List of main battle tanks by generation

Main battle tanks are often classified as belonging to a particular generation, although the actual definition and membership in these generations is not clearly defined. Soviet and Russian military planners organize tanks with first generation of tanks up to 1945, and four generations of main battle tanks^{[Note 1][1]} while Canadian strategists organize main battle tanks into three generations.^{[Note 2][2]} The military of the People's Republic of China also recognizes three generations of its own tanks.

In 1983, Rolf Hilmes saw three tank generations and three "intermediate generations", which consisted mainly of upgraded vehicles.^[3] The first generation of main battle tanks were based on or influenced by designs of World War II, most notably the T-34 and the Panther tank.^[4] The second generation was equipped with NBC protection (only sometimes), IR night vision devices, a stabilized main gun and at least a mechanical fire control system.^[4] The third generation is determined by the usage of thermal imagers, digital fire control systems and special (composite) armour.^[4]

However, Hilmes acknowledged that tanks cannot be definitively grouped by generations, as each tank-producing country develops and introduces its tanks in tune with its own ideas and needs. He also states that breakdown of postwar tanks by generations is based on timeframe and technical factors, as a basis for further discussion.^[5]

First generation

The first generation consists of the medium tanks designed and produced directly after World War II that were later redefined as main battle tanks.

Name	Entered service in	Origin	Notes
Centurion[3][6]	1946	United Kingdom	First "Universal Tank" (MBT) Culmination of the WWII cruiser tanks
T-54[3][6]	1947	Soviet Union	Russia's First Generation of MBT
M47 Patton	1952	United States	A development of the M46 Patton tank
M48 Patton	1953	United States	A further development of the M47 Patton tank.
T-55[3][6]	1958	Soviet Union	Improved T-54
Panzer 58	1958	Switzerland	Swiss First Generation of MBT
Type 61[3]	1961	Japan	Developed and used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force

Second generation

The second generation had enhanced night-fighting capabilities and in most cases NBC protection. Most western tanks of this generation were armed with the 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 tank gun or derivatives of it.

Name	Entered service in	Origin	Notes
T-62[3][6]	1961	Soviet Union	A further development of the T-55.
M60 Patton	1961	United States	A further development of the M48 Patton tank. Later models(M60A2 and M60A3) are considered as the first intermediate generation.
Leopard 1[3][6]	1965	West Germany	A main battle tank designed and produced in West Germany that first entered service in 1965.
Panzer 61[3]	1965	Switzerland	A further development of the Panzer 58 tank.
T-64[3]	1966	Soviet Union	World's first composite armored tank, later versions of the T-64 may be considered as third generation.
AMX 30[3][6]	1966	France	The AMX 30 served as the principal Main Battle Tank (MBT) for the French Army.
FV 4201 Chieftain[3][6]	1966	United Kingdom	Armed with the British 120 mm Royal Ordnance L11A5 gun.
Vickers MBT[3]	1967	United Kingdom	British private venture design for export, license built as the Vijayanta for India.
Stridsvagn 103[3][6]	1968	Sweden	Turretless design developed and employed solely by Sweden. Double engine feature; both diesel and gas turbine.
Panzer 68	1971	Switzerland	Swiss Main Battle Tank (MBT) based on the Panzer 61.
T-72	1973	Soviet Union	Hilmes puts the T-72 in the first intermediate generation.[3]
Olifant Mk 1	1974	South Africa	Improvements to the Centurion tank.
Type 74	1975	Japan	Hilmes puts the Type 74 in the first intermediate generation.[3]
Merkava Mark I/II	1978	Israel
Ch'onma-ho	1980	Soviet Union /  North Korea	Licensed copy of the T-62; later versions include upgrades.
OF-40	1981	Italy
Tanque Argentino Mediano	1983	Argentina	"Argentine Medium Tank" developed from Marder IFV by Argentina and Thyssen-Henschel
AMX-40	1983	France	Prototype, never acquired by the French Army.
Lion of Babylon	1985	Iraq	Licensed copy of the T-72.
Type 88	1988	China	Variants include the Type 80, Type 88C, and Type 85
Type 96	1997	China

Third generation

The third generation of main battle tanks is characterized by composite armour and computerized stabilized fire control systems, which allow firing on the move as well as very high first hit probability on targets up to 2000m.

Name	In service from	Origin	Notes
T-80[3][7]	1976	Soviet Union	World's first turbine engine equipped tank. Though the Swedish Stridsvagn 103 that entered service in 1960s used a turbine engine alongside a diesel. However, T-80 in Hilmes's book is very different to a T-80 in real world,[8] and early model of T-80 has no big difference compared to T-64A in overall performance. So models under T-80B should be regarded as first intermediate generation.
Leopard 2[3][7]	1979	West Germany
MBT-80	1979	United Kingdom	Prototype, never entered service.
M1 Abrams	1980	United States
FV4030/4 Challenger 1[3][7]	1983	United Kingdom	Replaced Chieftain.
M-84	1984	Yugoslavia
EE-T1/EE-T2 Osório	1985	Brazil	Prototype, never acquired by the Brazilian Army.
Merkava Mark III	1989	Israel
Type 90 Kyū-maru[7]	1990	Japan
AMX Leclerc[7]	1993	France
Zulfiqar I/II/III	1993	Iran	Iranian tank derived from T-72 and M60 Patton. Zulfiqar 3 is the most advanced variant.
PT-91 Twardy	1995	Poland
C1 Ariete[7]	1995	Italy
T-90[7]	1993	Russia
Stridsvagn 122	1997	Sweden	Based on the German Leopard 2.
FV4034 Challenger 2[7]	1998	United Kingdom	A future life upgrade is the planning phase.
T-84	1999	Ukraine	Upgraded Ukrainian version of the T-80 tank.
K1A1	2001	United States /  South Korea	Upgrade version of the K1 88-Tank.
Al-Khalid	2001	Pakistan
Type 98/99	2001	China
T-72M4 CZ[9]	2003	Czech Republic	Upgraded Czech version of the T-72 tank.
Centurion Olifant Mk 2	2003	South Africa	Upgrade version of the Olifant Mk 1 Tank
Arjun MBT[3][7]	2004	India
Type 96A/B	2005	China	Upgrade version of the Type 96.
Type 99A2[10][11]	2009	China	"Enhanced Third Generation Main Battle Tank"

Fourth Generation/Third generation advanced

Fourth Generation^[12] or Third Generation Advanced^[13] are still under development or at early stages of their generation. While the term 'Fourth generation' and 'Third generation advanced' have no formal basis, these main battle tanks are using the latest technology and designs to compete with the current advanced warfare environment.^[14] "Third Generation Advanced" been stated, rather than "Fourth Generation" in many premieres for these tanks. Those described as "Third Generation Advanced" are normally upgraded variants using the same framework of the standard third generation tank. They have their advancements built into existing or newly designed frames than being an add-on technology. Those described as "Fourth Generation" have had their tanks and their advanced features designed and built from scratch and are not considered upgrades of previous existing tanks.

Fourth generation/Third Generation Advanced

Name	In service from	Origin	Notes
T-90MS[15]	2011	Russia	3rd Generation Advanced
Type 10[16][17]	2012	Japan	4th Generation
K2 Black Panther[16][18]	2014	South Korea	4th Generation
Leopard 2A7+	2014	Germany	3rd Generation Advanced
VT-4	2014	China	3rd Generation Advanced

Fifth generation

Fifth generation

Name	In service from	Origin	Notes
T-14 Armata	2015	Russia	Fifth Generation of RAF[19] MBT derived from "Armata" modular platform

See also

• Future Combat Vehicle(FVC),^[20][21][22] US Army's third attempt to replace the aging M2 Bradley.
• Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
• Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle
• Future Combat Systems
• Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles
• Amphibious Combat Vehicle
• Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
• Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked), an earlier, but similar, British concept
• ASM Program (Cancelled due to the end of the Cold War)
• Future Force Unit of Action
• List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
• List of main battle tanks by country
• List of armoured_fighting_vehicles
• List of modern armoured fighting vehicles
• Armoured fighting vehicle classification
• List of armoured trains
• Improvised fighting vehicle
• Infantry fighting vehicle(IFV)
• Armoured fighting vehicle((AFV)
• Armored personal carrier(APC)
• Reconnaissance vehicle
• Military engineering vehicle
• Armoured recovery vehicle
• Armoured vehicle-launched bridge
• Armored bulldozer
• Infantry mobility vehicle
• Medium Mine Protected Vehicle
• Armored car (military)
• Tank destroyer
• Super-heavy tank
• Heavy tank
• Medium Tank
• Light tank
• Infantry tank
• Cruiser tank
• Tankette
• Mech

Notes

• Note to the Pancerni website source - Translation of most important parts of 1st, 2nd, 2.5 and 3rd generation MBTs characteristics: "The first generation MBTs are tanks made immediately after WWII. The second generation MBTs have better sights in comparison to the first generation MBTs. Also second generation MBTs were the first ones to use laser sights and APFSDS rounds. The third generation consists of tanks armed with high caliber and velocity guns like M1A1 Abrams. Third generation tanks also use composite armour as well as armour made out of highly resistant sintered ceramic materials. Third generation tanks also have full stabilization system for the main gun. There tanks between second and third generations, like Soviet T-72 which has powerful gun which would classify it as a third generation MBT but at the same time the stabilization system is much too primitive for it to a third generation MBT. It also lacks engine power to be a third generation MBT and has ammunition with less quality."

References

• Lamontagne, J.G. Pierre (2003). "Are the Days of the Main Battle Tank Over?" (PDF). Toronto, Ontario, Canadian Forces College. 
• Sewell, Stephen ‘Cookie’ (1998). "Why Three tanks? in Armor vol 108, no 4, p 21" (PDF). Fort Knox, KY US Army Armor Center. 
• Hunnicutt, R. P. Patton: A History of the American Main Battle Tank. ISBN 0-89141-230-1. 
• Hilmes, Rolf (1983). Kampfpanzer der Die Entwickelungen der Nachkriegszeit (in German). ISBN 3-524-89001-6.