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Main Battle Tanks - Market and Technology Forecast to 2032

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    Report

  • 131 Pages
  • December 2024
  • Region: Global
  • Market Forecast
  • ID: 6041155

The main battle tank (MBT) market is poised for significant growth, driven by evolving global security dynamics. Factors such as the war in Ukraine and China's rising influence have shifted military force structures from counterinsurgency operations to preparing for high-intensity conflicts, making MBTs indispensable on modern battlefields. These tanks provide critical capabilities, including direct fire support, infantry protection, and mobility. However, they are not standalone assets and must operate alongside mechanized infantry forces for optimal effectiveness.

Despite their advantages, MBTs face substantial challenges, primarily the high costs of acquisition and maintenance. Many armies grapple with low tank availability due to expensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) processes, while the cost of new MBTs continues to rise. Some nations have turned to acquiring used tanks for upgrades, but this option is increasingly limited as available inventory diminishes. This gap presents opportunities for manufacturers offering competitive prices or “hot transfers” of equipment from national military inventories when available.

The war in Ukraine has further highlighted the defence industry’s struggle to meet increased demand for tanks, upgrades, and spare parts. Post-Cold War defence spending cuts left many production lines insufficient for the current surge in demand. Addressing this requires partnerships and investments in expanded production capabilities. However, uncertainties about post-conflict military spending make such investments risky. Historical examples, such as Germany’s scaled-down procurement programs, underscore the financial and political uncertainties facing defence companies.

The MBT market remains highly competitive, fragmented, and politically influenced. Nations aim to maximize returns on these expensive investments, often through collaborations and joint ventures. However, this trend poses challenges to traditional manufacturers, potentially disrupting established industry dynamics. In this evolving environment, the MBT market must navigate financial, political, and operational uncertainties to meet growing global defence needs.

Covered in this study

  • Overview: Quick look at main battle tanks technology and future developments.
  • Market Dynamics: Details of the forces shaping the market, the business environment, and how the market is structured in each region and who the key competitors are.
  • Segment Analysis: Outlines the segmentation used to better understand the market from different angles.
  • Impact Analysis: Evaluates factors that affect the market, clarifying their significance. Further provides a forecast trend of how these factors can impact the market size.

Segmentation

The market is segmented by Region, Platform, Fitment, and Subsystem.

Region

  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Middle East & Africa
  • Latin America

Platform

  • Main Battle Tank
  • Armoured Recovery Vehicle
  • Armoured Engineering Vehicle

Contract type

  • New
  • Upgrade
  • Used

Reasons to buy

  • Insights into the characteristics of main battle tanks, what their limitations are and where their designs and technology head to.
  • A thorough understanding of each part of the MBT design and how that is employed on a tactical level.
  • Establish an understanding of the market’s drivers, trends, challenges and opportunities that impact its growth.
  • Presents the companies operating in every region and the qualitative differences between them.
  • Illustrates opportunities and risks within the market so that the reader can make informed decisions to safely navigate the market.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary
1.1 Trends and Insights
1.2 Main Findings
1.2.1 Main Battle Tanks market summary by Region
1.2.2 Main Battle Tanks market summary by Contract Type
1.2.3 Main Battle Tanks market summary by Type
1.3 Key Conclusions

2 Introduction
2.1 Scope
2.2 Definitions
2.3 Methodology
2.3.1 Methodology of the report
2.4 Who will benefit from this study?

3 Technologies and Developments
3.1 Main battle tanks operational concepts
3.1.1 Armoured and mechanized formations ORBAT
3.1.2 Mobile Firepower Platforms (MFP) / Light Tanks
3.2 Main battle tanks design considerations
3.2.1 Situational Awareness
3.2.2 Tactics
3.2.3 Signature Management
3.2.4 Countermeasures
3.2.5 Counter-UAS Protection
3.2.6 Active Protection
3.2.7 Armour
3.2.8 Mitigate
3.3 Autonomy and Manned-Unmanned Teaming
3.4 Remotely operated turrets

4 Market Overview
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Main battle tanks market volume distribution over forecast period by Region
4.3 Competitive landscape
4.3.1 North America
4.3.2 Europe
4.3.3 Asia-Pacific
4.4 Impact of the war in Ukraine

