Armor Warriors: Meet the 5 Best Tanks in Europe Right Now

Meet the 5 Best Tanks in Europe in 2025

Let’s explore the top five European tanks currently in service, highlighting their key features, capabilities, and the countries that operate them.

Ariete (Italy)

The Ariete, developed by OTO Melara and Iveco, is the main battle tank of the Italian Army, is often looked down upon as one of the worst NATO tanks.

Designed to operate in various terrains, the Ariete is equipped with advanced targeting systems and robust armor protection. The tank features steel and composite armor with modular add-on armor, providing effective protection against a range of threats.

The Ariete’s primary armament is a 120mm smoothbore gun, capable of firing different types of ammunition, including APFSDS and HEAT rounds. The tank also has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun for secondary armament.

The advanced fire control system ensures high accuracy and rapid target engagement.

Powered by a Fiat-Iveco MTCA V12 diesel engine, the Ariete delivers 1,250 horsepower, allowing a maximum road speed of 65 km/h and a range of approximately 600 km on-road.

The tank’s mobility and suspension system make it highly effective in diverse environments, from mountainous regions to urban settings.

Oplot-M

The Oplot-M, built Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB) for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, deserves a spot on this list. Building upon the Soviet T-80, the Oplot-M incorporates several improvements over its predecessors.

With modern thermal sights and fire-control systems, the tank is able to accurately hit targets from over three km away.

The tank features a bustle autoloader system reducing the crew size down to three, a massive improvement to the volatile carousel autoloader in soviet tanks. Oplot-M is powered by a 6ТD-2 multifuel, six-cylinder, liquid cooled diesel engine which delivers a maximum power of 882kW.

The engine gives it an on-road speed of 70 km/h with an estimated range of 500km.

While the Oplot-M is impressive on paper, its limited production severely limits its battlefield effectiveness. With a fleet of around three tanks, the Oplot-M is one of the rarest tanks in Europe.

Leclerc (France)

The Leclerc, developed by Nexter Systems, is the main battle tank of the French Army. Known for its advanced fire control system and high level of automation, the Leclerc reduces the crew size to three, enhancing operational efficiency.

The tank’s modular composite armor includes titanium and semi-reactive layers, providing robust protection against various threats.

The Leclerc’s primary armament is a 120mm smoothbore gun, capable of firing a wide range of ammunition types. This is complemented by a 12.7mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

Leclerc Tank. Image: Creative Commons.

The tank’s fire control system is highly sophisticated, allowing for rapid target acquisition and engagement.

Powered by a V8X-1500 Hyperbar diesel engine, the Leclerc delivers 1,500 horsepower, enabling a maximum road speed of 71 km/h and a range of approximately 550 km on-road.

The tank’s advanced suspension system and mobility features make it highly effective in various terrains, from urban environments to open fields.

Challenger 2 (United Kingdom)

The Challenger 2, developed by Vickers Defence Systems (now BAE Systems), is the main battle tank of the British Army. Renowned for its exceptional armor protection and accuracy, the Challenger 2 features Chobham/Dorchester Level 2 composite armor, which provides superior protection against kinetic and chemical energy threats.

The tank’s primary weapon is a 120mm L30A1 rifled gun, which is unique among modern MBTs as most use smoothbore guns.

Despite the rifled gun, the Challenger 2 offers high accuracy and effectiveness, especially when firing high-explosive squash head (HESH) rounds.

The Challenger 2 also has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun for secondary armament.

The Challenger 2 is powered by a Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel engine, delivering 1,200 horsepower. This engine allows the tank to achieve a maximum road speed of 59 km/h and a range of approximately 450 km on-road.

The tank’s advanced fire control system and optics ensure precise targeting and engagement, making it a formidable opponent on the battlefield.

Leopard 2A7 (Germany)

The Leopard 2A7, developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, is widely regarded as one of the most advanced MBTs in the world. This German tank is an upgrade of the Leopard 2 series, incorporating numerous enhancements to improve its performance in modern combat scenarios.

The Leopard 2A7 features composite armor with modular add-on armor, providing exceptional protection against various threats, including kinetic energy penetrators and explosive reactive armor.

One of the standout features of the Leopard 2A7 is its armament. The tank is equipped with a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun, capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds.

Additionally, the Leopard 2A7 has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun for secondary armament.

The tank’s mobility is powered by an MTU MB 873 Ka-501 diesel engine, delivering 1,500 horsepower. This engine allows the Leopard 2A7 to achieve a maximum road speed of 72 km/h and a range of approximately 450 km on-road. The advanced fire control system and optics ensure high accuracy and effectiveness in engaging targets at long distances.

Each of these tanks has unique features and strengths, making them highly effective in different combat scenarios. Whether it’s the advanced fire control system of the Leclerc, the exceptional armor protection of the Challenger 2, or the versatile mobility of the Oplot-M, these tanks are equipped to handle the challenges of contemporary warfare.

As technology continues to evolve, we can expect further advancements in tank design and capabilities, ensuring that these European MBTs remain at the forefront of military innovation.

For now, they stand as a testament to Europe’s commitment to maintaining a strong and capable armored force.

About the Author: Isaac Seitz 

Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.