Login
iscover
The US Army has announced plans to build a “more survivable, lighter tank” under a new M1E3 Abrams main battle tank modernisation program.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
The US will develop the new M1E3 Abrams full-tracked, low-profile, land-combat assault weapon for future battlefield threats of 2040 and beyond, while closing out current development of the M1A2 System Enhancement Package version four.
Initial operational capability is expected in the early 2030s and the vehicle is anticipated to have increased lethality, survivability, and ability to defeat longer-range threats.
“The war in Ukraine has highlighted a critical need for integrated protections for soldiers, built from within instead of adding on,” according to Major General Glenn Dean, US Army ground combat system program executive officer.
“The Abrams tank can no longer grow its capabilities without adding weight and we need to reduce its logistical footprint.
“The M1E3 Abrams nomenclature is a return to the Army’s standard use of its type classification and nomenclature system for our combat vehicle fleet.
“The ‘E’ designation represents an engineering change to an existing platform that is more significant than a minor modification and serves to designate the prototype and development configuration until the vehicle is formally type classified and receives an ‘A’ designation.
“This is distinct from the ‘XM’ designation used for new prototype systems.”
The US Army will continue production of the M1A2 SEPv3 at a reduced rate until production transitions to the M1E3 Abrams, and M1E3 could include features developed for the M1A2 SEPv4, currently under development. These would include modular open systems architecture standards, faster technology upgrades and systems requiring fewer resources.
It’s hoped the modernisation will enhance the efficacy and manoeuvrability of armoured brigade combat teams internationally with increased operational and tactical mobility.
“We appreciate that future battlefields pose new challenges to the tank as we study recent and ongoing conflicts” said Brigadier General Geoffrey Norman, Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team director.
“We must optimise the Abrams’ mobility and survivability to allow the tank to continue to close with and destroy the enemy as the apex predator on future battlefields.”
The M1 Abrams originally entered service in the 1980s and saw combat during Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War in 1991. M1 Abrams export variants are used by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Taiwan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Poland and Iraq, with Romania and Ukraine also declaring ongoing plans to acquire the tank.
