In an age where many are questioning the value of the main battle tank, particularly when they are seen set upon by swarms of cheap drones, the US Army has not only forged ahead with plans to field a new battle tank but demanded that the first new vehicles roll out over the next couple of years. Currently, General Dynamics Land Systems, the creator of the Abrams tanks and all of its many iterations, is hard at work developing the so-called M1E3 main battle tank, the latest version of the Abrams that is not only chock full of both offensive and defensive gear but slimmed down to meet the challenges posed by a fluid battlefield far away from home.
In the accompanying video, Sandboxx, under its Firepower moniker, does an excellent job of tracing the evolution of the Abrams since its inception in the 1980s, then goes on to explain why the US Army still needs a 50-ton armored fighting vehicle that can stand-toe-to-toe with its newest rivals across the globe. Built to use less fuel, deal with all sorts of threats and resorting to an auto loader to cut down on weight and reconfigure the crew compartment so that the occupants have a better chance of survival, the M1E3 looks much like its predecessors, but packing a wallop and sensors few can match on today’s battlefield.
The lineage of the main battle tank, from the WWII era Sherman to the M1E3 Abrams. Sabot up, on the way!
While it may resemble an Abrams tank, the latest iteration of the venerable main battle tank is similar to comparing a Volkswagen to a Porsche. Sporting sensors for all-around exterior viewing, an auto-loader, an Israeli-created Trophy active protective system to ward off incoming missiles and other threats, a fuel efficient hybrid-turbine motor as well as other advanced systems, the newest version of the Abrams looks to soldier on at a time when many strategists and pundits question if the tank has seen its day.
It’s fascinating that the Abrams tank, despite being a product of the 1980s, is still evolving to meet contemporary threats. The auto-loader and improved fuel efficiency are smart upgrades, considering how quickly modern warfare dynamics are shifting.