Armor is presented for the relevant machines as:
MBT: Main Battle Tanks, a postwar concept that emerged as a highly mobile and upgunned tank with a medium caliber proof armour to replace the traditional weight based tank classification. In this sense, the mutual annihilation was in fact accepted in favor of a better automotive performance. So, the first hit probability aroused as the key factor, pushing for better fire control systems, rangefinders, stabilized guns and night vision and sighting devices.
LCV: Light Combat Vehicle, a wide concept, including light tanks and armoured cars, intended for recon, fire support, quick response teams and other tasks.
IFV: Infantry Combat Vehicle, a relatively new concept as an evolution of the APC in terms of firepower and protection to allow a deeper tank support by infantry, fighting from inside and/or supported by the IFV gun fire. Some of this vehicles, the most heavily armed, perform also the fire support role.
APC: Armoured Personnel Carrier, a classic concept as an armoured taxi in terms of carrying infantry to the battle field, were it has to dismount to support their own armor. Although, they evolved into IFV´s, many modern armies still deploy IFV´s together with APC´s because of their bigger personnel carrying capacity.
Armor is described in terms of firepower , mobility and armour protection to allow for a better comparison between countries under scope:
Argentina -
Bolivia -
Brazil -
Chile -
Ecuador -
Peru
Country Comparison
|