As they say: “Tanks are not afraid of dirt.” This expression perfectly characterizes such a powerful machine as a tank. The tank is not afraid of any obstacles, in it you can not only feel completely safe, but also in case of danger or attack from enemies, you can defend yourself by using combat artillery. It is a kind of multifunctional machine.
Since ancient times, people have preferred stronger and more effective weapons. As soon as something better appears, they begin to invent many analogues. Then these analogues are used until something more perfect and powerful appears. People, one might say, have this principle. Times go by, more and more new weapons appear, but the tanks do not give up their positions. This is a reliable front and rear of the army.
In our time high technology Military equipment is constantly being improved and becomes “smarter.” Today we will share with you our Top 10 ranking The most powerful tanks in the world. They are a kind of “monsters” among their own kind; you will surely admire their stateliness and greatness. And what power lies in them! A power capable of protecting and destroying at the same time. In our rating you will get acquainted with steel “monsters”, which are the best tanks in the world ever created.
10. Leclerc
This tank forms the basis of the army modern France, as well as 388 units are in service with the UAE, which is explained by its high cost - $8 million. However, all this pales in comparison to the 120-mm muzzle, with 40 rounds of ammunition, as well as two additional machine guns, with a total of 4,000 rounds of magazines, which, together with the ability to accelerate to 71 km/h, makes it excellent in the fight against enemy dismounted forces .
9.
We could not help but include in the rating the best and powerful tanks in the world of Merkava, who are the pride defense industry Israel. In addition to the intimidating 120 mm barrel, the tank is capable of firing guided anti-tank missiles, which makes it possible to accurately disable enemy military equipment. At the same time, protection is provided by the latest generation steel modular armor, which, although it adds weight, allows it to remain invulnerable to shots from some types of hand grenade launchers.
8.
Manufactured in Pakistan, this tank has absorbed the latest developments of leading engineers in its region, which allows it to remain equally effective regardless of the time of day. A 125 mm smooth-bore gun is capable of hitting almost any enemy equipment, but for the sake of its expanded ammunition, one of the machine guns had to be sacrificed, which does not at all reduce the effectiveness of the combat vehicle.
7. K1A1
Also among the most powerful tanks in the world is the crown of the modern military industry of South Korea. The heavy-duty smooth-bore gun with a caliber of 120 mm requires simultaneous maintenance by two crew members, but is extremely effective against enemy reconnaissance drones that fall into its field of view. Effectiveness against infantry is ensured by one coaxial or two standard machine guns, depending on the modification.
6.
The pride of British tank building, it is recognized as one of the best in the world due to its reliability. It is in service with the United Kingdom and Oman. It is extremely effective against foot soldiers and weakly armored vehicles, because in addition to a 120 mm rifled barrel, it has two coaxial and one movable machine gun at its disposal. However, such firepower negatively affects the mobility of the tank - it is capable of reaching a speed of only 56 km/h.
5. PT-91
Main fighting machine Polish army ranked fifth in the list of the 10 most powerful tanks in the world. In addition to the terrifying 125 mm smoothbore gun, the tank is equipped with active armor, which ensures that there will be no major damage after the enemy's first shot. Moreover, the presence of three machine guns allows you to destroy enemy anti-aircraft guns and their crew at medium and close distances.
4. T-90
Oddly enough, the representative of Russian tank construction is distinguished by its compactness and lightness, guaranteeing the maneuverability characteristic of Soviet-made tanks. In addition to enemy equipment, thanks to two powerful machine guns, the tank does not experience difficulties with artillery, which, due to its low weight and, accordingly, high speed of movement, it is able to reach almost with lightning speed. The T-90 is rightfully considered one of the best tanks in the world with great firepower and high speed characteristics. The hull armor is made using composite steel, which prevents the T-90 from becoming an easy target for enemy infantry armed anti-tank gun, even at close range.
3.
This Chinese-made vehicle, which opens the top three in the top 10 most powerful tanks in the world, is by no means cheap: for one unit you will have to pay about 22 million dollars, which significantly reduces its competitiveness. Relatively light tank equipped with a 125 mm smoothbore gun, in addition to which are attached three machine guns: for dealing with anti-aircraft guns and two twin ones, effective against infantry.
2.
This tank is characterized by high production costs, common to the majority South Korean combat vehicles. The developers explain this by the fact that they used combined armor, which gives a lot of advantages in close combat, and thanks to the low weight of only 62 tons, they were able to gain additional speed and maneuverability. Despite all this, the Black Panther, armed with a 55 caliber cannon, was able to win only half of its training battles.
1. M1A2 Abrams
The crowning glory of our ranking is the brainchild of the American defense industry, which has occupied a leading position since the end of the last century, thanks to the constant improvement of its technology in response to changing styles of warfare. modern warfare. M1A2 Abrams – the best tank in the world. Its “highlight” is not its weapons potential, although it is worth saying that its firepower is by no means inferior to its competitors, but its technical component. The vehicle is literally crammed with various electronics, allowing it to coordinate actions with allied forces and aviation, which allows it to be as effective as possible on the battlefield. And, unlike most of the tanks presented, the M1A2 has proven its effectiveness in real military operations.
