M1A2 Abrams: Simply the Best Tank on the Planet: In the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank, the U.S. military possesses one of the most capable tanks in the market.
The M1A2 Abrams
Manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems, the M1A2 Abrams is one of the most advanced main battle tanks in the world. It is the third production variant of the main battle tank after the M1 Abrams and M1A1 Abrams.
The M1A2 Abrams main battle tank is armed with the 120mm XM256 Smooth Bore Cannon that can reliably and accurately hit targets more than 3,000 meters away; for secondary weaponry, the tank has a 7.62 M240 coaxial machine gun and a 50 caliber M2 Browing heavy machine gun.
Powered by a gas turbine engine that can produce 1,500 horsepower, the M1A2 Abrams has a crew of four, can reach speeds of 42 miles per hour, and has an effective operational range of approximately 270 miles.
Although both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps used to operate the main battle tank, the latter’s decision to deactivate its armor formations means that the Army is now the only user in the U.S. military.
“Abrams is a platform that adapts new technologies while minimizing development time and cost. This superbly engineered and battle-tested design continues to meet the challenges of new and emerging threats associated with the next generation of warfare. The Abrams M1A2 Tank is built to confront and destroy enemy forces using unrivaled firepower, maneuverability and shock effect. With its manually loaded, 120mm M256 smooth borecannon, the M1A2 can fire a variety of different rounds against armored vehicles, personnel and even low-flying aircraft. A heavy exterior armor provides outstanding protection to its crew of four,” General Dynamics Land Systems says about the M1A2 Abrams.
The Army is working with General Dynamics Land Systems on further upgrades for the M1A2 Abrams.
The Abrams Main Battle Tank closes with and destroys the enemy using mobility, firepower, and shock effect.
An M1A1 Abrams Tank fires off a round as a demonstration during 1st Tank Battalion’s Jane Wayne Spouse Appreciation Day aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 3, 2018. The purpose of the event is to build resiliency in spiritual well being, the will to fight and a strong home life for the 1st Tanks Marines and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rachel K. Porter)
M1 Abrams Tank firing. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
An M1 Abrams Tank fires off a round as a demonstration during 1st Tank Battalion’s Jane Wayne Spouse Appreciation Day aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 3, 2018. The purpose of the event is to build resiliency in spiritual well being, the will to fight and a strong home life for the 1st Tanks Marines and their families. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rachel K. Porter)
The U.S. military was considering replacing the M1A2 Abrams with the Future Combat Systems XM1202 program.
The Future Combat Systems XM1202 program wanted to create a whole new family of closely related main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and self-propelled howitzers. But in the end, the Department of Defense decided against the program and has since continued to maintain and upgrade the M1 Abrams fleet.
Interestingly, the Russian military had the same idea, but instead of canning the project as the U.S. military did, the Russian brass went ahead with it. In the early 2010s, the Russian military and defense industry launched the Armata Universal Combat Platform, which includes the T-14 Armata main battle tank, T-15 Armata infantry fighting vehicle, BMPT “Terminator-3” armored fighting vehicle, and 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled gun. However, none of these armored vehicles has seen action in the war in Ukraine.
U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, maneuver their M1A2 Abrams tank to avoid indirect fire during training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., Oct. 7, 2016.
Aerial drone image of an M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank crew, from the 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducting Table VI Gunnery at Fort Stewart, Ga. December 6, 2016.
Since testing at U.S. Army Cold Regions Test Center, the Department of Defense’s lone extreme cold natural environment testing facility, began in January 2020, the M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 3 main battle tank was driven more than 2,000 miles in rugged conditions across three seasons of sub-Arctic weather, fired hundreds of rounds for accuracy in extreme cold, and underwent testing of its auxiliary power unit.
Though the platform was extensively tested at U.S. Army Yuma Test Center prior to being put through its paces in Alaska, the sub-zero temperatures brought forth glitches that would have been unimaginable in the desert.
M1A2 Abrams and The Relevancy of Tanks Today
The conflict in Ukraine has shown that tanks are very much still relevant in warfare. Both the Russian and Ukrainian militaries have deployed thousands of tanks in the fighting. And the Ukrainians claim to have destroyed countless Russian tanks.
Despite the prevalence of tactical unmanned aerial systems and anti-tank weapons, both sides rely on tanks to capture and hold territory.
Image: Creative Commons.
3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division sends the first round downrange with the U.S. Army’s new M1A2 SEPV3 Abrams Main Battle Tank, Fort Hood, Texas, August 18, 2020. After the GREYWOLF brigade conducts a test fire on every tank they will dial in their sites by “zeroing” the tanks main gun, ensuring they are fully prepared to conduct future gunnery live fire exercises.
M1A2 SEP Abrams TUSK demonstrating Mounted Soldier System, 2008.
1945’s New Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
