First New Army M1A2 SEP v3 Abrams Tank Arrives

The Army is preparing to receive delivery of its first of six newly-upgraded MIA2 SEP v3 Abrams Main Battle Tank pilot tank vehicles -- specifically engineered to keep pace

The Army will start to field the new Abrams model starting in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 after testing of several prototypes.

Specifications of the M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 main battle tank

Armament: One 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun, one coaxial 7.62 mm M240 MG, CROWS II Remotely Operated Weapon Station with 12.7mm machine gun, one 7.62 mm M240 machine gun
Accessories: Second generation infared sight system,auxiliary power, high-resolution color displays, Improved Forward-Looking Infrared, Ammunition DataLink
Crew: 4
Armor: New armour package for hull and turret to increase protection against IED threats.
Speed: 68 km/h
Dimension: sLength: 9.77 m; Width: 3.7 m; Height: 2.4 m

The Army will start to field the new Abrams model starting in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020 after testing of several prototypes.

The M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 (System Enhanced Package) is a modernized version of the M1A2 SEPV V2 main battle tank which has a number of upgrades in the areas of survivability, maintainability, full efficiency and network capability. In October 2015, the M1A2 SP V3 was presented for the first time at AUSA, defense exhibition in Washington D.C. Nine prototype are available since October 2015 and seven would be tested by the U.S. Army. General Dynamics Land Systems expects to complete the trial tests for Spring 2015 and then receive a positive answer from the U.S. Army to start the production. The primary mission of the M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) V3 Abrams main battle tank (MBT) is to provide mobile, protected firepower for combined-arms maneuver and wide-area security. 

The Abrams must be capable of engaging the enemy in any weather, day or night, on the multi-dimensional, non-linear battlefield using firepower, maneuver and shock effect. In response of the U.S. Army requirements for 2014-2024 the Abrams’ lethality must continue to be improved. This improvement in lethality for the Abrams M1A2 SEP V3 will derive from the combination of developmental upgrades and the addition of mature technologies that include the Ammunition DataLink (ADL), improved 120mm ammunition, Improved Forward-Looking Infrared (IFLIR) and the low-profile (LP) Common Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS). According representative of GDLS General Dynamics Land Systems, Mister Tim Reese, "M1A2 SEP V3 is the most modern version of the Abrams main battle tank which can be enter in service with US armed forces in 2017". It`s very easy to recognize the M1A2 SEP V3, because at the left rear there is a small exhaust for the new under armour generator.

Variants:
- M1A2 : first version of the tank
- M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package): Has upgraded 3rd generation depleted uranium armor components with graphite coating (240 new built, 300 M1A2s upgraded to M1A2SEP for the USA, also unknown numbers of upgraded basic M1s and M1IPs, also 400 oldest M1A1s upgraded to M1A2SEP).
- M1A2 SEP V2: includes improved displays, sights, power, and a tank-infantry phone. It represents the most technologically advanced Abrams tank and can accommodate future technology improvements to ensure compatibility with the Army`s Future Combat Systems.

Technical Data

Armament
The main armament of M1A2 SEP V3 includes one 120 mm smoothbore M256 cannon. The tank will be fitted with a Low Profile (LP) CROW (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System). This effort improves the tank commander’s situational awareness without compromising capability. LP CROWS significantly lowers the profile of the weapon station, returning both open- and closed-hatch fields of view (FOV). Also, LP CROWS will be equipped with an upgraded day camera that uses picture-in-picture technology to combine different FOVs, and it offers a 340 percent larger scene in the wide FOV. Second armament includes a coaxial 7.62 mm M240 machine gun mounted to the right of the main gun, and a similar weapon skate-mounted on the left side of the turret for the loader can be elevated from -30 to +65º, total traverse being 265º. The loader hatch weapon system is now protected by armour plates on 360°. On both sides of the turret the tank is fitted with six-barrelled smoke grenade dischargers, model L8A1, designation M250.

A smoke screen can also be laid by an engine operated system.The M1A2 SEP V3 will be able to fire the M829E4 (soon to be type-classified as the M829A4) fifth-generation kinetic-energy anti-tank (AT) round. This new round provides heavy-armor defeat capability at extended ranges. It uses a depleted-uranium penetrator and anti-armor design advancements to defeat threat targets equipped with AERA (Advanced Explosive Reactive Armor) and APS (Active Protection Systems). 
The advanced multi-purpose (AMP) round is a line-of-sight munition with three modes of operation: point detonate, delay and airburst. This essential capability required in urban environments allows the tank crew to defeat AT guided-missile teams at ranges of 50 to 2,000 meters with a precision lethal airburst. The point-detonate and delay modes allow for obstacle reduction (OR), bunker defeat and a wall-breach capability for dismounted infantry. The AMP round also reduces the logistics burden by replacing four existing rounds (M830 high-explosive (HE) AT, M803A1 multipurpose HEAT, M1028 canister and M908 HE-OR). The tank will be also fitted with the Ammunition DataLink (ADL) to provide communications with the platform’s fire-control system. The ADL consists of a modified breechblock, upgraded Improved Fire-Control Electronics Unit and upgraded Abrams tank software.

Design and protection

The layout of the M1A2 SEP V3 is similar to the M1A2 MBT with the driver position at the front in the center, the turret is in the middle of the hull and the powerpack at the rear. There is a new armour package inside the turret and the hull to provide better survivability against multiple IED threats. 

Mobility

The M1A2 SEP V3 is motorized with an Honeywell AGT1500 gas turbine engine. One of the major change for fuel efficiency of the M1A2 SEP V3 is the under armour generator power unit which allows the turret to be operated when running of small generator in place to use the main engine to save lot of fuel when the vehicle is not moving. The suspension is also similar to the M1A2 and M1A2 SEP with seven road wheel on each side with rotary shock-absorbers at the first, second and seventh road wheel stations. The drive sprocket is at the rear with the idler at the front and there are two return rollers.

Accessories

The M1A2 SEP V3 is equipped with a new improved entire IED capability electronic warfare build on the vehicle. This tank will be fitted with (IFLIR) Improved Forward-Looking Infrared to identify target. The IFLIR uses long- and mid-wave infrared technology in both the gunner’s primary sight and the commander’s independent thermal viewer. The IFLIR will provide four fields of view (FOV) displayed on high-definition displays, greatly improving target acquisition, identification and engagement times – compared to the current second-generation FLIR – under all conditions, including fog / obscurants. This version features also all the equipment and combat systems of the M1A2 SEP V2 variant.