This guide serves as a definitive, portable reference for the identification of modern tanks and armored fighting vehicles currently in active service worldwide. Author Christopher F. Foss, a recognized expert in military hardware, leverages the extensive archival data of the Jane's Information Group to provide a structured, visual methodology for vehicle recognition. The text organizes complex military hardware into accessible categories, ensuring that both enthusiasts and professionals can distinguish between various tracked and wheeled platforms with precision.

The work is widely regarded as a standard reference tool for military enthusiasts and analysts due to its reliance on the rigorous data standards of the Jane's Information Group. Its compact, illustrated format provides a high level of utility for field identification and technical study.