+ T-14 Armata
The Armata tank has become the embodiment of the unique developments of past years and the achievements of the modern Russian military-industrial complex. T-14 is a unique 3rd generation combat vehicle. Perhaps, after all the tests, Armata will receive the title the best and most powerful tank in the world. Its peculiarity is that the crew is not located in the turret, but in an armored capsule, which ensures survival even if the ammunition is detonated. This newest tank Russia was first demonstrated in 2015 at the Victory Parade.
From unique technical characteristics it is worth noting: design features, making the tank poorly visible on enemy radars, in the infrared and magnetic range, and even difficult to distinguish on the ground with visual contact, essentially stealth technology is used. The vehicle also uses the latest active protection “Afganit”, which can prevent anti-tank shell, and the 4th generation Malachite armor protects against almost 100% of shots from hand grenade launchers. Firepower is provided by a 125 mm smoothbore gun with 45 rounds of ammunition and two machine guns: Kord (12.7 mm) and PKTM (7.62 mm). On highways, the T-14 reaches speeds of up to 90 km/h.
The best tank in Russia and the world | Video
Each of us knows the phrase of the Roman historian Cornelius Nepos (94-24 BC): “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Due to the fact that in Lately is gaining more and more activity (for example, intervention in the conflict between the United States and Syria, the return of Crimea, etc.), many sensible people have a lot of questions about the combat capability of our state. After all, sooner or later the issue may be resolved politically It’s unlikely to work, then the only option left will be forceful intervention. And many people understand this, which is why more and more often on various forums one can come across questions of a similar nature: “How many tanks does Russia have?”, “How many submarines? etc. Such interest reflects people's concern for the future of the country: will it be able to withstand an armed attack from, say, China or NATO forces. In this article we will answer the question of how many tanks Russia has, consider what kind of armored vehicles they are, what are their characteristics and what is the most modern tank in service in our army.
What kind of army is this?
Russian tank forces are the main striking force. They are mainly used in conjunction with motorized rifle units in the main directions. This branch of the military is designed to perform the following main tasks:
1. In defense - direct support of motorized rifles when repelling an enemy offensive, launching counterattacks and counterstrikes.
2. In the offensive - delivering powerful, front-cutting blows to greater depth, development of success, defeat of the enemy in oncoming battles and battles.
Russian tank forces are divided into brigades and battalions; they have great firepower and resistance to damaging factors nuclear weapons, high maneuverability and mobility. They are able to make maximum use of the results of nuclear or fire destruction of the enemy, in short time achieve the final goal of an operation or battle.
Combat capabilities
Russian tank divisions, their formations and subunits make it possible to conduct active fighting both day and night, in a significant separation from the main forces, conduct raids behind enemy lines, destroy enemy equipment and manpower in oncoming battles and battles, immediately overcome radioactive contamination zones, and also cross water bodies. In addition, they are capable of quickly creating a very strong defense, as well as successfully resisting attacks by significantly superior enemy forces.
Development of combat capabilities of this kind troops is carried out by equipping them with more advanced types of armored vehicles, which optimally combine the following most important combat qualities: high firepower, reliable protection and maneuverability. In improving the necessary organizational forms Combined arms tank units play an important role. This primarily corresponds to the content of the tactics of conducting modern combat operations.
Russian tank forces: revival after decline?
The crisis that befell the Russian army in the 90s of the last century, of course, did not spare the tank troops. And the concern of ordinary people asking the question “how many tanks does Russia have” is completely justified. After all, the nineties literally became a black page in the history of our army. Take, for example, the rapid withdrawal of troops from Mongolia and Eastern Europe, when a lot of ultra-modern equipment at that time was left in adjacent territories, and that which was returned was, in fact, thrown into the mud, with consequences for the equipment. As a result, expensive cars were reduced to scrap metal. In addition, the staff suffered significant damage: great amount very promising officers with impressive combat experience were forced to leave the ranks of the armed forces.
The first “bell” for the country’s leadership was the conflict in Chechnya, when hastily assembled units, often with faulty and dismantled equipment, began to suffer serious losses. However, this tragedy did not stop the further degradation of Russian tank forces. The quality of personnel training left much to be desired, and the acquisition of new generation equipment was completely stopped. The development of new models was based on the enthusiasm of designers and engineers, as well as individual military leaders. The defense complex producing armored vehicles either became bankrupt or reoriented towards export.
The beginning of the revival
Russian battle tanks welcomed the new century while fighting in Chechnya. The sad experience of the first campaign was taken into account, and now the losses among armored vehicles were significantly less. In 2000, it was first announced that a new modern tank, known as the T-95, or “Object 195,” was being created. It was assumed that he would enter the army by 2005. However, this did not happen. The first purchases took place in 2004, but it was not the long-awaited T-95s that entered service, but the modernized T-90A, and even then in the amount of 15 units. In 2005, another 17 machines were purchased. These Russians were the best production models at that time, but the new century also required new technology, and the number of supplies clearly did not meet the requirements of the huge country. Only since 2006, purchases began to be made in acceptable quantities, in addition, the modernization of “old” equipment was actively carried out. However, the best tank in Russia (T-95) remained a dream: its deliveries were constantly delayed.
Would-be reformers
The rearmament program adopted by the Ministry of Defense specified in detail how many armored vehicles needed to be modernized and how many new tanks should be manufactured. True, it was still not clear which models should be produced: T-90A or T-95? As a result, those who had passed through two Chechen wars battered T-72B, and also nicknamed “museum” T-62. Tank troops in this operation showed themselves with best side, as a result of which the southern group received the main tank of Russia - the T-90A. Probably in order to cool down the militant Saakashvili.
