A lighter, high-tech Abrams tank is taking shape
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The U.S. Army awarded the manufacturer of Abrams tanks a contract this month to begin the preliminary design of its new tank variant expected to be lighter and feature high-tech capabilities so it's more survivable in battle, the service's head of combat vehicle modernization told Defense News.
The contract allows the Army to work closely with General Dynamics Land Systems on shaping requirements for the new M1E3 Abrams tank. The hope, according to Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman, is to be able to bring the new variant into the force at a similar timeline to the M30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, which is under development.
"I think that there would be real goodness for the Army if M30 combat vehicles and M1E3 tanks could be fielded simultaneously to an [armored brigade combat team]," Norman said. "I think the Army senior leaders are going to push us to try to align those schedules, and whether that can be done is an open question right now."
Norman said factors like technology maturation budgets will likely dictate whether that is achievable.
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