The Australian Ministry of Defense announced that the Army has taken received the first delivery of M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks from General Dynamics Land Systems.Â
The M1A2 SEPv3 is the most recent iteration of the Abrams MBT developed for the US Army. These forty-six tanks are the initial batch of seventy-five that were ordered in 2022. This acquisition in another key element of the Australian Army’s modernization program LAND 907.
The package also include seventeen M1074 Joint Assault Bridges based on the M1A2 chassis vehicles and six M88A2 armored recovery vehicles. The new Abrams will join the fielding of a new Redback Land Infantry Combat Vehicle and Huntsman AS9 Self Propelled Artillery. The more advanced Abrams will replace M1A1s currently in service.
The M1A2 SEPv3 is the most advanced version of the Abrams and includes a number of features and capabilities integrating advancements in technology that include improved armour, communications/electronics, reliability, sustainment, and fuel efficiency. The upgrades particularly focus on greater lethality and survivability. Though it retains the M256 120mm smoothbore cannon it is equipped to fire both M829A4 advanced kinetic energy and advanced multi-purpose (AMP) rounds. The latter is programable for point, delay or air burst detonation. The external commanders weapon station is also replaced by the low-profile common remotely operated weapon system (Crows) with a 12.7mm machine gun.
The sighting and fire controls include an improved forward-looking infrared (IFLIR) to detect and engage targets. The IFLIR employs long and mid-wave infrared technology which offers superior performance over prior 2d Gen thermal sighting. In addition, the Crows upgraded day camera uses picture-in-picture technique that offers a significantly wider field of view.
Power is still provided by the Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine, which develops a power of 1,500hp. However, an auxiliary power unit (APU) under the armour is added. The APU allows operation of all onboard systems without the engine running. This enhances silent watch operation, reduces probability of detection during silent watch operations, and reduces fuel consumption.
The initial M1A2SEPV3 tanks are understood to be assigned to the 2d Cavalry Regiment that will begin training on them in 2025. The balance of the US$3.5 billion order is also to be delivered in 2025 as well. The Government announced that at least forty-nine of the Army’s retiring M1A1 MBTs may be provided to the Ukraine.
by Stephen W. Miller