After the events described above, another army reform begins in the country. As a result, Russian tank forces were reduced to the level of battalions and a few brigades. The unfortunate reformers refused to purchase the T-90A, the development of a new one was completely stopped combat module"Burlak". And, most importantly, Russia’s promising most modern tank, the T-95, never left the assembly line and was sent to scrap. However, the country's leadership came to their senses in time, the Minister of Defense was removed from his post and a new one was appointed. The result of such changes was a new serious project in tank building - the development of a new Armata platform based on the T-95 and Object 640 (Black Eagle). "Armata" will be a universal platform for a new generation of armored vehicles: self-propelled guns, tanks, infantry and support vehicles, as well as repair and recovery equipment. This installation has no analogues in the world; everything is collected here innovative developments Russian design bureaus.
Still to come
2013 was a landmark year in the life of the Russian tank forces: as numerous surprise inspections have shown, many reforms did not affect the quality of combat training. Therefore, a strong-willed decision was made to sharply increase the norms of allocated ammunition. In addition, much has been done to increase the prestige of this type of troops. No matter how much they scolded the “Tank Biathlon”, but thanks to these competitions, the citizens of our country for the first time in long years We remembered that, it turns out, we still have tank troops. The Kantemirovskaya division was recreated. And currently, active rearmament and modernization of combat vehicles is underway. Already today, even though they are experienced, the first samples of the “Armata” family have already been manufactured.
However, unfortunately, it is still too early to talk about results. We can only note the positive dynamics. Answering the reader’s question about what tanks are in Russia’s arsenal today, all that remains is to state the fact that the basis of our armed forces is still the old technology T-72B and T-80BV. There is still a lot to be done to make our army truly modern.
Tanks in Russian service: T-64
This model was designed back in 1960, its mass production began in 1963, and it was put into service in 1967. The design of this vehicle used an improved version of the traditional turret layout with a rear-mounted engine compartment and separate crew accommodations. These tanks were equipped with a rifled 100-mm cannon with 50 rounds of ammunition. Monolithic differentiated armor, a two-stroke diesel power unit, and a mechanical transmission were used. The frontal elements of the turret and body are capable of withstanding a direct hit from a 100-mm armor-piercing projectile from a distance of one kilometer. As you can see, these tanks have been in Russian service for 47 years, which is already a long time. At one time, the T-60 was an excellent representative of the tank family and could compete with vehicles in service with the NATO bloc, but time passes, and the technical fleet requires modernization, and urgently.
T-72 battle tank
Serial production of the T-72A continued from 1979 to 1985 at the plant in Nizhny Tagil. Later, at its base they began to produce an export version - the T-72M tank, and then its further modification - the T-72M1. After 1985, the modernized T-72B and its export version T-72S went into serial production. The last tank and to this day reliably serves in our army. In addition, it was massively exported to Eastern European countries, India, Finland, Yugoslavia, Syria, Iraq, Kuwait and Algeria. As you can see, the geography of distribution is very extensive. It has shown excellent results in various climatic conditions, and, despite its age, continues to serve in various parts of our planet. It was equipped with diesel power units capable of reaching speeds of up to 65 km/h, and very reliable 125 mm guns. The weight of the car was 41 tons. On the basis of this tank, the BREM-1, the IMR-2 engineering vehicle, and the MTU-72 bridge laying vehicle were developed.
T-80 battle tank
This vehicle was put into service back in 1976. She became the first in the world serial model with a main power unit based on a gas turbine engine. Development of the system began back in 1955. The gas turbine engine was finally put into service in 1968. It was a power unit with a power of 1000 hp. With. The design of the combat vehicle uses elements developed and tested on the T-64A: automatic loader, gun, ammunition, individual components and mechanisms of the armor protection and fire control system. The new unit led to an increase in the mass of the tank, and consequently to a change in dynamic characteristics. As a result, the designers had to design a new chassis: tracks with rubber-coated treadmills, hydraulic shock absorbers and torsion shafts with improved characteristics, track and support rollers, driving wheel guides.
T-90 battle tank
This best Russian tank is an improved T-72B. Entered into service in 1993. The appearance of the vehicle was caused by the need to modernize (taking into account the war in the Persian Gulf) existing models of equipment, as well as the reorientation of production to exclusively Russian components, because after that part of the defense complex remained abroad. These modern Russian tanks have a very low profile. Frontal armor The round flat tower is reinforced with a tiled type of the second generation. The driver's cabin is located in the front part of the body. Above it there is a hatch and an observation system with wide-angle optics. Bow equipped with a special acute-angled oval. The tank is equipped with a 125-mm cannon equipped with a thermally insulating casing.
How many tanks does Russia have?
Now let’s stop tormenting the reader and move on to the main issue of this article. Let's look at the number of tanks in Russia and list the top 10 countries by this parameter. It turns out that our country is the absolute leader here: on the balance sheet of the Ministry of Defense there are as many as 18,177 units of the mentioned military equipment. Of these, the main tanks are T-72B (7144 units), T-80 (4744 units) and T-64 (4000 units). In addition, the T-62 (689 vehicles) and T-55 (1,200 tanks) are in service. The tank forces have the fewest new generation armored vehicles - the T-90, with only 400 units. Agree that this is an insignificant figure for such a large army. Let's hope that in soon the situation will continue to change, and in a few years the statistics will change for the better.
Now let's see which country ranks second in our ranking. This is the United States - Russia's main competitor in the political arena. The US Army has 9,125 tanks, of which 8,725 are M1 Ambrams. As you can see, the American military is conservative - the basis of their tank forces is only one model. Third place in the ranking is occupied by our eastern neighbor and strategic partner - China, which is armed with 8,500 armored vehicles, including 500 Type-99 tanks. The top three were far ahead of their pursuers. So, fourth place is occupied, oddly enough, by Syria with its 4,750 vehicles, most of which have a proud inscription: “Made in Russia.” Next on the list are: Turkey - 3763, India - 3569, Egypt - 3380, North Korea - 3300, Israel - 3283, and closes the top ten South Korea- 2823 units.
Why all this?
From the above data it is clear that the number of tanks in Russia significantly exceeds the number of combat units of its closest competitor (almost twice). A pacifist-liberal-minded reader may burst into an angry tirade about wasted money (on the creation and maintenance of such a lot of “hardware”). However, in response, we can remind him of the ancient wisdom with which we began this article: “If you want peace, prepare for war!” After all, the weak in modern world be dangerous. If you don’t periodically give your neighbors a hard time, you can lose, if not everything, then a lot. So, our strategic partner, China, is dreaming of how to grab Siberia for itself right up to the Urals, and the NATO bloc is already knocking on our doors from the West.
By the way, in connection with latest events in Ukraine, we can expand our review a little. It turns out that the Ministry of Defense of Kyiv has 2,522 tanks on its balance sheet, and this is the eleventh position in our ranking. True, these statistical data were taken from our neighbors even before the start of the conflict, so after the loss of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, this figure may decrease. After all, even official sources controlled by Kyiv reported combat losses among armored vehicles and even the defection of some military personnel to the side of the rebels. Well, okay, enough about the sad, let's go back to Mother Russia.
The future of tank building
As previously reported, the Russian army is developing the latest Armata system, which will become the basis for the creation of new types of armored vehicles. In this regard, from 2015 it is planned to begin a serious modernization of mechanized and armored forces, and from next year - the introduction of a new series of vehicles into all branches of our country's troops. One such model is Russia's newest tank, the T-99. This example will be equipped with an improved version of the 125 mm gun. One of the main tasks set for the designers is to reduce the weight of the machine in order to increase maneuverability and mobility. In fact, it was these parameters that caused the T-95 and Object 195 to burn out. After all, the main task of our tanks is to protect long land borders. Armored vehicles play a key role in maintaining military parity against any threat. It should be understood that our country is distinguished not only by its vast territory, but also by very diverse climatic conditions. The designers are faced with a very serious task: the creation of such equipment that can operate reliably both in the Arctic and in the southern regions of our vast Motherland. The T-99 must meet all these conditions. The new generation tank (Russia has always been distinguished by “Kulibins”, capable of solving any seemingly impossible task) is almost ready for mass production. As stated by the Ministry of Defense, the first copies will be demonstrated to the public at the parade on May 9, 2015. So we can only wait and hope that the country will not be hit by another political crisis that could destroy any initiatives.
OKHRANA.RU invites its readers to get acquainted with the TOP 5 most powerful tanks in the world that exist today. We asked the famous military expert Dmitry Litovkin to comment on the capabilities of combat vehicles. According to him, any comparison of the combat effectiveness of tanks is very dubious, because they have never encountered direct military confrontation. Therefore, we decided not to assign places in our ranking.
Dmitry Litovkin:
“Russian designers once offered the Americans a comparative test of the T-90 and M1 Abrams tanks during a training battle. But they categorically refused. The fact is that in all the markets in which these vehicles are present, they have never met each other .Also never met GermanLeopardwith T-90 and others. Let's say that Iraq has Abrams today, and Syria has T-90s, but these states are not at war. Or another example: after the first battles in the Gulf, when the Abrams shot down unmanned T-76s standing in the parking lot, the Americans announced the advantages of these tanks, but when they reached Baghdad, they were burned with old RPG-7s. Therefore, the ratings are very conditional, because there were no direct collisions, and we can judge the characteristics of the cars only by indirect evidence."
M1A1 "Abrams" (USA)
This is perhaps the most honored tank of our time: honored in the sense that it has gone through three wars and several stages of modernization. Despite the declared superpowers, the Abrams have a number of shortcomings that neutralize the PR admiration for these giants. For example, having the most powerful engine in the world (3500 l/s stated), M1A1s remain very heavy and clumsy. The Americans themselves were so upset by the slowly turning turret that they installed an additional engine here, covering it with standard iron. As a result, it turned out to be possible to burn the famous supertank with one shot: a bullet hitting this additional engine creates a spark, which in turn ignites the fuel compartment, and so on. Even if a fire was avoided, the tower, as we said, loses four times its rotation speed. In addition, loading shells into the Abrams cannon is done manually. At the same time, today it is a fairly massive tank; decommissioned vehicles are not destroyed, but dismantled, and their spare parts are used for new models.
Specifications:
Tank weight: 61.4 tons.
