What is changing in the new Abrams M1E3
The US Army has officially moved on to the next stage of creating the next—generation main battle tank, the Abrams M1E3. Instead of just updating old models, the military is now looking for industrial facilities capable of mass production. This means that we are not talking about dozens of cars, but hundreds. And not about another upgrade, but about a system that will differ in architecture, energy, and capabilities.
The new tank should be lighter, faster, with a powerful electrical network to pull lasers, active protection, and AI systems.
Who will be able to supply — and what is expected of him
The request has already been posted in the federal system through the office of PEO GCS (Program Contractor for Ground Combat Systems). Companies that want to participate must confirm their experience in the production of tracked combat vehicles — not just assembly, but a full cycle: from the hulls to the transmission and turrets.
General Dynamics (the creator of Abrams) and BAE Systems remain the main players, but now other manufacturers can join them. The main thing is to be ready for scale. The army doesn't want delays, as it did with other programs.
Why is it more important than just updating
M1E3 is not just a new version. This is an attempt to change the very logic of tank forces. Instead of driving more and more armor, the emphasis is on survivability: active protection, electronic suppression, optical masking. The new generation electrical system will allow for the installation of lasers and powerful radars in the future.
Another focus is maintainability. In a real battle, a tank must recover quickly on the field, rather than going to the rear for months.
What kind of tank will the army have in 10 years?
If all goes according to plan, the first M1E3S will enter service in the late 2020s. They will replace the obsolete M1A1 and partially replace the M1A2. The main goal is not just to keep up with Russian and Chinese tanks, but to stay ahead of them in terms of flexibility and adaptability.
The US Army understands that the future does not belong to heavy monsters, but to smart, resilient and quickly adaptable machines. And the Abrams M1E3 is the first step in this direction.
Sources
- Topwar.ru — M1E3 project after SEPv4 cancellation
- Calibre Defence — U.S. Army 30-month fielding plan for the M1E3 upgrade
- Overclockers.ru — PEO GCS seeks industry partners with tank-production experience for M1E3
- HigherGov — official PEO GCS market-research announcement
- Telegram “btvt2019” — additional commentary
- VK post — community discussion
- Dzen article — further analysis
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