US M1A2 SEP V3 Main Battle Tank – 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (1:72 Scale)
Apparently, Panzerkampf isn’t done replicating the venerable M1 Abrams tank in 1:72 scale. According to online literature, they plan to release four different iterations of the M1A2 SEP V3 version of the inimitable main battle tank, all of which are likely to roll out this autumn. We’re still knee deep in some of their older versions so, to make room for the newest incarnation of the Abrams, we’ve decided to reduce the retail price point on some of their original releases. You can now purchase these items on either our web site or through eBay for a limited time, that is until we exhaust our stocks, which we presume will be a rather quick affair. When you get right down to it, the Abrams is a very popular subject in scale — the problem we face is that we can only stock so many versions of the tank before crying uncle.
On a separate matter, we will be including either the newest version of the Abrams tank (M1A2 SEP V2) with the M1070 tank transporter in place of the older Abrams or potentially the SEP V3 should our distributor follow suit in order to clear out some of their existing stocks of Abrams tanks. Please bear this in mind should you wish to purchase the set going forward.
We’re still hoping that Panzerkampf will consider the M1A2 E3 Abrams tank as their next 1:72 scale subject. Currently, a prototype of the E3 is undergoing field test with units of the US Army, and will likely enter full-scale production in 2027 once certain bugs are worked out and the DoD is happy with its current hardware and software load out. With drones taking an ever greater role on today’s battlefield, its a strong bet that the DoD will give the nod to full scale production once defensive measures are put in place to defeat the latest drones being produced by certain adversary nations.
A prototype of the US Army’s M1A2 E3 Abrams main battle tank currently undergoing rigorous testing in California
While the Army has not made public the M-1E3’s design requirements, reportedly, a 2019 Army Science Board study on a future tank influenced senior Army leadership to establish the M-1E3 program. The Army Science Board study reportedly recommended a $2.9 billion, seven-year program to develop a “fifth generation combat vehicle” with proposed capabilities including the following:
masking capabilities to reduce the vehicle’s thermal and electromagnetic signatures.
a hybrid electric drive;
an autoloader and new main gun;
advanced munitions, such as maneuvering hypersonic and gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles;
integrated armor protection;
improved command, control, and networking capabilities;
artificial intelligence (AI) applications;
ability to pair with robotic vehicles; and
The Army has said little publicly about the M1-E3’s desired capabilities and features. Some reports suggest that prototypes are to feature a hybrid-electric engine and be “lighter, more fuel-efficient, AI-enabled, built for manned-unmanned teaming, and armed with a new generation of weapons.” Other reports suggest the M1-E3 is to feature “an autoloader, enabling a 3-person crew (possibly with an unmanned turret),” advanced armor, an active protection system (APS) to counter enemy anti-tank systems, and integrated counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities.