It was named in honor of Marshal Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, a commander of the Free French Forces, who led the 2nd Armoured Division in World War II. The Leclerc is a third-generation French main battle tank developed and manufactured by Nexter Systems.

military has opted to continue maintaining and operating the M1 series for the foreseeable future by upgrading with improved optics, armor, and firepower. The Abrams was to be replaced by the XM1202 Mounted Combat System, but since that project was cancelled, the U.S.

Initial models of the M1 were armed with a licensed-produced 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 gun, while later variants feature a licensed Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44.Įxtensive improvements have been implemented to the latest formerly designated M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 3 or SEPv3 and M1A2 SEPv4, respectively versions such as improved composite armor, better optics, digital systems and ammunition.

Conceived for modern armored ground warfare and now one of the heaviest tanks in service at nearly 68 short tons (62 metric tons), it introduced several modern technologies to US armored forces, including a multifuel turbine engine, sophisticated Chobham composite armor, a computer fire control system, separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment, and NBC protection for crew safety. The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense and named for General Creighton Abrams. Each MBT is equipped with its own unique array of features, so it's beneficial to understand all the specifications before making an informed decision. These MBTs range from being able to achieve speeds of up to 70 km/h to carrying 180mm cannons and a crew of four. Today, the five most prevalent main battle tanks (MBTs) in the world are the M1A2 Abrams (U.S.), Leclerc (France), Challenger 2 (United Kingdom), Leopard 2A6/K2 Black Panther (Germany/South Korea) and T-14 Armata (Russia).

Learn about their features, specifications and more to make an informed decision! M1A2 Abrams to the Russian T-14 Armata, these are the top 5 MBTs that dominate the battlefields of today. Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) feature heavily in modern-day warfare and are designed to be mobile, powerful and reliable vehicles.

Best battle tank in the world