Zardnaar
Deity
Here's something to argue erm I mean debate about.
What's the best tank in the world?
Now for me I would pick the Abrams with the Challenger in 2nd place.
The Abrams is fast, one of the best guns and best armor except maybe the Challenger. It also has the safest internal protections IMHO if it's penetrated. In Iraq the tank was penetrated but only one was written off so it's a fairly safe tank. Gas guzzler but not a major problem in the American forces. Also heavy due to armor generally 20 tons heavier than Russian/German/French tanks.
Anything Russian that's not a T-14 Armata
Russian tanks more or less all have the same problems. They are reasonably light and they get that via being cramped, weak armor (average from the front). The autoloader also results in bad ammunition storage. There's a wide variety of quality even in the T72 models (export ones are rubbish) and the T-90 is a glorified T-72 with T-80 turret.
T-90s have been shown to survive hits from anti tank rockets launched by infantry in Syria and Yemen but that won't help vs a Abrams main gun. Abrams gave no trouble hitting Russian tanks and an Abrams in Gulf War I knocked out 3 T72s in 10 seconds. And that was 30 years ago.
If Russian tanks are penetrated they tend to explode at least relative to the Abrams. Generally weak side armor, top, bottom relative to other tanks.
T-14 Armata
The new Russian wondertank. There's a lot of hype around this one but it has not seen combat and there's a lot of doubt if it works as advertised. It has active countermeasures vs rockets and reactive armor and has a decent gun.
However once again it's not going to protect it from ye old Abrams main gun. If penetrated however it's safer than all the other Russian tanks and crew safety is a big thing. The turret has no crew in it and it has thin armor but it won't matter to much if penetrated at least in terms of crew safety.
Might be a better tank in real situations of modern warfare where IEDs and infantry weapons are more dangerous than other tanks. Has not seen any battle. Production has also been cut to less than 100 so the tank either doesn't work as advertised or the Russians can't afford to build them.
So most Russian tanks are upgraded T72s +squishy) and T90's with lots of obsolete Soviet tanks in reserve (un upgraded coffins on modern battlefield). Generally inferior armor and gun, only the Armata might be on par with NATO tanks.
Leopard 2.
A German tanks that has seen limited deployment. Good gun and fire control systems but not as safe as say as a late model Abrams. Due to budget cuts not many are probably available. Dangerous but reasonably cheap to aquire, maintain and operate.
Challenger 2.
The only other tank I would consider best in world. Arguably best armor the Abrams afaik has a better gun. Has seen limited combat but not as much as the Abrams.
Passes the Zards best chance if survival test if getting shot at though.
Other stuff
French Tanks
Light armor, expensive, NATO levels of kill ability. Leclerc is very expensive more than Abrams iirc.
Ukrainian
Similar to Russian tanks, may have inferior shells however. They use ex Soviets stuff and upgraded T80s and T64's so most if the drawbacks as the Russian stuff.
Various new tanks
A lot of other countries such as Turkey, Korea, India are working on new tanks . At best I think most of them will end up similar to older model NATO tanks.
So obviously I lean towards Challenger and Abrams.
T 14 Armata
The great unknown. Best Russians can make but untested. At best might be comparable or slightly better than NATO stuff but it's not a wonder tank or invincible assuming it works something close to the hype.
T-90 is acceptable due to price as long as youre not planning in fighting NATO or the Americans but would prefer to use them for training, tank force in being, or vs nation's with older T-72s or worse.
Leopard 2 is also reasonably cheap and the Germans got rid of a few. How upgraded they are varies though. Tanking on a budget though this might be an option.
T-72
These vary but even the best Russian ones are not great. Older models and export models are garbage vs anything decent. Good enough if you need to crush unarmed protesters.
What's the best tank in the world?
Now for me I would pick the Abrams with the Challenger in 2nd place.
The Abrams is fast, one of the best guns and best armor except maybe the Challenger. It also has the safest internal protections IMHO if it's penetrated. In Iraq the tank was penetrated but only one was written off so it's a fairly safe tank. Gas guzzler but not a major problem in the American forces. Also heavy due to armor generally 20 tons heavier than Russian/German/French tanks.
Anything Russian that's not a T-14 Armata
Russian tanks more or less all have the same problems. They are reasonably light and they get that via being cramped, weak armor (average from the front). The autoloader also results in bad ammunition storage. There's a wide variety of quality even in the T72 models (export ones are rubbish) and the T-90 is a glorified T-72 with T-80 turret.
T-90s have been shown to survive hits from anti tank rockets launched by infantry in Syria and Yemen but that won't help vs a Abrams main gun. Abrams gave no trouble hitting Russian tanks and an Abrams in Gulf War I knocked out 3 T72s in 10 seconds. And that was 30 years ago.
If Russian tanks are penetrated they tend to explode at least relative to the Abrams. Generally weak side armor, top, bottom relative to other tanks.
T-14 Armata
The new Russian wondertank. There's a lot of hype around this one but it has not seen combat and there's a lot of doubt if it works as advertised. It has active countermeasures vs rockets and reactive armor and has a decent gun.
However once again it's not going to protect it from ye old Abrams main gun. If penetrated however it's safer than all the other Russian tanks and crew safety is a big thing. The turret has no crew in it and it has thin armor but it won't matter to much if penetrated at least in terms of crew safety.
Might be a better tank in real situations of modern warfare where IEDs and infantry weapons are more dangerous than other tanks. Has not seen any battle. Production has also been cut to less than 100 so the tank either doesn't work as advertised or the Russians can't afford to build them.
So most Russian tanks are upgraded T72s +squishy) and T90's with lots of obsolete Soviet tanks in reserve (un upgraded coffins on modern battlefield). Generally inferior armor and gun, only the Armata might be on par with NATO tanks.
Leopard 2.
A German tanks that has seen limited deployment. Good gun and fire control systems but not as safe as say as a late model Abrams. Due to budget cuts not many are probably available. Dangerous but reasonably cheap to aquire, maintain and operate.
Challenger 2.
The only other tank I would consider best in world. Arguably best armor the Abrams afaik has a better gun. Has seen limited combat but not as much as the Abrams.
Passes the Zards best chance if survival test if getting shot at though.
Other stuff
French Tanks
Light armor, expensive, NATO levels of kill ability. Leclerc is very expensive more than Abrams iirc.
Ukrainian
Similar to Russian tanks, may have inferior shells however. They use ex Soviets stuff and upgraded T80s and T64's so most if the drawbacks as the Russian stuff.
Various new tanks
A lot of other countries such as Turkey, Korea, India are working on new tanks . At best I think most of them will end up similar to older model NATO tanks.
So obviously I lean towards Challenger and Abrams.
T 14 Armata
The great unknown. Best Russians can make but untested. At best might be comparable or slightly better than NATO stuff but it's not a wonder tank or invincible assuming it works something close to the hype.
T-90 is acceptable due to price as long as youre not planning in fighting NATO or the Americans but would prefer to use them for training, tank force in being, or vs nation's with older T-72s or worse.
Leopard 2 is also reasonably cheap and the Germans got rid of a few. How upgraded they are varies though. Tanking on a budget though this might be an option.
T-72
These vary but even the best Russian ones are not great. Older models and export models are garbage vs anything decent. Good enough if you need to crush unarmed protesters.