5 Market Dynamics and Forecast Factors
5.1 Market Segmentation
5.2 Drivers
5.3 Trends
5.4 Opportunities
5.5 Challenges

6 Country Analysis
6.1 Overview
6.2 North America
6.2.1 United States
6.2.2 Canada
6.3 Europe
6.3.1 Austria
6.3.2 Cyprus
6.3.3 Czech Republic
6.3.4 France & Germany - Main Ground Combat System (MGCS)
6.3.5 Italy
6.3.6 Lithuania
6.3.7 United Kingdom
6.3.8 Netherlands
6.3.9 Poland
6.4 Asia
6.4.1 Japan
6.4.2 Singapore
6.4.3 Taiwan
6.5 Middle East and Africa
6.5.1 Bahrain
6.5.2 Egypt
6.5.3 Israel
6.6 Latin America
6.6.1 Brazil
6.6.2 Peru

7 Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
7.1 Main Battle Tanks Market by Region overview
7.2 Main Battle Tanks market Region by Contract Type overview
7.2.1 North America market by Contract Type overview
7.2.2 Europe market by Contract Type overview
7.2.3 Asia-Pacific market by Contract Type overview
7.2.4 Middle-East & Africa market by Contract Type overview
7.2.5 Latin America market by Contract Type overview
7.3 Main Battle Tanks market Region by Type overview
7.3.1 North America market by Type overview
7.3.2 Europe market by Type overview
7.3.3 Asia-Pacific market by Type overview
7.3.4 Middle-East & Africa market by Type overview
7.3.5 Latin America market by Type overview
7.4 Opportunity Analysis

8 Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
8.1 Main Battle Tanks Market by Contract Type overview
8.2 Main Battle Tanks market Contract Type by Region overview
8.2.1 New market by Region overview
8.2.2 Upgrade market by Region overview
8.2.3 Used market by Region overview
8.3 Main Battle Tanks market Contract Type by Type overview
8.3.1 New market by Type overview
8.3.2 Upgrade market by Type overview
8.3.3 Used market by Type overview
8.4 Opportunity Analysis

9 Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
9.1 Main Battle Tanks Market by Type overview
9.2 Main Battle Tanks market Type by Region overview
9.2.1 Main Battle Tank market by Region overview
9.2.2 Armoured Recovery Vehicle market by Region overview
9.2.3 Armoured Engineering Vehicle market by Region overview
9.3 Main Battle Tanks market Type by Contract Type overview
9.3.1 Main Battle Tank market by Contract Type overview
9.3.2 Armoured Recovery Vehicle market by Contract Type overview
9.3.3 Armoured Engineering Vehicle market by Contract Type overview
9.4 Opportunity analysis

10 Leading Companies
10.1 General Dynamics Land Systems
10.1.1 Introduction
10.1.2 Products and Services
10.1.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.1.4 SWOT Analysis
10.2 BAE Systems
10.2.1 Introduction
10.2.2 Tanks - Products and Services
10.2.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.2.4 SWOT Analysis
10.3 Hyundai Rotem
10.3.1 Introduction
10.3.2 Products and Services
10.3.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.3.4 SWOT Analysis
10.4 KNDS
10.4.1 Introduction
10.4.2 Products and Services
10.4.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.4.4 SWOT Analysis
10.5 Hanwha
10.5.1 Introduction
10.5.2 Products and Services
10.5.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.5.4 SWOT Analysis
10.6 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
10.6.1 Introduction
10.6.2 Products and Services
10.6.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.6.4 SWOT Analysis
10.7 Iveco
10.7.1 Introduction
10.7.2 Products and Services
10.7.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.7.4 SWOT Analysis
10.8 BMC
10.8.1 Introduction
10.8.2 Products and Services
10.8.3 Recent Developments and Contracts
10.8.4 SWOT Analysis

