Other NATO countries still retain their MBTs as they can be used for offensive and defensive operations as part of the combined arms team.

Belgium has phased out of service all of its 105mm armed LEOPARD 1 MBTs while the Netherlands has phased out its LEOPARD 2 MBTs, although one Germany Army tank battalion has a company of LEOPARD 2 MBTs manned by Netherlands crews.Ĭanada decided to phase out its LEOPARD 1 MBTs but subsequently reversed this decision and acquired a fleet of LEOPARD 2 MBTs, some of which were upgraded by KMW for deployment to Afghanistan.

Most countries in NATO have drastically reduced their MBT fleets since the end of the Cold War.

This has included installation of air conditioning systems, RWS, cameras for enhanced situational awareness, electronic devices to counter IED and enhanced protection packages. For this reason under Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) funding, MBTs and many other types of AFV deployed to the Iraq and Afghanistan have been rapid upgraded to enhance their survivability. Many of the Western MBTs were designed for conventional operations in Northern Europe, not operating in the high temperatures encountered in the Middle East against insurgents well versed in deploying IEDs, mines and the widely deployed RPG launcher. More recently, MBTs have seen extensive operations in the Middle East as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan where they have more often been used in the infantry direct fire support role rather than engaging other MBTs, which was their original role. The demise of the MBT has been predicted many times, especially after the heavy losses of Israel MBTs in Yom Kippur war and more recently the end of the Cold War in Europe as there was no immediate threat to NATO.Įvents since then however have confirmed that the MBT, when used as part of the combat arms team with mechanised infantry, self-propelled (SP) artillery systems, combat engineers, aviation assets and the essential C4I elements, are a unique combination for manoeuvre operations.

Largest number of battle tanks