How Many Tanks Does The Army Need in 2025? The United States Army, the only tank operator in the US military now that the Marines have divested of their armor, has about 4,650 main battle tanks, about half of which are in reserve.
Unlike many other countries, the US military uses only one type of tank: the iconic M1 Abrams.
Currently, the Army employs the M1A1 SA, M1A2 SEPv2, and M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tank versions.
The latest version of the Abrams is equipped with enhanced networking capabilities, additional protection through extra Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) mounts, an improved ammunition data link that allows the tank to fire the most advanced munitions available, additional electrical power from an auxiliary power unit, and reduced maintenance requirements.
Is The Tank Obsolete on the Modern Battlefield?
But is the era of the tank over? Massive tank losses in the Ukraine war, especially on the Russian side, have led many to question the tank’s viability in the modern battlefield. Now, ordinary infantrymen, carrying cheap anti-tank weapons or having drones, can knock out a tank fairly easily. This is especially true in built-up or urban areas.
Ukrainian troops using light, throwaway anti-tank rockets, the next-generation light anti-tank weapons (NLAWs), have knocked out an estimated 10 percent of Russian tank losses in the fighting.
Saab, the manufacturer of the NLAWs, noted that “NLAW can attack from almost any position, from up high in a building to behind a tree or in a ditch.”
American-made M-1 Abrams and German Leopards have been knocked out in the war in Ukraine and have been displayed in Russia. So, should the US eliminate its Abrams, with the tank seemingly obsolete?
Tactics Have A Lot To Do With the Losses
While high marks go to the courage of the Ukrainian infantry troops who get close enough to Russian armor to take them out, how that armor was utilized deserves a long look.
Most military analysts will agree that Russian tank losses in Ukraine speak not to the demise of the tank but to how poorly they’ve been deployed.
Early in the war, we saw time and again how Russian tank columns, stuck on roads due to the ground thawing in early spring, traveled in straight columns down the road and were decimated by Ukrainian infantry, artillery, and air units.
The US and NATO use armor in a combined arms battle, supported by infantry, artillery, and air power; their firepower and mobility remain devastating. An important note to remember is that while aircraft can pound pinpoint targets, they seize and hold ground.
Combined arms warfare is challenging and requires a lot of training to master. The US Army’s “Thunder Run” to Baghdad is a prime example of how it works.
As Eric Clapton wrote: “It’s in the way that you use it …”
Smaller, Lighter, Faster
The Abrams tanks are still the most advanced in the world, but on the modern battlefield, tanks will need to be slightly smaller, lighter, faster, and easier to deploy. And while anti-armor weapons have caught up to tanks, the next generation will see the tank’s protection measures and counter-measures to move them back ahead.
The new tanks of the future will feature more “cope cages” to defeat drones. These new tanks will include lasers and other directed energy weapons (DEWs) to shoot down approaching drones. At the same time, sophisticated jammers are being employed to disrupt the radio signals of the first-person view drones.
M1 Abrams Tank. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The Abrams X can launch drones simultaneously on the move, the ability to fire course-correcting ammunition, the fielding of a new, lighter 120mm main gun, the XM360, the operation of 360-degree thermal sites, AI-enabled command and control capability, and new generations of sensor data processing and integration.
Yes, the new Abrams will be a drone operator who can scout ahead of the armor and locate targets. However, the most innovative and controversial enhancement is the hybrid electric drive propulsion system, which, according to GDLS, can enhance fuel efficiency by up to 50 percent and ensure greater survivability with lower thermal and acoustic signatures.
So, how many tanks does the Army need? They need new armor, such as the Abrams X, and lots of them. But what about the 4,650 main battle tanks? They’ll still be used … for now. So, at present, the Army has too many and not enough tanks.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications
