In the ever-evolving battlefield of the 21st century, agility and adaptability have become just as important as armor and firepower. While main battle tanks (MBTs) like the M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 continue to dominate heavy armor roles, light tanks are making a powerful comeback — proving essential in reconnaissance, rapid response, and expeditionary missions.
Light tanks are designed for mobility and versatility. Unlike their heavier counterparts, they trade thick armor for speed, transportability, and advanced surveillance capabilities. In theaters like Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, where mobility and fast deployment are critical, these vehicles have become indispensable. Their lighter weight allows them to be airlifted into combat zones, making them ideal for rapid insertion forces, such as airborne or marine units.
In this article we are going to see the latest Light Tank being rolled out of factories from various countries.Here is the list of some of the Top 5 Best light tanks ever made-
5 - Kalpan MT / Harimau Turkish Light Tank
The KAPLAN MT, also known as the Harimau Light Tank, is a modern tracked armored platform jointly developed by FNSS Savunma Sistemleri of Turkey and PT Pindad of Indonesia. Tailored for the unique operational environments of Southeast Asia and adaptable to global theaters, this light tank brings together advanced mobility, optimized firepower, and modular protection in a compact package.
Design Philosophy
Built with a low-profile turret and lightweight chassis, the KAPLAN MT is engineered for high-speed maneuverability and strategic flexibility. It bridges the gap between infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks, making it ideal for operations in jungle, mountainous, or urban environments where heavier platforms struggle.
Key Features & Capabilities
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Main Armament:
A Cockerill 105mm high-pressure rifled gun, capable of firing all NATO-standard munitions including APFSDS, HEAT, and HE rounds, as well as gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles (GLATGMs) for extended-range precision strikes. -
Secondary Armament:
A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, with optional configurations for remote-controlled weapon stations. -
Fire Control System:
Integrated digital fire control system with:-
Stabilized day/night sights
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Thermal imaging camera
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Laser rangefinder
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Hunter-killer capability enabling the commander and gunner to engage separate targets simultaneously
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Armor Protection:
STANAG 4569 Level 4 protection against 14.5mm armor-piercing rounds, artillery fragments, and mines. Modular armor design allows for easy upgrades based on mission requirements. -
Mobility:
Powered by a Caterpillar C13 diesel engine producing 711 hp, paired with a fully automatic transmission. This gives the tank:-
Top speed of 70 km/h
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Operational range of 450+ km
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Power-to-weight ratio of over 20 hp/ton
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Suspension:
Advanced torsion bar suspension system with 350 mm ground clearance, designed for superior off-road handling and amphibious operations (in future variants). -
Weight and Dimensions:
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Combat weight: ~35 tons
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Length (with gun forward): ~9 meters
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Width: ~3.4 meters
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Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
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Battlefield Network Integration:
Equipped with tactical data links, GPS navigation, and BMS (Battle Management System) readiness for seamless operation in network-centric warfare environments.
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| Kalpan MT |
The Sabrah Light Tank stands as a modern solution to contemporary battlefield demands—where agility, digital systems, and precision firepower must work in unison. Developed by Israel’s Elbit Systems, the Sabrah is not a completely new tank, but a highly modular turret and firepower suite designed to integrate with tracked or wheeled platforms—specifically customized for the Philippine Army’s Light Tank Acquisition Program.
Design Concept and Purpose
Unlike traditional tanks that prioritize armor mass, the Sabrah is engineered around deployability, flexibility, and digital dominance. It represents a shift in doctrine—from armored brute force to network-enabled, mobile fire support, perfectly suited for nations dealing with asymmetric threats and island or jungle terrain.
The system has been delivered in two configurations:
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Tracked Version: Based on the ASCOD 2 chassis by General Dynamics European Land Systems
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Wheeled Version: Integrated onto the Centauro II 8x8 platform by Iveco–OTO Melara
This dual approach highlights the Sabrah's platform-agnostic turret system, allowing multiple nations to adapt it to their own logistics and combat requirements.
