You’d Be Surprised How Little These Military Tanks Weigh

In the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, violence is widespread and resources are scant. Other countries have passed resources to the power they’re backing, from munitions and weaponry to vehicles like tanks. In fact, Croatia plans to provide Ukraine with 30 M-84 battle tanks and 30 M-80 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) by the end of 2024 through a “ring exchange” program in Germany. Essentially, countries can donate their supplies to Ukraine while updating their own defense capabilities and equipment. These are some of the heavier tanks in service. For tanks like the M-84, their weight plays a role in their protection and firepower abilities. However, their weight does make these tanks less mobile, which could cause issues in battle. (Is Ukraine the next never-ending war?)

Some countries are beginning to move away from heavier tanks and leveraging lighter-weight tanks in combat situations. But what are the lighest-weight tanks in operation, and what kind of weaponry can they carry? To find out the lightest tanks used by modern militaries, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of tanks from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used by militaries around the world. We ranked them according to their weight, excluding any that weighed more than 45 tons. Supplemental information about the type, country of origin, manufacturer, top speed, and armament also came from the Military Factory. We excluded tanks that did not make it out of the prototype or proposal stage. (These are the 30 most mass-produced tanks since World War II ended.)

Why We Are Covering Tank Sizes

No matter what country you’re located in, your government probably spends tons of money on military spending and defense budgets. If you’re someone curious about state spending and where your hard-earned income goes when it’s taxed, you need to understand how and why the government prioritizes certain sectors. Tanks are one way that military organizations use their funding for the year. They are useful for crossing rough ground and keeping the soldiers inside protected while also acting as a powerful fighting force.

Here are the lightest tanks of the modern era:

32. TR-580 (Tanc Romanesc Model 580)

TR-580 FerdinandMuseum (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Mircea87

• Tank Weight: 44.8 tons
• First year in service: 1977
• Country of origin Romania
• Manufactured by: State Factories
• Top Speed: 31 mph
• Armament: 100mm A308 rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun

31. T-55

T-55 (CC BY 2.0 DEED) by John Harwood

• Tank Weight: 44.6 tons
• First year in service: 1958
• Country of origin Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: State Factories
• Top Speed: 31 mph
• Armament: 100mm D-10 rifled main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun

30. Type 10 MBT

• Tank Weight: 44.1 tons
• First year in service: 2012
• Country: Japan
• Manufactured by: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 120mm L44 smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm Browning M2HB anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm type 74 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

29. HIT Al-Zarrar

• Tank Weight: 44.1 tons
• First year in service: 2004
• Country: Pakistan
• Manufactured by: Heavy Industries Taxila
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

28. Chonma-ho (Pegasus)

T62 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Gutsul

• Tank Weight: 44.1 tons
• First year in service: 1981
• Country: North Korea
• Manufactured by: Second Machine Industry Bureau
• Top Speed: 31 mph
• Armament: 125mm 2A46 main gun, 14.5mm KPV anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial general-purpose machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

27. T-64

T-64BV mod 2017, Kyiv 2021, 16 (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by VoidWanderer

• Tank Weight: 43 tons
• First year in service: 1966
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: Malyshev Factory
• Top Speed: 37 mph
• Armament: 125mm D-81 smoothbore main gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm NSVT anti-aircraft machine gun

26. Vickers MBT (VMBT)

Kenyan Vickers MK3 Tank (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Doge

• Tank Weight: 42.7 tons
• First year in service: 1965
• Country: United Kingdom
• Manufactured by: BAE Systems and Avadi Company
• Top Speed: 31 mph
• Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

25. NORINCO ZTZ-88 (Type 80/85/88)

Type 88 tanks 01 (CC BY 4.0 DEED) by Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

• Tank Weight: 41.9 tons
• First year in service: 1985
• Country: China
• Manufactured by: China North Industries Corporation
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, smoke dischargers

