Despite the decline in their use nowadays in favor of more efficient choices in battle, tanks are still some of the most fearsome military vehicles and play a crucial role and part when other means aren't as viable in certain situations and environments.
While some of the machines on this list get their reputation for being some of the fastest tanks around, others are known for their raw power and combat capabilities. And with some of the top-of-the-line tanks available in the market nowadays, competition between countries to develop and produce the world's optimal tank arose, resulting in these 10 most expensive tanks ever made.
10 Type 99 - $2.6 Million
With almost 900 units built since 1999, Type 99 is China's main battle tank and was its first third-generation main battle tank that produced in bulk.
It weighs around 55 tons and is powered by a liquid-cooled 33.9-liter V-12 twin-turbo diesel engine worth 27.78 horsepower per ton, with a total of 1,500 hp, and has a top speed of 50 mph.
Type 99 houses a 125 mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun as its primary weapon, a type 85 heavy machine gun, and a type 59 7.62 millimeters coaxial machine gun as its secondary weapons.
9 T-90 - $4.5 Million
Designed and produced as a substitute for the T-64, T-72, and T-80 tanks, the T-90 is Russia's most prominent main battle tank. That is due to the tank's relatively cost-efficient production price due to its simplicity, but still remains one of the more expensive tanks out there.
With over 3,200 of this tank produced, the T-90 has proved to be a sought after tank, especially with India purchasing 60 of them from Russia back in 2008, and planning to have at least 1,640 T-90s by 2020.
It utilizes a 2A46M 125 mm smoothbore gun with 43 rounds in addition to a 12.7mm Kord heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm PKMT.
8 Merkava - $5 Million
Known for its impeccable armor and ability to keep its crew alive, the Merkava is not only one of the world's priciest tanks, but it's also one of the safest.
Designed to have excellent maneuverability on Israeli terrain, the Merkava runs on a 1,500 horsepower turbocharged diesel engine. Additionally, it is known to have some of the best guns and defense systems any tank could have, with a 120mm MG253 smoothbore gun, machine guns, Mk 19 grenade launcher, and an internal mortar alongside smoke grenades.
7 Leopard 2 - $5.7 Million
With over 3,500 units produced, Germany's main battle tank the Leopard 2 was designed and constructed back in the 1970s as a successor to a commendable Leopard 1.
With a price tag of $5.7 million, the Leopard 2 comes equipped with a 120 mm Rheinmetall L/44 or L/55. It also features two 7.62 mm MG3A1s or two 7.62 mm FN Mags. Additionally, the tank is fortified with some of the strongest armor available, consisting of high hardness steel, tungsten, and other composites
6 M1A2 Abrams - $6.21 Million
Being the successor of the M1 Abrams MBT, a revolutionary tank at the time, and the M1A1 Abrams, set the expectations high for the M1A2 Abrams, and the American tank proudly delivered.
With a range of 265 mph, the Abrams is powered by a 1,500 HP gas turbine engine and holds a top speed of 42 mph.
The tank's main weapon is its 120 mm XM 256 smoothbore gun, accompanied by a 7.62 mm coaxial and 50 cal M2 machine guns.
5 Challenger II - $7.2 Million
Despite not having as many units sold as some of the other tanks on this list, the Challenger II remains one of the world's most prominent tanks with its various features and capabilities. Its size is no less commendable, especially seeing as how it stands as one of the world's biggest tanks, gaining the title the "Megatron" Challenger II.
With some of the world's best armor composed of Chobham - a material considered to be twice the strength of steel - the Abrams lands a spot as one of the safest tanks available in the market.
Its offensive abilities are no less fearsome as it offers insane firepower with its 120 mm 55 cal L30A1, and L94A1 EX-34 7.62 mm chain gun. It also has room for more armaments to be added, making it all around even more powerful and worth the price.
4 C1 Ariete - $7.5 Million
With some of the highest-end and latest software and fire control systems installed, it's no wonder the Italian Ariete brings home a price of $7.5 million.
With a robust frontal turret structure similar to that of the Challenger 1 - the predecessor of the British Challenger 2 - and the American Abrams tank, and armor composing of steel and other strong materials, the Ariete provides its crew with almost inviolable protection, especially seeing as how the tank is immune to Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical attacks.
As far as firepower, the Ariet is home to a 120 mm OTO Breda L/44 smoothbore gun with 42 rounds, 7.62 mm MG 42/59 coaxial machine gun, and a 7.62 mm MG 42/69 AA machine-gun with 2,500 rounds.
3 Arjun - $7.8 Million
If there's any tank you'd wanna use to get eliminate another, the Arjun is probably the most reliable choice out there. With several of its weaponry systems and rounds designed to penetrate tank armor such as the laser homing guided low-weight anti-tank guided missile and its high-explosive anti-tank warheads capable of being fired from the tank's 120 mm rifled tank gun.
Despite the Arjun's potential and efficiency at causing considerable damage to hostile armored vehicles, several countries have remained skeptical about adopting the tank despite it outperforming the Russian T-90 in tests that both tanks underwent.
2 K2 Black Panther - $8.5 Million
As a next-generation tank, the South Korean K2 Black Panther utilizes the latest of what technology has to offer.
With the initial designs starting back in 1995 and lasting up until 2008 with constant updates and modifications added to the tank before it finally entered service in June 2014.
The K2 Black Panther deploys a 230 mm L/55 smoothbore with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun. Moreover, it features some of the strongest composite armors, in addition to being protected against nuclear, biological, and chemical weaponry.
1 AMX-56 Leclerc - $9.3 Million
With around 800 units produced, half of which is deployed by UAE, the Leclerc stands as the most expensive tank to ever be built. Several factors go into the hefty price tag of the tank, such as the tank's superior mobility and full efficiency, as well as its powerful weaponry and high-tech systems.
While it may not be the best-armored tank available, the Leclerc still deploys a firm and robust armor composed of titanium, while keeping the weight fairly low. Therefore, the french Leclerc outshines other tanks in mobility and swiftness.
The tank's potent armaments provide it with strong and effective firepower as it utilizes a GIAT CN120-26/52 120 mm tank gun with a total of 40 rounds. Additionally, the 12.7 mm coaxial M2HB machine gun alongside the 7.62 mm machine gun adds the option of swift and efficient attacks with the 4,000 rounds shared among the two machine guns.