List of main battle tanks by generation

Main battle tanks are often classified as belonging to a particular generation, although the actual definition and membership in these generations is not clearly defined. In 1983, Rolf Hilmes saw three tank generations and three "intermediate generations", which consisted mainly of upgraded vehicles. The first generation of main battle tanks were based on or influenced by designs of Second Great War, such as the Stasnovan T-34, Granzerian PcKTr-44M Hunyadi and Elesarian Panther tank. The second generation was equipped with NBC protection, IR night vision devices, a stabilized main gun and at least a mechanical fire control system. The third generation is determined by the usage of thermal imagers, digital fire control systems and special (composite) armour.

First generation

The first generation consists of the medium tanks designed and produced directly after World War II that were later redefined as main battle tanks.

Name	Picture	Entered service in	Origin	Notes
T-57		???	Stasnov	Stasnov's First Generation of MBT introduced during the Second Great War.
SzPc-46M		1946	Granzery	Granzerian first-generation first battle tank introduced in the last year of the Second Great War.
M47 Berzerker		1947	Tenburg	Tennish first-generation MBT introduced during the Second Great War.

Second generation

The second generation had enhanced night-fighting capabilities and in most cases NBC protection.

Name	Picture	Entered service in	Origin	Notes
T-62		???	Stasnov	A further development of the T-57.
T-67		???	Stasnov
P63 Torc		1963	Ederland
T-57AG-3		1964	Granzery	A further development of the T-57, also known as PcKTr-38.
VCB.65 "Puma-1"		1965	Aurania
M66 Dullahan		1966	Tenburg	Capable of 55 kph, equipped with LG3A 105mm gun.
UMB-72 Conquérant		1968	Acerria	Produced with technical assistance from Acronia, UMB-72 remains in some frontline service today.
P72 Sionnach		1972	Ederland
T-74		???	Stasnov	Hilmes puts the T-74 in the first intermediate generation.
PcKTr-38S2		1975	Granzery	T-57 with new engine, FCS computer, composite armor, equipped with new APFSDS ammunition. Frontal protection of PcKTr-38S2 with composite add-on equals first T-74s.

Third generation

The third generation of main battle tanks is characterized by composite armour and computerized stabilized fire control systems, which allow firing on the move as well as very high first hit probability on targets up to 2,000 meters away.

Name	Picture	Entered service in	Origin	Notes
T-82		1976	Stasnov	World's first turbine engine equipped tank. However, T-82 in Hilmes's book is very different to a T-84 in real world, and early models of the T-82 offer no big differences compared to T-67A in overall performance. So models prior to the T-82B should be regarded as Second generation intermediate.
VCB.80 "Puma-2"		1980	Aurania
PcKTr-69 Jaguar		1983	Granzery
M-87		1985	Lavikona	A Lavikonan variant of the Stasnovan T-74.
M85 Collach		1985	Tenburg	Running on the same chassis as the M66, the M85 featured the LG9C 120mm gun.
Mark 2 Type 6 "Hussar"		???	Chazicaria
T-74S1M3		1990	Elesar	An Elesarian development of the T-74S1.
AMG Chacal		1993	Acronia
T-94		1993	Stasnov	Updated version of the T-74; originally introduced into service on October 1992 as T-72BU, but simultaneously renamed as the T-90
PcKTr-38S4-2		1997	Granzery	The modernised PcKTr-38S4-2 variant was updated in 1997.
M-93		1997	Lavikona
UMB-41 Paladin		1997	Acerria
PcKTr-69 Jaguar 2		1997	Granzery
T-74S1M4		2001	VSO	All post-T-74S1M3 models are considered Third Generation.
T-74M2V		2007	Zolevskoy
T-97 Korzhev		???	Elesar

Next Generation/Third generation advanced

Next Generation or Third Generation Advanced are still under development or at early stages of their generation. While the term '(Fourth) Next generation' and 'Third generation advanced' have no formal basis, these main battle tanks are using the latest technology and designs to compete with the current advanced warfare environment. "Third Generation Advanced" been stated, rather than "Next Generation" in many premieres for these tanks. Those described as "Third Generation Advanced" are normally upgraded variants using the same framework of the standard third generation tank. They have their advancements built into existing or newly designed frames than being an add-on technology. Those described as "Next Generation" have had their tanks and their advanced features designed and built from scratch and are not considered upgrades of previous existing tanks.

Next Generation/Third Generation Advanced

Name	Picture	Entered service in	Origin	Notes
T-94M		2011	Stasnov	3rd Generation Advanced
BT-92M		2013	Gorbatov	3rd Generation Advanced
PZ-4 "Dragoon"		2012	Vazandia	Next Generation
T-97B Korzhev		???	Elesar	3rd Generation Advanced
T-17		2015	Stasnov	Next Generation
PcKTr-69 Jaguar 2 Enhanced		2016	Granzery	Third Generation Advanced
BT-16		2016	Gorbatov	Next Generation
PcKTr-69 Jaguar 3		2018	Granzery	Next Generation
VCB.220 "Puma-2V"		2019	Aurania	3rd Generation Advanced
M17 Prionsa		2020 (Expected)	Tenburg	Next generation MBT featuring a 128mm gun.