24. Type 74 (Nana-yon)

Tank type74 ja02 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Miya.m

• Tank Weight: 41.9 tons
• First year in service: 1975
• Country: Japan
• Manufactured by: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
• Top Speed: 37 mph
• Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun

23. DIO Zulfiqar

Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day, 2022, Tehran (CC0) by Mostafa Roudaki

• Tank Weight: 41.7 tons
• First year in service: 1996
• Country: Iran
• Manufactured by: Defense Industries Organization
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 125mm smoothbore main gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

22. DIO T-72Z (T-55)

Islamic Republic of Iran Army Day, 2023, Tehran (CC BY 4.0 DEED) by Tayebeh Dalaei

• Tank Weight: 39.7 tons
• First year in service: 1996
• Country: Iran
• Manufactured by: Defense Industries Organization
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: 105mm M68 rifled main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

21. T-54

T-54 Tank. (CC BY 2.0 DEED) by Mohit S

• Tank Weight: 39.7 tons
• First year in service: 1949
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: State Factories
• Top Speed: 30 mph
• Armament: 100mm D-10TG main gun, 7.62mm SG MT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm bow-mounted machine gun

20. TAMSE TAM (Tanque Argentino Mediano)

TAM1 (CC BY 4.0 DEED) by Argentina.gob.ar

• Tank Weight: 33.1 tons
• First year in service: 1983
• Country: Argentina
• Manufactured by: Thyssen-Henschel and TAMSE
• Top Speed: 47 mph
• Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm anti-aircraft machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

19. T-34

War Memorial park (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Carla Antonini

• Tank Weight: 30.9 tons
• First year in service: 1940
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: State Factories
• Top Speed: 32 mph
• Armament: 85mm D-5T / ZiS-S-53 main gun, 7.62mm DT MG coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm DT machine gun.

18. Stridsfordon 90 (CV90 / Strf 90)

Stridsfordon 90 Revinge 2012-2 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by Jorchr

• Tank Weight: 29.8 tons
• First year in service: 1993
• Country: Sweden
• Manufactured by: Hagglunds and BAE Systems
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 40mm Bofors autocannon, 7.62mm Browning coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

17. NORINCO ZBD2000 (Z-Series)

ZBD-05 amphibious IFV in Beijing (CC BY 2.0 DEED) by Dan

• Tank Weight: 28.7 tons
• First year in service: 2006
• Country: China
• Manufactured by: China North Industries Corporation
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: 105mm rifled main gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

16. NORINCO ZTQ-15 (Type 15 / VT-5)

Type 15 tank 20221020 (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by u9890u56edu5c45

• Tank Weight: 27.6 tons
• First year in service: 2021
• Country: China
• Manufactured by: China North Industries Corporation
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 105mm turret gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, smoke grenade dischargers

15. M41 Walker Bulldog

M41 Walker Bulldog (M41A2 or A... (CC BY 2.0) by Rutger van der Maar

• Tank Weight: 25.9 tons
• First year in service: 1951
• Country: United States
• Manufactured by: Cadillac Gage
• Top Speed: 45 mph
• Armament: 76mm M32 main gun, 12.7mm M2 Browning anti-aircraft machine gun, 7.62mm Browning M1914A4 coaxial machine gun

14. NORINCO Type 62 (WZ131)

• Tank Weight: 23.1 tons
• First year in service: 1963
• Country: China
• Manufactured by: China North Industries Corporation
• Top Speed: 37 mph
• Armament: 85mm type 62-85TC rifled main gun, 7.62mm type 59T coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm type 59T bow-mounted machine gun, 12.7mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun

13. Type 85 (YW531H)

Type 85 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED) by u9890u56edu65b0u5c45

• Tank Weight: 22 tons
• First year in service: 1985
• Country: North Korea
• Manufactured by: State Factories
• Top Speed: 35 mph
• Armament: 85mm main gun, 14.5mm anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun

