@CWO:
Tank effectiveness has always been and remains dependent on environment. They’re at their best in open, flat environments (like deserts) where they can operate like ships at sea; they’re at their worst in congested environments (like cities) where tanks need to operate under close support from nimble infantrymen.
I would argue against this… and echo what Garg was saying.
Tank effectiveness does remain dependent on environment, but the old effectiveness is different from the new effectiveness. In the days of prop driven aircraft, when weather was a factor and the airplane posed less of a threat, tanks rule the battlefield depending on the day and associated air cover.
Nowadays, any properly equipped plane, helicopter or drone can be a tank-killer (in any weather). Being out in the open on flat terrain is essentially a death sentence for a tank. That is where the tank’s weapons may be most effective, but the tank itself no longer is… partially because enemy tanks will not be out in the open to fight any more.
With the absence of large scale tank battles and much warfare becoming urbanized, the design of the tank will have to adapt to remain a potent threat. Though, that may not even be possible. They are still relatively effective vehicles against civilian crowds and poorly armed militants; now their primary use. When was the last time we saw major tank vs. tank action? The Gulf War? I can’t find exact figures, but I would imagine that aircraft destroyed at least as many, if not more, Iraqi tanks than coalition tanks did.
Besides that, virtually the only modern tanks in the world are developed and deployed by our allies: Germany, Britain, Brazil, France, Israel… Certainly Russia and China would be capable if they put their resources to it.