11 Results and Conclusions
12 About the Publisher
12.1 General
12.2 Contact us
12.3 Disclaimer
12.4 License

Appendix
Appendix A: Companies Mentioned
Appendix B: Abbreviations

List of Figures
Figure 1: Main Battle Tanks Market summary by Region
Figure 2: Main Battle Tanks Size by Region
Figure 4: Main Battle Tanks Market summary by Contract Type
Figure 5: Main Battle Tanks Size by Contract Type
Figure 7: Main Battle Tanks Market summary by Type
Figure 8: Main Battle Tanks Size by Type
Figure 10: The survivability onion
Figure 11: An M-1 Abrams driver seat simulator (above) and the view through one of the driver’s day optics (below).
Figure 12: Israeli Merkava MBTs (with cage rooftops to protect against drones) destroyed in the narrow streets of Gaza. The urban environment is extremely lethal.
Figure 13: The interior of the Carmel concept prototype with front and side monitors providing expanded-panoramic situational awareness.
Figure 14: The turret of the KNDS MGCS/EMBT technology demonstrator with a wide range of sensors and a ROWS, at Eurosatory 2022.
Figure 15: Thales’ Acusonic gunshot detection system (yellow frame) on a British Army’s Ajax vehicle. It can locate gunshots at distances of up to 2 km.
Figure 16: An IDF Namer APC with an RWS. Note the angled trapezoid surfaces on the corners which are the AESA radars of the Trophy active protection system.
Figure 17: Saab’s Barracuda camouflage system.
Figure 18: Intracom Defence Electronics’ GenairCon hybrid electric system at the back (the metallic boxes protruding lef tand right of the hatch) of a Hellenic Army’s M109.
Figure 19: The explosion of the APS’ hard-kill effector
Figure 20: The broken rod of an APFDS round after its impact on armour. EODH exhibit at Eurosatory 2022.
Figure 21: KNDS 140mm ASCALON gun.
Figure 22: EODH’s ASPIS-NG double-ERA armour, with sensors and hard-kill systems for top-attack protection.
Figure 23: Upper: A Russian T-72 MBT hull design with the ammunition compartment. Below: A T-72 with a cage armour on top. Note that the turret has been completed detached from the hull due to the existence of the ammunition right under the crew. Once they are ignited the damage is fatal.
Figure 24: An M1 Abrams ammunition compartment separated by a heavy blast door.
Figure 25: A Leopard 2’s blow-out panels.
Figure 26: Leopard 2 A-RC 3.0
Figure 27: Market volumes over the forecast period per region
Figure 28: Market Segmentation and Sub Segmentation Military Avionics Market
Figure 29: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Figure 30: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region %
Figure 31: North America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 32: North America - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 33: Europe Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 34: Europe - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 35: Asia-Pacific Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 36: Asia-Pacific - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 37: Middle-East & Africa Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 38: Middle-East & Africa - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 39: Latin America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 40: Latin America - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 41: North America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 42: North America - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 43: Europe Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 44: Europe - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 45: Asia-Pacific Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 46: Asia-Pacific - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 47: Middle-East & Africa Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 48: Middle-East & Africa - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 49: Latin America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 50: Latin America - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 3: Main Battle Tanks CAGR by Region in US$ millions
Figure 51: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Figure 52: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type %
Figure 53: New Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 54: New - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 55: Upgrade Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 56: Upgrade - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 57: Used Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 58: Used - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 59: New Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 60: New - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 61: Upgrade Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 62: Upgrade - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 63: Used Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 64: Used - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type
Figure 6: Main Battle Tanks CAGR by Contract Type in US$ millions
Figure 65: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Figure 66: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type %
Figure 67: Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 68: Main Battle Tank - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 69: Armoured Recovery Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 70: Armoured Recovery Vehicle - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 71: Armoured Engineering Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 72: Armoured Engineering Vehicle - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region
Figure 73: Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 74: Main Battle Tank - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 75: Armoured Recovery Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 76: Armoured Recovery Vehicle - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 77: Armoured Engineering Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 78: Armoured Engineering Vehicle - Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type
Figure 9: Main Battle Tanks CAGR by Type in US$ millions
List of Tables
Table 1: Main Battle Tanks Market summary by Region in US$ millions
Table 2: Main Battle Tanks Market summary by Contract Type in US$ millions
Table 3: Main Battle Tanks Market summary by Type in US$ millions
Table 4: Levels of Armour Protection as per STANAG 4560
Table 5: Market activity
Table 6: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 7: North America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 8: Europe Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 9: Asia-Pacific Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 10: Middle-East & Africa Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 11: Latin America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 12: North America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 13: Europe Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 14: Asia-Pacific Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 15: Middle-East & Africa Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 16: Latin America Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 17: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 18: New Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 19: Upgrade Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 20: Used Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 21: New Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 22: Upgrade Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 23: Used Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 24: Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Type [US$ millions]
Table 25: Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 26: Armoured Recovery Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 27: Armoured Engineering Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Region [US$ millions]
Table 28: Main Battle Tank Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 29: Armoured Recovery Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 30: Armoured Engineering Vehicle Main Battle Tanks Market Forecast to 2033 by Contract Type [US$ millions]
Table 31: General Dynamics SWOT Analysis
Table 32: BAE System Land Systems SWOT Analysis
Table 33: Hyundai Rotem SWOT Analysis
Table 34: KNDS SWOT Analysis
Table 35: Hanwha SWOT Analysis
Table 36: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SWOT Analysis
Table 37: Iveco SWOT Analysis
Table 39: BMC SWOT Analysis

Companies Mentioned

  • BAE Systems
  • BMC
  • Elbit Systems
  • EODH
  • General Dynamics Land Systems
  • Hanwha Defense
  • Hyundai Rotem
  • IMI
  • KNDS Deutschland
  • KDNS France
  • Komatsu
  • Leonardo
  • Leonardo DRS
  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  • PGZ Group
  • Rafael Defense
  • RBSL
  • Rheinmetall
  • RITEK
  • Thales Australia