Crew: 4 people (commander, gunner, loader, driver).
Chobham armor, steel using depleted uranium.
Armament: 105 mm M68 rifled gun, 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun, 12.7 mm machine gun, 2 M240 machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber.
Highway speed: 67.72 km/h.
Ground speed: 48.3 km/h.
Dmitry Litovkin:
“This tank is very heavy, and the engines are gas turbine, although now it seems they are going to switch to diesel. In Iraq, the model did not perform very well. As we know, it turned out that it cannot even withstand a hit from an RPG-7.”
T-90MS "Tagil"
This is a modification of our best production tank to date, the T-90, which in turn replaced the T-72. An attempt was made here to “cure” our samples from old tank “diseases” - weak weapons and low engine power. We managed to get rid of the first one completely: Tagil now has a cannon that can penetrate the armor of any NATO member at a distance of 1,500 km. In addition, there are the latest electronics, a fire guidance system and automatic weapon loading. And also - new modular packages for protection against cumulative enemy fire, a machine gun above the turret with remote control. The disadvantages still remain the low power “under the hood” - only 1000 l/s, and the lack of all-round visibility for the driver. They only installed a rear view camera.
The basic advantages of the T-90 include the fact that its armament is superior to most models in the ability to hit unarmored targets, since its ammunition includes high-explosive fragmentation shells. The tank also has high performance in hitting armored targets at long distances. Main anti-tank weapons It has armor-piercing sub-caliber shells (3BM-42 and 3BM-42M) and a Reflex-M guided weapon system with 9M119M and 9M119M1 missiles, which ensure the defeat of the same Abrams in all areas of the frontal projection at a distance of up to 5000 m.
Specifications:
Tank weight: 48 tons.
Crew: 3 people.
Armament: 125-mm 2A46M-5 cannon, ammunition - 40 rounds; Guided weapons: 9K119M "Reflex-M", coaxial machine gun 7.62 mm 6P7K (2000 rounds), anti-aircraft machine gun 7.62 mm 6P7K S UDP (T05BV-1) (800 rounds).
Maximum highway speed: 60 km/h.
Highway range: 500 km.
Dmitry Litovkin:
"Now the T-90 has come in handy in Syria. It seems to be praised. But again, there are no direct clashes with tanks of other types. The Tagil simply takes into account the military requirements for the layout of equipment. There is a steering wheel, there is GLONASS, a new sighting system. That is, this is a modernization of the T-90 so that it is simply modern and more effective."
Challenger 2 (UK)
An old tank or a long-lived one, whichever you prefer. Production of Challengers began in the early 90s, and the current model is only the second generation. Despite this, British tanks have a number of important advantages. For example, excellent crew protection or the L30A1 rifled gun, which is capable of accurately hitting distant targets. This is the only rifled gun on NATO tanks today. Tank in terms of armor protection and resistance to cumulative shells In this regard, it can be called the most protected tank in the world. It is equipped with a 12-cylinder diesel engine with a power of 1200 horsepower and the most modern targeting and visual surveillance system, including at night. But again, the Challengers never left the shores of Britain, and it is difficult to predict what they are like in a real battle in new terrain. Besides, British cars are very expensive.
Specifications:
Tank weight: 62.5 tons.
Crew: 4 people.
Armament: 120 mm L30 smoothbore gun, 2 7.62 mm machine guns, 10 L8 grenade launchers.
Highway speed: 59 km/h.
Power reserve: 450 km.
Dmitry Litovkin:
"Well, what can we say about a tank that never left British territory? Although others British tanks"Chieftains" were actually in service with Iran during the Iran-Iraq conflict. The Iraqis, as far as I remember, were on Soviet T-62s. So, using the maneuverability of our vehicles, they went into the flanks of the clumsy British and shot them from the side projection. I think that the new generation of Challengers have the same drawback - these tanks are heavy and slow."
"Leopard" 2A7 (Germany)
One of the oldest examples of tank building in the world. It was put into production in 1972 and has since gone through several stages of modernization. In "protection" it has composite three-layer armor made of steel and tungsten. In the “attack” he received one of the best guns to date, the 120 mm Rhl 120/L55. It is in service in 18 countries around the world. At the Eurosatory 2010 exhibition, the Germans showed a new modification of the Leopard - 2A7+, adapted for combat in urban areas. A lot has changed on the new models - from the hull to the safety of the crew. Appeared additional protection from cumulative shells, all-round visibility for all crew members with thermal imagers for night surveillance. Thus, the main combat Leopard-2 has remained one of the best for many years and is deservedly in demand in military markets. He managed to fight quite a bit: in Afghanistan in 2007, several of these vehicles were blown up by improvised explosive devices, all the crews survived with the exception of one driver.
Specifications:
Tank weight: 67,500 kg.
Crew: 4 people.
Armament: 120 mm L55 smoothbore gun, 12.7 mm machine gun, 40 mm grenade launcher, 7.62 mm machine gun.
Speed: 72 km/h.
Power reserve: 450 km.
Dmitry Litovkin:
“Yes, it is considered that now this is one of the best tanks in the world. But again, it has not been tested in battle. At this point, only the Abrams, T-62 and T-72 have fought with us, and now the T-90. Therefore, “Leopard” can only be assessed based on its basic characteristics.”
"Merkava" (Israel)
It was created after Great Britain refused to supply a batch of its tanks to Israel in 1970, which incredibly stunned its government. The tank has gone through four modernizations, but the next model, judging by media reports, will be fundamentally new car with a laser gun, and testing will begin in 2020. In the meantime, the Merkava differs from its counterparts in its original design: the engine is located in the front, eliminating the possibility of the crew being hit by frontal fire. There are also escape hatches through which the crew can escape the vehicle during enemy fire. The tank has a 1500 l/s diesel engine. In 2006, Merkava Mk. 4 appeared in the Lebanon War. During the battles with Hezbollah militants, who used anti-tank guided missiles en masse, 6 vehicles were knocked out, and 2 tanks were irrevocably destroyed. One from fire from the Kornet-E ATGM, the other from a landmine explosion with an approximate capacity of 300-350 kg of TNT.
Do you need to protect your crew as much as possible? Please! The Armata has an uninhabited tower, that is, three crew members are in a specially protected separate capsule, which is located inside the vehicle platform. The tank's guns are controlled remotely.
Have you always dreamed of arming a tank so that no infection...? Easily! The T-14's smoothbore 125-mm cannon fires not only standard shells, but also guided surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles. In this case, the ammunition is hidden in a separate module, which prevents its detonation when hit by a projectile.
Was there not enough filling? Make yourself comfortable! Thanks to the latest electronic systems, "Armata" itself collects and analyzes information, observes any movements around in any weather and time of day. In addition, the T-14 is the first tank in history that automatically protects itself. System active protection"Afganit" detects and destroys all shells and missiles on approach to the "Armata" within a radius of 20 meters.
Did you need a light and maneuverable tank? Give us a highway! "Armata" is 20-30 tons lighter than all existing models with the same powerful engine - 1500 l/s. The T-14 drives with the breeze at a speed of 80-90 km/h.
It remains to add that serial production of the Armata will begin this year, and by 2020 the Ministry of Defense plans to put 2,300 vehicles into service! They will completely replace all the old Soviet tanks that still serve the interests of the country.
Dmitry Litovkin:
“Thus, there are 5 (the list can be expanded to 10) most famous and powerful tanks in the world, but it is not possible to objectively assess their actual combat power. After the battle of Prokhorovka in 1943, there were no more direct tank clashes in the world. And It’s the war that puts everything in its place, which is why our T-34 is still considered the best machine of World War II.”
More than a hundred years ago, tanks first appeared on the battlefield. And throughout the twentieth century, these combat vehicles determined the outcome of major military conflicts. The strongest was considered the one whose tanks had the best armor protection, more powerful weapon and who had more of them. Despite the large number of anti-tank weapons that exist today, tanks still remain the main striking force of ground forces. Most military experts believe that this situation will continue in the next decade.
One of the most discussed topics related to military equipment and weapons is the question of what is the best tank in the world. States annually invest tens of millions of dollars on the development of new combat vehicles and the modernization of old models. The most “advanced” tank-building countries are the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Israel and Ukraine. They can mass-produce tanks and have serious tank-building schools with long-standing traditions. IN last decades India, Pakistan, Turkey, Poland, both Koreas and Japan are trying to join this “club of the elite”.
The question of which is the best tank is not very correct: it is very difficult to compare vehicles that have never met each other in real combat. And one fight will not be able to dot all the i's in this matter. The outcome of the fight depends not only on tactical and technical characteristics combat vehicles, but also on the training of the crew, the specific theater of operations and on countless other factors (from luck, in the end). We should not forget that tanks do not fight alone - they are part of a complex army mechanism, working in close cooperation with infantry, artillery, and aviation. So a simple comparison Performance characteristics of cars does not make it possible to seriously talk about the advantages of this or that tank.
We will try to carry out comparative analysis the most famous and modern tanks, and present to you the top 10 strongest armored vehicles in the world. Some of the tanks in service with the world's strongest armies were developed several decades ago (American Abrams, Israeli Merkava, German Leopard), after which they went through several stages of modernization. In our rating we will consider only the latest (most advanced) modifications of cars. The main criteria for awarding a particular place will be three indicators: the protection of the combat vehicle, its firepower and the mobility of the tank. So, our top: 10 best tanks of our time.
10. "Arjun" Mk.I (India)
Our top 10 opens with an Indian combat vehicle, which was put into service in 2011. This tank can be called the first independent development of Indian tank builders, although it took Indian technologists and engineers more than thirty-five years to create it. "Arjun" has a mass of 58.5 tons, its crew consists of four people, the tank is equipped with a 120-mm rifled gun, from which it is possible to launch guided missiles. The gun's rate of fire is 6-8 rounds per minute.
The tank is equipped with an engine with a power of 1400 hp. With. (specific power - 23.9), which allows the car to reach a speed of 75 km/h on the highway.
"Arjun" Mk.I made it into our top, but it is on the very bottom line. The development of this combat vehicle began more than 35 years ago. Perhaps the technical solutions used in its design were once modern, but now they are somewhat outdated.
