AbramsX Could Change Everything: Even with numerous upgrades, including a planned SEPv4, the United States Army’s M1 Abrams was still developed when disco balls were all the rage and Star Wars had yet to hit the big screen.
When the first of the tanks – named for the late General Creighton W. Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and commander of the 37th Armored Battalion – rolled out for field testing in 1982, it was designed to take on the Soviet’s T-72.
The Abrams MBT has been upgraded, and it will receive advanced capabilities including an electrical power margin, Vehicle Health Management Systems, integrated counter-improvised explosive device protection, a new Auxiliary Power Unit enabling silent watch, embedded training, and an Ammunition Data Link.
Future upgrades will further integrate a color camera, Eye-safe Laser Range Finder, and a cross-platform laser pointer to facilitate multi-domain battle awareness into the commander’s sight. In addition to a lethality upgrade, the M1A2 SEPv4 also promises to include full-embedded training to maximize crew proficiency in the system.
AbramsX: The Path to the Future
Though the Abrams could remain in service well into the 2030s, the Army is already looking forward to its eventual replacement. The first step to that future MBT will begin with the AbramsX – a vehicle that was officially unveiled last fall at the U.S. Army’s Annual Meeting & Exposition, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
As a vehicle for the 21st century, it will utilize a hybrid power pack that supports the U.S. Army’s climate and electrification strategies, enhances silent watch capability, and even allows for some silent mobility. It also featured reduced weight for improved mobility and transportability, while according to General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), the AbramsX can still deliver the same tactical range as the M1A2 Abrams with 50 percent less fuel consumption.
Moreover, with a reduced crew size and AI-enabled unmanned turret with an autoloader, the tank will have greater lethality, survivability, and mobility, while its manned/unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and autonomous capabilities, will allow the AbramsX to be a key node in lethal battlefield networks, and even serve as a bridge from Abrams SEPv3 and SEPv4 to a future tank.
Much like with the Russian T-14 Armata, the design will see the three-person crew – reduced from the four of the current M1 Abrams – all located within the main hull, which will be equipped with enhanced armor to protect it from bombs dropped by drones. It is looking to address an issue discovered in the recent fighting in Ukraine. In addition, AI systems on board could scan for dangers in the distance, but more importantly, autonomous systems could prioritize enemy targets based on a threat assessment.
At the same time, the AbramsX will be a far lighter vehicle. Due to upgrades, such as the Trophy Active Protection System, employed to address the threat from modern anti-tank weapons, the current generation of Abrams is nearly 80 tons – compared to the 60 tons of the early M1A1s, and is heavier than the 45-ton T-72 or China’s 55-ton Type 99A. In fact, the latest Abrams is so hefty it can’t be easily towed by Army recovery vehicles and needs to be abandoned if it breaks down on the battlefield.
Tech Demonstrator
At this point, it would be inaccurate to describe the AbramsX as a “next generation MBT” as it is actually serving as a technology demonstrator of what could be employed on future battlefields. In this way, the AbramsX is serving as an interim design that spans the gap from Cold War-era tanks designs to what could be needed in those future conflicts.
As it will employ a modular configuration – one that can incorporate situational-awareness enhancements, threat-detection/warning, counter-measures, active-protection, and other sub-systems – the designers will be able to determine what capabilities could be needed in the Army’s future MBTs, which could still be adapted depending on what threats could be expected.
Author Experience and Expertise: A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
From 19FortyFive