Leopard 2A7+ (Germany)

 Leopard 2A7+ (Germany)

1. Entering service in 1979, the Leopard 2 is an ‘old’ tank but remains one of the best all-around weapons on the market today thanks to considerable upgrades over the years. The current 2A7+ model takes all of the abilities of the previous versions and incorporates improvements which came about as a result of experiences using tanks in urban warfare – like Iraq. The Leopard 2 is armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun which fires a range of ammunition, including the ability to fire the Israeli-made LAHAT guided missile. The gun is fully stabilized and linked to a laser range finding system – all of which allows the tank to hit a target at up to 5km while on the move. An integrated command and information system, along with enhanced daylight and thermal sites give the newest Leopard 2 an advantage on the battlefield when it comes to hunting other tanks. For protection, the Leopard 2 doesn’t use explosive reactive armor but instead uses a base of multi-layered composite armor over which is placed modular shaped armor for increased protection.

Type 10 (Japan)

Type 10 (Japan)

In the world of modern military equipment, the Japanese forces often get overlooked. This is, in large part, because the Japanese military is designed as a defensive force and its products are not exported as US and Russian equipment is. Nonetheless, the Japanese have produced a new and rather sophisticated MBT in the shape of the Type 10. Classified as an advanced third-generation or next-generation tank, the Type 10 (aka TK-X) entered service in 2012. Compared with Japan’s previous tanks, the Type 10 is a huge step forward in mobility, firepower and protection.

The vehicle is armed with 120mm smoothbore gun, similar to the Leopard 2, and is loaded with an automatic loading system to keep the crew at just three people. The tank is protected by a very advanced material called nano-crystal steel which is triple the hardness of regular steel. Additional composite armor modules add to the already powerful protection. The latest sensors, battlefield management systems and sights give the crew of this tank a high level of battlefield awareness in comparison to many other tank systems.