Top 10 Countries with the Most Armoured Vehicles

Sep 17, 2025, 15:19 IST

The United States has the world's largest fleet of armored vehicles with over 396,000, followed by India, China, and Russia. This ranking reflects military strength, strategic priorities, and ongoing modernization efforts. The numbers include tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers, essential for modern military operations.

Armoured vehicles, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), and armored personnel carriers (APCs), are critical components of modern military forces worldwide. They provide essential protection, mobility, and firepower on the battlefield. 

As of 2025, here is a list of the top 10 countries possessing the largest fleets of armoured vehicles, reflecting their military strength and strategic priorities.

Top 10 Countries with the Most Armoured Vehicles

Rank

Country

Total Number of Armoured Vehicles*

1

United States

396,603

2

India

152,795

3

China

150,817

4

Russia

137,277

5

France

111,147

6

Germany

83,556

7

Italy

73,680

8

Iran

67,538

9

Turkey

63,411

10

Greece

63,232

Notes: Includes main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and other armored combat vehicles.

1. United States

The United States has the most armoured vehicles in the world with nearly 400,000 of them. It comprises a full range of sophisticated main battle tanks such as the M1 Abrams, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The United States military heavily invests in modernizing and upgrading this fleet within various branches.

2. India

India takes the second place with more than 150,000 armoured vehicles. It has home-developed tanks such as the Arjun MBT and huge quantities of Russian-produced T-90 tanks. Indian armored forces are part of its defense scheme due to the varied topographies and persistent regional security issues.

3. China

China has about 150,800 armoured vehicles, among them a solid and modernising tank fleet of vehicles like the Type 99 and a vast cache of infantry fighting and armored personnel carriers. China is emphasizing mechanized and armoured forces in order to sustain regional superiority.

4. Russia

Russia's armoured vehicle inventory stands at more than 137,000, with diverse models like the iconic T-90 tanks and the cutting-edge T-14 Armata. Russia possesses one of the most experienced and diverse armoured forces, a testament to its decades-long history of armored warfare.

5. France

France has approximately 111,000 armoured vehicles on active duty. The French military depends on the updated Leclerc main battle tank versions along with other mechanized troops for European and global deployments.

6. Germany

Over 83,500 of Germany's armored fleet includes the Leopard 2 main battle tank series, held to be one of the finest tanks in the world. Germany is a central part of NATO's armored force.

7. Italy

Italy has approximately 73,600 armored combat vehicles, a combination of Leopard 1 and 2 tanks, Centauro tank destroyers, and various infantry fighting vehicles. The Italian Army maintains ongoing modernization initiatives for its armored forces.

8. Iran

Iran possesses more than 67,500 armored vehicles, several of which have been derived from older American, Russian, and Chinese models but heavily modernized locally. Iran's armored units are still the central pillar of its defense despite sanctions.

9. Turkey

Turkey has an armored vehicle inventory of over 63,000. It has modernized tanks in development like the Altay MBT, in addition to large quantities of armored fighting vehicles produced domestically or imported.

10. Greece

Greece completes the top 10 with more than 63,000 armoured vehicles, such as German Leopard tanks and domestically improved armoured personnel carriers. Greece's role in the Mediterranean calls for an effective armoured force.

Understanding Armoured Vehicle Counts

The numbers above include not only combat tanks but also cover infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and other armored fighting vehicles that together represent a nation's armored strength. Armored vehicles are needed for offensive as well as defensive operations, as they protect troops and deliver heavy firepower.

Current military units are more and more inclined to enhance existing armored vehicles with new protection technologies, active defense systems, and the integration of unmanned technologies. The worldwide market for armored vehicles is on the rise, driven by modernization efforts and changing combat requirements.


Read more: Which Country is the Largest Producer of Rice in the World?

Kirti Sharma
Kirti Sharma

Content Writer

Kirti Sharma is a content writing professional with 3 years of experience in the EdTech Industry and Digital Content. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and worked with companies like ThoughtPartners Global, Infinite Group, and MIM-Essay. She writes for the General Knowledge and Current Affairs section of JagranJosh.com.

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