China’s Type 85 main battle tank was designed to be an upgraded version of the Type 80 MBT. Type 85-I never got past the prototype stage. However, the next variant, Type 85-II, was able to enter production successfully. It was introduced in 1991. The Type 85-II main battle tank uses many of the systems of …
Author Archives: M Malory
Type 80 Main Battle Tank
China’s Type 80 main battle tank was based on the Type 69, which was in turn based on the Soviet Union’s T-54. The first prototype of the Type 80 main battle tank was finished in 1985, and tank development was finished in 1988. The Type 80 MBT has a low silhouette, similar to the silhouette …
Al Khalid Main Battle Tank
The Al Khalid main battle tank is the result of a joint venture between China and Pakistan. It is in service with the Pakistani Army. In 1990, China and Pakistan signed an agreement saying that China would help Pakistan to develop a new main battle tank, which eventually would be produced in Pakistan. Development of …
Arjun Main Battle Tank
The Arjun main battle tank was designed to be a replacement for India’s Vijayanta MBT. It was named after Arjuna, a warrior prince in the Mahabharata. Development of the Arjun main battle tank began in 1974. However, delays prevented the first prototype from being finished until 1984, and the tank did not enter production until …
Merkava Main Battle Tank
The Merkava main battle tank was the first military tank produced in Israel and is Israel’s main battle tank. Development of the Merkava began in 1967. The first prototype was finished in 1974 and production began in 1979. The Merkava MBT first saw combat during the 1982 Lebanon War. Survivability is the focus of the …
Zulfiqar Main Battle Tank
The Zulfiqar main battle tank is an Iranian tank based on the Soviet Union’s T-72 main battle tank. M48 Patton and M60 Patton tanks. Production of the Zulfiqar MBT began in sometime between 1996 and 1999. The Zulfiqar main battle tank has a torsion bar suspension that resembles the suspension on the American M48 and …
TM-800 Medium Tank
The TM-800 medium tank is a Romanian tank based on the Soviet Union’s T-54 and T-55 main battle tanks. It was first produced in 1986. The TM-800 medium tank has a 3.94 inch (100mm) main gun with a fume extractor near the muzzle. The turret has full 360 degree traverse, and the gun can be …
PT-91 Twardy Main Battle Tank
The PT-91 Twardy main battle tank is a Polish main battle tank that is based on Russia’s T-72 MBT. Twardy is Polish for “hard” or “resilient”. A prototype of the PT-91 main battle tank was built in 1992 and the tank entered service in 1993. The PT-91 Twardy main battle tank incorporates many improvements over …
T-84 Main Battle Tank
The T-84 main battle tank is a Ukrainian main battle tank. After the Soviet Union broke up, Ukraine inherited factories that had been set up to produce Soviet T-80 main battle tanks. Therefore, Ukraine based its T-84 main battle tank on the T-80. Unlike the T-80, the T-84 MBT has a welded rather than a …
T-90 Main Battle Tank
The T-90 main battle tank was under development during the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1988, the first prototype was completed. In 1992, the T-90 entered service with the army of the newly formed Russian Federation. The T-90 is based on the Soviet Union’s old T-72 MBT. However, the T-90 main …
C1 Ariete Main Battle Tank
The C1 Ariete main battle tank is the Italian army’s main battle tank. In 1984, the companies Oto Melara and Fiat Iveco formed a consortium to develop a series of fighting vehicles – a tank destroyer, an infantry fighting vehicle and a main battle tank – for the Italian army. This led to the development …
Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank
The Leopard 2 main battle tank is Germany’s primary MBT. It has been deployed in Kosovo and Afghanistan. The armies of many countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada, have used the Leopard 2. Development of the Leopard 2 main battle tank began as a collaborative effort between West Germany and …