46
Picture of the NORINCO ZTZ-99 (Type 99)
National Flag Graphic
2001
NORINCO ZTZ-99 (Type 99)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
47
Picture of the OTO-Melara OF-40
National Flag Graphic
1981
OTO-Melara OF-40
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Combat Vehicle
48
Picture of the Otokar Altay
National Flag Graphic
2023
Otokar Altay
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
49
Picture of the Panzer 58 (Pz 58)
National Flag Graphic
1958
Panzer 58 (Pz 58)
Medium Tank / Main Battle Tank (MBT)
50
Picture of the Panzer 61 (Pz 61)
National Flag Graphic
1965
Panzer 61 (Pz 61)
Medium Tank / Main Battle Tank (MBT)
51
Picture of the Panzer 68 (Pz 68)
National Flag Graphic
1971
Panzer 68 (Pz 68)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
52
Picture of the Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) (M-2002)
National Flag Graphic
1992
Pokpung-ho (Storm Tiger) (M-2002)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
53
Picture of the PT-91 Twardy
National Flag Graphic
1995
PT-91 Twardy
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
54
Picture of the Ramses II (T-54E)
National Flag Graphic
2005
Ramses II (T-54E)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
55
Picture of the Rheinmetall KF51 (Panther)
National Flag Graphic
2027
Rheinmetall KF51 (Panther)
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Concept / Prototype
56
Picture of the ROTEM K1 (Type 88)
National Flag Graphic
1986
ROTEM K1 (Type 88)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
57
Picture of the ROTEM K2 (Black Panther)
National Flag Graphic
2013
ROTEM K2 (Black Panther)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
58
Picture of the Sabra (M60T)
National Flag Graphic
2007
Sabra (M60T)
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Combat Vehicle
59
Picture of the Sho't (Whip)
National Flag Graphic
1970
Sho't (Whip)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
60
Picture of the Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank)
National Flag Graphic
1966
Stridsvagn 103 (Strv 103) (S-Tank)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
61
Picture of the Stridsvagn 104 (Strv 104)
National Flag Graphic
1953
Stridsvagn 104 (Strv 104)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
62
Picture of the Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122)
National Flag Graphic
1998
Stridsvagn 122 (Strv 122)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
63
Picture of the Stridsvagn 74 (Strv 74)
National Flag Graphic
1958
Stridsvagn 74 (Strv 74)
Light Tank / Main Battle Tank (MBT)
64
Picture of the T-14 (Armata) (Object 148)
National Flag Graphic
2016
T-14 (Armata) (Object 148)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
65
Picture of the T-54
National Flag Graphic
1949
T-54
Medium Tank / Main Battle Tank (MBT)
66
Picture of the T-55
National Flag Graphic
1958
T-55
Medium Tank / Main Battle Tank (MBT)
67
Picture of the T-62
National Flag Graphic
1961
T-62
Medium Tank / Main Battle Tank (MBT)
68
Picture of the T-64
National Flag Graphic
1966
T-64
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
69
Picture of the T-64BM (Bulat)
National Flag Graphic
1999
T-64BM (Bulat)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
70
Picture of the T-72 (Ural)
National Flag Graphic
1972
T-72 (Ural)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
71
Picture of the T-72M4 CZ (T-72M1)
National Flag Graphic
2006
T-72M4 CZ (T-72M1)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
72
Picture of the T-80 (MBT)
National Flag Graphic
1976
T-80 (MBT)
Main Battle Tank
73
Picture of the T-84 (Oplot)
National Flag Graphic
1999
T-84 (Oplot)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
74
Picture of the T-90
National Flag Graphic
1995
T-90
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
75
Picture of the T-90M Bhishma
National Flag Graphic
2009
T-90M Bhishma
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
76
Picture of the T-99 Armata (Universal Combat Platform - UCP)
National Flag Graphic
2013
T-99 Armata (Universal Combat Platform - UCP)
Multirole Tracked Armored Vehicle Concept
77
Picture of the TR-125 (Tanc Romanesc Model 125)
National Flag Graphic
1991
TR-125 (Tanc Romanesc Model 125)
Main Battle Tank (MBT) Prototype
78
Picture of the TR-580 (Tanc Romanesc Model 580)
National Flag Graphic
1977
TR-580 (Tanc Romanesc Model 580)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
79
Picture of the TR-85 (Tanc Romanesc Model 85)
National Flag Graphic
1986
TR-85 (Tanc Romanesc Model 85)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
80
Picture of the Type 10 MBT
National Flag Graphic
2012
Type 10 MBT
Main Battle Tank
81
Picture of the Type 59G (Durjoy)
National Flag Graphic
2015
Type 59G (Durjoy)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
82
Picture of the Type 61
National Flag Graphic
1961
Type 61
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
83
Picture of the Type 74 (Nana-yon)
National Flag Graphic
1975
Type 74 (Nana-yon)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
84
Picture of the Type 90 (Kyu-maru)
National Flag Graphic
1992
Type 90 (Kyu-maru)
Main Battle Tank (MBT)
85
Picture of the Vickers MBT (VMBT)
National Flag Graphic
1965
Vickers MBT (VMBT)
Main Battle Tank
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