Tanks

Ever since World War I, ground warfare has changed on many different levels, from guns to tanks, even artillery, such as the Geneva Convention, which prohibited the flamethrower, torture, and hostages. But what they didn’t ban was the tanks, a major role in ground warfare.

10. KF-51

The Kf-51 is a next-generation German tank made by the German defence company Rheinmetall, designed for its lethality and survivability. The primary gun is the brand-new 130mm Rh-130 L/52 smoothbore gun, along with a standard 120mm machine gun. They weigh around 59 tonnes (130,073 pounds) and have a 1,500 horsepower engine to reach a top speed of 70km/h (43 mph).

9. Type-10

The Type-10 is a Japanese 4th-generation tank made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to replace the Type-74, and it is known for its C4I (Command, Control, Communication, Computer & Intelligence) they are known for their power to weight ratio letting them go through Japan’s mountainous terrain. They have the 120mm L/44 smoothbore gun and have ammo that rivals the penetration of the M1 Abrams. They are equipped with a 1,200 horsepower engine, which can reach speeds of 70km/h both forward and backward.

8. Leclerc XL

The Leclerc XL(MBT) is a French battle tank as well as the newest 4th generation battle tank that was developed by the KNDS France, part of the French army SCORPIAN program. The French army plans to use this tank until the early 2040s. The Leclerc has a 120mm smoothbore gun with a 7.62mm turret, also equipped with an anti-drone upgrade as of late 2025. The French army has installed grills on its XLRs that protect them from FPV drones. The XLRs used to weigh 57 tonnes, but now weigh 63 tonnes.

They can reach speeds of 71kmp/h on the road, and off-road they go 50kmp/h with a 1,500 horsepower engine. As they reached 2026, the French government added AI sensing and will arrive at the rest by 2028.

7. VT-4

The VT-4 is a Chinese 3rd generation tank. China North Industries Company is known for its advanced digital systems and high mobility. They carry the 125mm smoothbore gun, which can shoot armour-piercing and anti-tank ammo, with a guided missile turret carrying the same 7.62mm turret at the top. It is powered by a 1,200 horsepower, turbocharged engine and has a top speed of 70kmp/h. The VT-4 is equipped with modern C4I. The tank uses a dual-layer protection with an FY-4 explosive reactive armour commonly known as the ERA. 

6. Merkava Mk

The Merkava is an Israeli 4th and 5th-generation tank made by the Israeli Ministry of Defence. The tank is well known for its uniquely front-mounted engine, prioritising the crew's safety and well-being. With a 1,500 horsepower engine, they go for an average of 64kmp/h, slightly slower than any other tanks. The Merkava Mk uses AI to track all enemies nearby; that's a huge advantage for the Israeli army. They use a 120mm smoothbore gun, but they don't use any machine gun on top. The Merkava Mk uses protection from any anti-tank missiles and suicide drones.

5. Challenger-2

The Challenger-2 is England's 3rd generation tank made by Vickers Defence Systems. Right now in Ukraine, they use the 120mm L30A1 smoothbore gun, allowing it to shoot high-explosive squash heads (HESH) with armour-piercing rounds. It is powered by a 1,200 horsepower engine, letting them go around 59km/h, and it is protected by the Dorchester armour. This tank is widely regarded as one of the best tank armours in the world, its combat records show it has survived several RPG shots in a row during its deployment in Iraq, as it carries 4 crewmembers and weighs roughly around 62 tonnes.

4. T-14 Armata

The T-14 Armata is Russia's next-generation main battle tank, built by the Armata Universal Combat Platform. Having a 1,200-1,500 horsepower engine with the combat weight of 59 tonnes, with a 125mm 2A82 smoothbore gun, it is noted for high mobility, and reaches speeds of up to 90 km/h. Key features include composite armor, a remote-controlled weapon station, and sophisticated fire control systems though its production and deployment have faced significant challenges. This specific tank has faced major production hurdles, high costs, and reliability issues. This led to its limited deployment, primarily serving as a prestige platform rather than a mass-produced combat vehicle.

3. K2 Black Panther

The K2 Black Panthers is South Korea's next generation main battle tank built by Hyundai Rotem and is widely regarded as one of the most advanced and expensive tanks in the world, with a unit cost of approximately $8.5 million. Its primary weapon is a 120mm/L55 smoothbore gun with a bustle-type autoloader, allowing a high fire rate of 10–15 rounds per minute. It can fire standard NATO rounds as well as the KSTAM (Korean Smart Top-Attack Munition), a "fire-and-forget" projectile that strikes enemy armor from above. Powered by a 1,500 horsepower engine, it reaches a top speed of 70 km/h on roads and 50 km/h off-road. It can cross rivers up to 4.1 meters deep using a specialized snorkel system. It also utilizes modular composite armor and Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA). Equipped with advanced Missile Approach Warning Systems (MAWS), the tank has a soft-kill active protection that deploys multispectral smoke grenades to disrupt incoming missiles.

2. M1A2 Abrams

The M1A2 Abrams is the current primary main battle tank (MBT) of the United States Army and several allied nations. Introduced in 1992 as a successor to the M1A1, it features significant digital and technological improvements to enhance situational awareness and lethality on the modern battlefield. It has a 120mm M256 smoothbore cannon, one 12.7mm (.50 cal) M2HB machine gun, and two 7.62mm M240 machine guns. Composite armor with 2nd-generation depleted uranium (DU) mesh for superior protection against kinetic and chemical energy rounds. 1,500 horsepower Honeywell AGT1500 multi-fuel gas turbine engine. At an average road speed of approximately 42 mph (67 km/h), its off-road speed is roughly 30 mph.

1. Leopard 2

The Leopard 2 is a German main battle tank produced by Krauss-Maffei, now known as the KND. Made in the 1970s, the Leopard 2 was widely regarded as the world's best tank, currently being used by the Germans as well as 21 other countries, including NATO. Its primary weapon is the Rheinmetall 120mm smoothbore gun but there are now newer variants such as the 2A6 and 2A7. It uses a longer barrel, the L/55, for its great range and penetration, powered by a 1,500-horsepower V12 twin-turbo diesel engine, and its average road speed is 70mph (43 km/h). It features a third-generation composite armour and added modular armour to neutralize anti-tank missiles, and operates with a crew of four: commander, loader, gunner, and driver.  

Written By: Ryan Yoo

Edited By: Kairi Tang