M1 Abrams
IOC: 1980
Total Production: 9,625
Total Program's Cost: USD$40 billion
M1A1 Abrams
IOC: 1985
Production: 5,398
Unitary Cost: USD$4.0 million
Also Known As
M1A1 AIM
M1A1M (improved version)
Origin
United States of America
Contractor/s
General Dynamics
Family Members
M1 Abrams
M1A2 Abrams
M1A2 Abrams SEP
Munitions:
M1028
M829 APFSDS-T
M830 HEAT-MP-T
M831A1 TP-T
M865
Power plant:
AGT1500
Sensors & Communications:
LRAS3
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Description:
The Abrams tank has been designed to provide heavy armor superiority on the battlefield destroying enemy forces using mobility and firepower. It was deployed in the early 1980s replacing the aging M60 main battle tank in the US Army and in the USMC in the 1990s. It has been exported to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
More than 8,800 Abrams main battle tanks have been produced for the US Army, the USMC, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In addition to its heavy armor, the Abrams tank features Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protection and a powerful AGT 1500 gas engine which provides high mobility.
The Abrams can open fire moving or stationary, at night, in adverse weather against moving and stationary targets with a high probability of kill using depleted uranium penetration ammunition and its advanced ballistic computers, as well as its sensor package housed on the turret.
The M1A1 Abrams is an improved follow-on of the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The A1 configuration features a M256 120mm smooth bore gun, two M240 7.62mm machine guns and a M2 12.7mm machine gun which provides a short range air defense capability against helicopters and low flying aircraft. The first M1A1 was fielded within the US Army in 1985. This model retains mobility and increases firepower compared to previous M1 tank.
The M1A1 was deployed in the Persian Gulf during operation Desert Shield in 1990. During operation Desert Storm, in 1991, the Abrams M1A1 demonstrated its capabilities destroying Iraqi armored vehicles, specially its soviet counterpart the T-72, while moving through its advanced targeting and fire control system.
On July 9, 2004, Australia signed a formal agreement with the United States to buy 59 refurbished M1A1 AIM Abrams tanks and seven M88A1 Hercules recovery vehicles. Delivery of all the equipment associated to this deal was planned for 2007. The total estimated cost of this transaction was valued at $530 million. The deal also included Lockheed Martin's Advanced Gunnery Training System (AGTS) and Tank Driver Trainer (TDT).
The US Marine Corps awarded Raytheon a $32.5 million contract, with a total estimated value of $65 million with all options exercised, for the M1A1 tank Firepower Enhancement Program (FEP) on February 2, 2005. The contract included sensor kits and spares to be delivered to the US Marine Corps by July 2007. The FEP enhanced M1A1 Abrams were expected to reach IOC by 2006. Eventually, the entire USMC's M1A1 fleet (400+) could receive the FEP upgrade before October 2009. FEP focuses on improving accuracy at 24/7 all-weather conditions and the tank's engagement capability at extended ranges. Basically, FEP consists of Far Target Location (FTL) sensor and a second generation thermal sight which is an upgrade to the current M1A1 sight system. FTL sensor will enable USMC M1A1s to effectively warfighting beyond 2018. The same sensor was envisaged to be integrated into USMC LAV-25s.
Under the Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) program the M1A1 Abrams tanks are completely disassembled and overhauled to a like-new, zero-mile condition. M1A1 AIM feature lower operational and support costs and report higher operational readiness rates. The improved M1A1 AIM provide the tank's crew with enhanced situational awareness and increased accuracy of the tank's commander .50 gun through a mission-critical technology package. The package includes: second-generation Forward-Looking Infrared, Far Target Locate, Blue Force Tracking (BFT)/Force Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), a tank-infantry phone, a .50 caliber thermal sight, a power distribution box, a rear slave receptacle, an eye-safe laser rangefinder, and driver's vision enhancement. The US Army awarded the first production contract of the improved M1A1 AIM tank to General Dynamics Land Systems in August 2006. The contract was valued at $108 million for the refurbishment of 155 M1A1 tanks. Deliveries to the US Army were expected to begin in July 2007.
The General Dynamics M1A1/M1A2 Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) consists of Loader's Armor Gun Shield (LAGS), a Tank Infantry Phone (TIP), Abrams Reactive Armor Tiles (ARAT), a Remote Thermal Sight (RTS) and a Power Distribution Box (PDB). This add-on crew enhanced survivability kit was ordered by the US Army for the first time in late August 2006 as a rapid response to the threat posed by insurgents to heavyweight tanks in Iraq. The order was valued at $45 million for production and installation of 505 tank kits. On 12 December 2006, the US Army awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a new contract worth $11 million for the supply of 250 TUSK kits for the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 4
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 120 mm
Dimensions: Height 2.4 m, Length 9.8 m, Width 3.7 m
Weights: Max Weight 63,000 kg (138,889 lb)
Performance: Cross Country Speed 13 mps (26 kt), Top Speed 19 mps (37 kt)
Power: Power 1,500 shp
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Australia / 59 
Egypt / 1,005 
United States of America / 4,393 