12. Cadillac Gage Stingray

• Tank Weight: 21 tons
• First year in service: 1988
• Country: United States
• Manufactured by: Cadillac Gage and Textron Systems
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 105mm L7A3 rifled main gun, 12.7mm Browning anti-aircraft heavy machine gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

11. BMP-3 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)

• Tank Weight: 20.6 tons
• First year in service: 1987
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 100mm 2A70 rifled main gun, 30mm 2A72 coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

10. NORINCO Type 63 (WZ211)

• Tank Weight: 20.3 tons
• First year in service: 1963
• Country: China
• Manufactured by: China North Industries Corporation
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: Smoke grenade dischargers

9. 2S25 (Sprut-SD)

2008 Moscow Victory Day Parade (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

• Tank Weight: 19.8 tons
• First year in service: 2007
• Country: Russia
• Manufactured by: Volgograd Tractor Plant
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 125mm 2A75 main gun, 7.62 coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

8. Jagdpanzer SK 105 Kurassier

• Tank Weight: 19.5 tons
• First year in service: 1971
• Country: Austria
• Manufactured by: Saurer-Werk and Steyr-Daimler-Puch
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 105mm main gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers

7. BMP-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)

Army2016demo-007 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

• Tank Weight: 16.1 tons
• First year in service: 1982
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: Kurgan Machine Construction Plant
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: Smoke dischargers, a 30mm 2A42 main gun, a 7.62mm PKTM coaxial machine gun, 9M113 Konkurs missile launcher

6. BMD-4 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)

2008 Moscow Victory Day Parade (CC BY 3.0 DEED) by u041fu043eu043bu044cu0437u043eu0432u0430u0442u0435u043bu044c

• Tank Weight: 15 tons
• First year in service: 2005
• Country: Russia
• Manufactured by: Volgograd Tractor Plant
• Top Speed: 43 mph
• Armament: 40mm automatic grenade launcher, a smoke grenade discharger, a 100mm main gun, a 30mm cannon, AT-5 Spandrel anti-tank guided missile launcher

5. BMD-3 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)

BMD-3 Army-2022 2022-08-20 2657 (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Mike1979 Russia

• Tank Weight: 14.6 tons
• First year in service: 1990
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: Volgograd Tractor Plant
• Top Speed: 44 mph
• Armament: 30mm cannon, 7.62mm machine gun, 5.45mm machine gun, 40mm grenade launcher, smoke dischargers

4. BMP-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty)

BMP-1 (CC BY 2.0) by Mikey

• Tank Weight: 13.8 tons
• First year in service: 1966
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: State Factories
• Top Speed: 40 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun

3. BMD-2 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)

u0412u0456u0439u0441u044cu043au043eu0432u0438u0439 u043fu0430u0440u0430u0434 u0434u043e u0414u043du044f u041du0435u0437u0430u043bu0435u0436u043du043eu0441u0442u0456 u0423u043au0440u0430u0457u043du0438 (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED) by u041du0430u0446u0433u0432u0430u0440u0434u0456u044f u0423u043au0440u0430u0457u043du0438

• Tank Weight: 12.7 tons
• First year in service: 1985
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: Volgograd Tractor Plant
• Top Speed: 50 mph
• Armament: 7.62mm PKT bow-mounted machine gun, 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun, 30mm 2A42 cannon, ATGM missile launcher

2. Alvis FV107 Scimitar

• Tank Weight: 8.9 tons
• First year in service: 1971
• Country: United Kingdom
• Manufactured by: Alvis
• Top Speed: 50 mph
• Armament: Smoke grenade dischargers, 30mm L21 RARDEN cannons, 7.62mm L37A1 coaxial machine gun

1. BMD-1 (Boyevaya Mashina Desanta)

Vdvcompetition11 (CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED) by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

• Tank Weight: 8.3 tons
• First year in service: 1966
• Country: Soviet Union
• Manufactured by: Volgograd Tractor Plant
• Top Speed: 50 mph
• Armament: 73mm 2A28 smoothbore cannon, 9M14M anti-tank guided missile.