Key Features & Capabilities
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Main Armament:
A 105mm NATO-standard rifled gun with:-
Auto-loader system (reducing crew to 3)
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Capability to fire high-explosive, armor-piercing, and programmable ammunition
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Gun-launched anti-tank guided missile (GLATGM) compatibility for targets beyond line of sight
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Fire Control & Targeting:
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Advanced digital fire control system with ballistic computer
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Commander Independent Sight (CIS) with thermal imager
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Hunter-Killer engagement mode
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Target tracking and automatic target handover between commander and gunner
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Secondary Armament:
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7.62mm coaxial machine gun
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Optional remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) with 12.7mm heavy machine gun or grenade launcher
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Protection:
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Base armor equivalent to STANAG Level 4, upgradeable with add-on armor kits
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Full 360° smoke grenade launchers
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Optional Active Protection System (APS) integration
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NBC protection and fire suppression systems standard
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Mobility (varies by platform):
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Tracked version (ASCOD 2):
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Top speed: ~72 km/h
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Range: ~500 km
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Engine: MTU 8V199 TE20 diesel, 600+ hp
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Wheeled version (Centauro II):
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Top speed: ~105 km/h
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Engine: 720 hp Iveco turbo diesel
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Improved road mobility and amphibious capability
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Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
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Combat Weight: Approx. 30–35 tons, depending on configuration
Operational Focus
The Sabrah was specifically tailored for the Philippine Army’s modernization, addressing the need for strategic mobility across archipelagic terrain, quick deployment via C-130 aircraft, and flexible response to insurgency or border threats.
But the Sabrah’s modular nature allows it to go beyond the Philippines. With Elbit’s open architecture and turret flexibility, it can be integrated into nearly any light armored chassis, giving militaries a plug-and-play solution for precision armored fire support without the logistics burden of full-scale main battle tanks.
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| Sabrah Light Tank |
When warfare shifts to the clouds—where oxygen is scarce, temperatures unforgiving, and roads barely exist—most armored vehicles retreat. But one machine was born to move where others stall. Meet Zorawar, India’s indigenously designed light tank, purpose-built for dominance in extreme terrain.
Unlike the typical heavy tanks that roll across plains or deserts, Zorawar is a mountain predator—light, agile, and lethal. It is a bold response to a new era of high-altitude standoff warfare, designed with one goal: outperform any adversary where the terrain is toughest.
Crafted for the Himalayas : Zorawar was engineered with this reality in mind. Weighing under 25 tonnes, it is almost half the weight of a standard main battle tank like the Arjun or T-90. This featherweight status allows it to be airlifted swiftly by a C-17 aircraft and deployed in the remotest sectors without relying on ground logistics.
Its high power-to-weight ratio ensures that it can climb steep gradients, cross narrow mountain roads, and pivot through treacherous ridges where few vehicles dare to roll.
It is armed with a belgian 105 mm high-pressure gun, capable of delivering kinetic and explosive rounds with deadly accuracy. Whether engaging enemy bunkers, armored vehicles, or drones, this cannon is no slouch.
Under the hood, Zorawar features a modern powerpack with a 800+ hp engine, tuned for low-oxygen environments. Its hydropneumatic suspension system adapts to changing terrain and stabilizes the gun platform, offering both comfort and combat effectiveness.
The vehicle's design supports amphibious capability, allowing it to cross rivers and water bodies without engineering bridges—a key advantage in Himalayan valleys.Supporting the gun is an advanced fire control system that allows for day/night target acquisition, automatic target tracking, and stabilized firing on the move—even on uneven Himalayan terrain.
Co-developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), with critical systems from global defense tech leaders like John Cockerill (Belgium), Zorawar is a model of international collaboration fused with Indian innovation.
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| Zorawar Light Tank |
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| Zorawar Light Tank |
2 - VT5 / Type 15 Light Tank: Precision Firepower at High Altitudes
China’s VT5, known domestically as the Type 15, represents a significant evolution in light tank warfare—combining modern firepower, digital warfare capabilities, and lightweight mobility in one compact platform. Developed by NORINCO (China North Industries Corporation), the VT5 is specifically optimized for high-altitude, mountainous, and rugged terrain, where traditional main battle tanks are logistically or operationally limited.
Strategic Role and Design Philosophy
The VT5 was not built to replace heavier tanks like the Type 99 or Type 96, but rather to complement them by excelling in terrain where those larger platforms are ineffective. From the Tibetan Plateau to jungle borders in the south, the VT5 gives the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and export clients a highly maneuverable and modern armored spearhead that can strike hard and retreat fast.
