In a time when war has once again become a highly topical issue, there is also much discussion about military spending: here’s how much a tank costs around the world.
How much does a tank cost? In these dark times - marked by the war in Ukraine and the chaos in the Middle East - the issue of military spending has once again become a hot topic.
After the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which alarmed the rest of Europe over the potential risk of a widening conflict, NATO asked its members to increase their military spending.
So let’s take a detailed look at the price of a tank, with the entire world now engaged in a dangerous arms race.
How Much Does a Tank Cost
A tank - a type of tank in English - is an armored military combat vehicle designed to operate on the front lines of battlefields. It is one of the primary vehicles of modern land forces and was decisive in both world wars of the last century, with the first being introduced by the British in 1916.
Tanks are traditionally divided into light, medium, heavy, and superheavy, characteristics that also affect their cost.
The cost of a tank can vary - even significantly - depending on the model, the country of manufacture, the technical specifications, and the optional extras included.
| Model | Country | Estimated price per unit |
|---|---|---|
| M1A2 Abrams | USA | $8–10 million |
| Leopard 2A7 | Germany | $10–13 million |
| Challenger 3 | United Kingdom | $10–12 million |
| Leclerc | France | $9–12 million |
| T-90M | Russia | $3–5 million |
| Armata T-14 | Russia | $10–15 million |
For modern tanks, the price - and we’re talking about the basic vehicle alone - can range from a minimum of $3 million to $15 million.
If we then factor in all the expenses required for ammunition, logistical support, maintenance, and training, the overall cost increases even further.
The price of a tank in the world
Military spending is increasing worldwide—not a good omen, see the security paradox, which was one of the triggers of World War I—with global arms spending having exceeded $2.2 trillion.
After decades of downsizing the German army, Germany has now decided to purchase 123 Leopard 2A8s for a total investment of 2.93 billion euros.
Poland is also sparing no expense on tanks: $8.8 billion in total to purchase M1A1 Abrams from the United States and K2 Black Panthers from South Korea.
Fearful of China and North Korea, Japan—another unfortunate protagonist of World War II—has budgeted up to 15 billion yen for the purchase of Type 10 MBTs.
The United States spends around $5 billion annually on M1A1 Abrams, while Russia, which has been engaged in the war against Ukraine for over three years, hopes to produce 1,500 new tanks by 2025 alone.
Finally, France is investing hundreds of millions of euros exclusively in Leclerc tanks, with unit costs much higher than average.
Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Quanto costa un carro armato? I prezzi in Italia e nel mondo