9. Type 99A2 (China)
Type 99A2 is latest modification Chinese combat vehicle, but calling this tank a completely independent development would be a stretch. The machine is based on Soviet tank T-72, although it has a large number of differences from it. This combat vehicle was put into service in 2011, it has a mass of 58 tons, a crew of three people, the tank is armed with a 125-mm smoothbore cannon with a rate of fire of 7 rounds per minute. A 1,500-horsepower engine (specific power 25.9) allows this combat vehicle to accelerate on the highway to a speed of 70 km/h.
Unlike the T-72, the Type 99A2 received a new welded turret and more advanced protection, which consists of both more “advanced” armor and the latest generation of dynamic protection. In addition, Type 99A2 has laser complex, capable of literally blinding the enemy.
8. AMX-56 Leclerk
In eighth place in the top 10 french tank, adopted for service in 1992. At the time of its creation, this combat vehicle was considered the most modern and high-tech, but more than twenty years have passed since that moment. The AMX-56 Leclerk has been discontinued from serial production. You can also add that this French tank is one of the most expensive in the world (about 6 million euros).
The latest series of this combat vehicle weighed 57.4 tons, the tank was armed with a 120-mm smoothbore cannon, and its engine had a power of 1,500 hp. With. The Leclerk has an automatic loader, which is not typical for the Western school of tank building. This element made it possible to reduce the crew to three people and strengthen the armor without increasing the weight of the vehicle. The design of the automatic loader differs from analogues used in Soviet (Russian and Ukrainian) tanks. It is located in the aft isolated part of the tower, which is equipped with knockout panels. This engineering solution can easily be considered one of the main advantages of the tank.
7. Challenger 2 (UK)
Production of this tank began in 1994; it belongs to the second generation of British Challengers. The combat weight of the vehicle is 62.5 tons, it is armed with a rifled 120-mm cannon, and the tank has a crew of four people.
Experts consider the main advantage of the Challenger 2 to be its armor protection, which ensures high safety for the crew. The machine is also equipped with dynamic protection. The engine (power 1200 hp) provides maximum speed 56 km/h.
"Challenger 2" has real combat experience; it was quite successfully used by the British in the Balkans and during the second Iraqi campaign. True, in these conflicts this tank was opposed by outdated models of Soviet combat vehicles. In 2008, taking into account the real combat experience gained, a deep modernization of the tank was carried out: the vehicles received new gun, engine and transmission. The fire control system was also replaced.
6. K2 "Black Panther"
This is a South Korean tank that was put into service in 2018. It is considered the first tank that South Korean engineers independently developed. The car turned out to be very advanced, but very expensive: the cost of one Black Panther is estimated at $8.5 million.
The tank weighs 55 tons and has a crew of three people. The K2 is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun, developed on the basis of the German Rh-120 tank gun, one of the best in the world today. But that’s not all: the tank is equipped with an automatic loader, similar in design to that found on the French Leclerc. The automatic loader allows the tank to fire at a rate of 15 rounds per minute. In addition, the K2 MBT is equipped with an active protection system capable of shooting down enemy shells and guided missiles.
The electronic content of the K2 is also very advanced: all the electronic systems of the tank are assembled into one network (TIUS), and the combat information and control system allows you to control a tactical tank formation in an automated mode, exchange information in real time between tanks and other types of military equipment, and also control points.
5. BM "Oplot"
4. T-90AM (Russia)
3. Abrams M1A2 SEP
1. T-14 “Armata” (Russia)
T-14 "Armata". This combat vehicle topped our top 10, one might say, in advance. The vehicle is still experimental, that is, it is not yet in service with the Russian army. Information about it is incomplete and quite contradictory. It was first demonstrated to the general public in 2018.
The creators position it as a new generation tank. The tank weighs 55 tons, has a crew of three people, and will be equipped with a 125 mm cannon.
This combat vehicle has several differences in its layout: the tank's turret is uninhabited, and the crew is located in its front part, in a special armored capsule. The tank will have a phased array radar (as on the latest fighters) and a large number of video cameras that will provide all-round visibility to the crew.
From the defense of the Armata, mention should be made of the Afganit KAZ, which, according to the developers, will be able to shoot down even modern BOPS. It is also worth adding the latest Malachite dynamic protection complex and a mine protection system.
Among the disadvantages of the vehicle, experts already name the automatic loader with part of the ammunition, which is located in the fighting compartment. This is a typical Soviet layout, which leads to the detonation of the ammunition when a cumulative or sub-caliber projectile hits the fighting compartment.
The developers call the Armata the world’s first tank for “network-centric warfare.” The problem is that today in the Russian army this tank is the only element for conducting such combat operations.
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The basis of Russia's tank forces is made up of vehicles that have proven themselves in all significant conflicts of the last four decades. Since the Second World War, tanks have been and remain one of the main active forces in conflicts with direct contact between opponents - so to speak, the main heavy weapons on the battlefield. Naturally, therefore, the number of tank troops also remains one of the most important indicators combat capabilities of the army of a particular state.
Among the world powers, three have the largest tank forces: the Russian Federation, the USA and China, and in this trio our country leads by a colossal margin. Today, according to various sources, there are about 21,000–22,000 tanks in active service and in storage in the arsenals of the Russian Army.
American tank forces are armed with half the number of vehicles - 9,125 units, of which the vast majority (about 8,700) are the M1 Abrams, which were adopted almost a quarter of a century ago. A comparable number of tanks, according to various sources - from 8,500 to 9,000, is owned by the People's Liberation Army of China, where the Type 96 tank prevails, which was put into service in 1997 and, in its combat capabilities, is closest to the domestic T-72 of the latest modifications .