Designed with weight constraints in mind, the VT5 maintains excellent firepower-to-weight ratio and is suitable for airlift operations, making it valuable for rapid reaction forces and border defense.
Core Features and Systems
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Main Armament:
A 105mm rifled gun, compatible with NATO-standard ammunition, capable of firing:-
Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS)
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High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT)
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High-Explosive (HE) rounds
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Gun-launched guided missiles with tandem warheads and laser homing
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Fire Control Suite:
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Fully digital ballistic fire control system
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Independent thermal sights for gunner and commander
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Hunter-killer capability
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Stabilized gun for accurate firing on the move
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Secondary Armament:
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7.62mm coaxial machine gun
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Optional remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) with 12.7mm heavy machine gun or automatic grenade launcher
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Armor and Protection:
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Modular composite armor base, scalable for mission requirements
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Capable of resisting medium-caliber projectiles and shell splinters
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Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) packages available
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Equipped with laser warning receivers and smoke grenade dischargers
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Optional Active Protection System (APS) for intercepting incoming threats
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Mobility and Powertrain:
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Engine: 1000 hp turbocharged diesel engine
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Power-to-weight ratio: ~30 hp/ton
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Max road speed: 70 km/h
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Range: ~450 km
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Advanced hydropneumatic suspension for terrain adaptability
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Designed for air transport, even by medium transport aircraft
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Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
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Combat Weight: ~33–36 tons depending on armor configuration
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| Vt 5 Light tank |
The M10 Booker is not just a light tank—it is a symbol of the U.S. Army’s return to mobile, protected direct-fire support for infantry units. Developed by General Dynamics Land Systems, the M10 bridges a critical capability gap left since the retirement of the M551 Sheridan and M8 AGS. It is designed to support fast-moving infantry in contested, near-peer environments, delivering powerful, pinpoint fire in a platform that’s lighter than a main battle tank but significantly more survivable than an IFV.
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| M10 Light Tank |
Design Philosophy: A Tank That Isn’t Called a Tank
Although the Army carefully avoids labeling it a “light tank,” the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle fulfills precisely that role. Named in honor of two fallen soldiers—Private Robert D. Booker and Staff Sergeant Stevon A. Booker—the vehicle embodies a mix of speed, survivability, and lethality. It was developed under the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) program to provide organic, mobile fire support for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs), who previously lacked a tracked assault vehicle.
Key Features and Capabilities
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Main Armament:
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105mm rifled cannon with autoloader, reducing crew burden
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Compatible with a wide range of NATO munitions
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Offers direct-fire capability against enemy armor, fortifications, and structures
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Secondary Armament:
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7.62mm coaxial machine gun
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Optional Remote Weapon Station (RWS) with 12.7mm heavy machine gun or Mk 19 grenade launcher
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Fire Control and Optics:
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Advanced thermal imaging and day/night sights for both commander and gunner
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Stabilized fire control system with hunter-killer capability
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Integrated laser rangefinder and digital targeting systems for rapid engagement
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Protection Systems:
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All-around protection against small arms fire and shell fragments
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Modular armor system, scalable based on mission needs
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Explosive protection for mine and IED threats
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NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection and automatic fire suppression
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Mobility and Chassis:
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Based on a shortened Abrams hull, offering familiarity with proven technology
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650–750 hp diesel engine (estimated)
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Operational range: ~450 km
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Top road speed: ~65–70 km/h
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Capable of rapid deployment via C-17 Globemaster III
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Crew: 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
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Combat Weight: ~38 tons (lighter than M1 Abrams, heavier than most light tanks)
Strategic Role and Deployment
The M10 Booker is not intended to replace the Abrams; rather, it fills the firepower void at the IBCT level. It gives light infantry formations the ability to counter enemy armored threats, support assaults, and survive in urban and restrictive terrain. Its deployability by air and its reduced logistical footprint make it ideal for early entry operations and rapid response scenarios.
Production of the M10 Booker is already underway, and the U.S. Army plans to field it with first units operational by 2026, primarily within light and airborne units where its strategic mobility will be most effective.