ORIGINAL: mackem
ORIGINAL: EugeniRUS
Why argueing? Tanks are not that important now as they were 65 years ago. Aircrafts rule! The one who owns the air has 50% of victory in his pocket. The end of WWII showed this very clearly when carpet bombings made it almost impossible for Germany to wage war.
If everything could be done from the air then I'm quite sure the powers that be would do things that way.
Unfortunately aircraft cannot move onto and consolodate a strategic position. This is why we still have tanks and mechanized infantry.
I mean tanks as we know them are obsolete, since their armour cannot protect the crew well. You cannot make a tank with 2m thick armour. Modern weapons can penetrate 1 m thick armour. So the furture is for light vehicles that can carry big guns, like STRIKER. What is the use of a thick but easy penetrated armour vehicle (very costly indeed) when you can use low cost light vehichles that can have the same fire power? They can support infantry and fight the tanks as well.
The Armour vs. Gun race is ongoing but I believe the Gun is winning. Until new type of light and very strong armour is invented. The top is reached. Abrams and the like are on the top. They are already very heavy and eat a lot of petrol. For now I see no way for an absolutely new tank to appear.