To what exactly Russian army has the largest number of tanks in the world, it is not surprising. After all, our country has the longest land border in the world, and in addition, Russia was forced to fight all the wars of the last two centuries, including two world wars, mainly on its own territory. Under such conditions, the concept of the use of armed forces must inevitably rely heavily on tank forces - just as the American concept of war in foreign territory overseas relies on aircraft carriers and mobile forces such as the Marines.
In service and in reserve
Formally, as the official website of the Russian Ministry of Defense says, The domestic tank forces are armed with three models of tanks: T-72, T-80 and T-90. Not included in their number is the newest T-14 Armata tank, which has not yet been officially adopted into service, and was recently demonstrated general public at the Victory Parade in Moscow. The Ministry of Defense does not provide official data on the number of tanks of each model, but according to independent sources, total number vehicles of all three models reaches 13,000–14,000 units.
In addition, the official military website does not mention the tanks stored in reserve - the T-55, T-62 and T-64, which are outdated but have not lost their combat capabilities. And there are not so few of them - almost 8000. Most of the T-55 tanks are reserved: after all, this is the most popular Soviet post-war tank of the first generation. Adopted into service in 1958, this armored vehicle was produced in quantities of over 20,000 units only in the USSR and only in its main modifications! Most of them, of course, have already been disposed of, but approximately 2,800 T-55s are stored in arsenals for conservation.
Slightly fewer - about 2,300 units - are mothballed T-64 tanks. This vehicle turned out to be very successful, despite its low modernization potential, and in the West its appearance was generally compared to the entry onto the battlefield of the famous T-34. But the predecessor and contemporary of the T-64 - the T-62 tank - remained in arsenals in much smaller quantities: approximately 1,600 pieces. More recently, there were almost 2,500 of them, but 900 of the vehicles were scrapped, despite the fact that the T-62 was finally removed from service only in 2011.
Main tank T-72 "Ural"
Number of tanks in service: about 2000 units.
The total number of tanks of all modifications produced: about 30,000 units (approximately 7,500 units are in storage).
Weight: 41 t;
Crew: 3 people;
Speed on rough terrain: 35–45 km/h.
Tank T-72
The T-72 can be considered the most massive Soviet post-war tank of all generations, which is natural: it was put into service on August 7, 1973, in the same year an initial batch of 30 vehicles was produced, and production of the model was discontinued only in 2005, that is, 32 years later! The chief designer of the tank, Leonid Kartsev, noted that foreign experts consider this vehicle “the best and most widespread tank of the second half of the twentieth century.”
Over three decades, the tank has been modernized several times: the total number of modifications, including export versions, reaches two dozen. But the main modifications were the T-72A and T-72B, as well as the more modern T-72BA and. The first modification - T-72A - was carried out in 1979: new guidance and observation devices were installed on the vehicle, the gun was replaced with a newer one and the mounted protection was strengthened, and the engine was also changed to a more powerful one.
Six years later, a modification of the T-72B appeared - with a new Svir guided weapon system, a new Kontakt dynamic protection system and a new engine, as well as a cannon - launcher instead of a regular cannon.
The third modification is a deep modernization of the T-72B with increased protection, including built-in dynamic protection, and more modern elements of the fire control system and the tank itself. And the latest modification - T-72B3 - has been entering service with the troops for the last three years and is distinguished by the latest fire control system, which has significantly increased the capabilities of on-board weapons, the most powerful engine in the entire line and an improved chassis.
Main tank T-80
Number of tanks in service: about 4000.
The total number of tanks of all modifications produced: more than 10,000 units (of which over 6,500 are the T-80U modification).
Weight: 42–46 t;
Armament: 125 mm cannon, 12.7 mm machine gun, 7.62 mm machine gun;
Crew: 3 people;
Speed on rough terrain: 50–60 km/h.
Tank T-80
The T-80 was put into service only three years later than the T-72, but experts attribute it not to the second or first transitional, as “seventy-second,” but to the third generation. And quite rightly: the T-80 is the first tank in the USSR and in the world with a single gas turbine power plant. Despite the fact that in many elements this vehicle was unified with the T-72 and even with the T-64, which was the “forerunner” of both new tanks, structurally and in its basic idea it was completely new.
What distinguishes the “ninetieth” from the “progenitor”? First of all, new complex fire control, designed to replace the excellently proven, but already outdated, installed on the T-72 and T-80. But the most serious changes to the tank’s equipment were made in 2006, and this modification is in service under the designation T-90A. It has a new night sight, which serves as a thermal imager, reinforced armor for the hull and turret, a new thousand-horsepower diesel engine and a new gun stabilizer.
In 1999, after the death of the chief designer of the T-90, Vladimir Potkin, his most famous creation was given the name of its creator: “Vladimir.” Four years ago, T-90 tanks stopped entering service with our army: they should be replaced by the newest - the world's first fourth-generation tank. But for now, the military plans to purchase only 2,300 such tanks by 2020.
So, although not the newest, but still formidable and capable of many things, the T-72, T-80 and T-90 will clearly serve their country for many more years, or even more than a dozen years. The same way their predecessors served - the legendary T-55, T-62 and T-64, the heirs of the world-famous T-34.
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