On top of that, only one-quarter of those are considered modern tanks-T-72B3/B3M, T-80-BVM, and T-90A/M-that is, fitted with up-to-date fire control systems and sighting. A 2021 Russian source estimated that their operational main battle fleet was closer to 2,600 tanks, made up of T-72s, T-80s, and T-90s, with another 400 T-72 variants used as range tanks. Of Russia’s nearly 13,000 active combat tanks, only a fraction are main battle tanks. (5,500).īut the headline number misses nuances in the composition of the Russian tank fleet. This is more than the combined total of the number two and three spots, North Korea (6,645) and the U.S. Numbering 12,556 tanks, the Russian Federation has the largest fleet in their arsenal by far, from the workhorse T-72 series to the ultra-advanced T-14 Armata. The numbers do not include armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles. M1A2 Abrams or the German Leopard 2, but also more lightly-armed medium and light tanks, like Thailand’s Stingray. The ranking includes main battle tanks, like the U.S. Global Firepower has released their ranking of combat tank fleet sizes for 2023, which we’ve visualized in this infographic.

Since then, despite some commentators predicting the end of the tank era, they remain a cornerstone of 21st century armies. The tank, an armored all-terrain fighting vehicle, revolutionized the way we fight when introduced during the First World War. Visualizing the World’s Top 25 Fleets of Combat Tanks

World of tanks with modern tanks