Through the release of a series of images on social media, the U.S. Army has revealed small portions of what would be the design of the next-generation M1E3 Abrams tank, which is expected to be officially presented in the near future. According to reports from specialized media, the Army would have already received the first prototype during the course of last month, making it possible to state that the timelines established in the original plans were successfully met.
Quoting some of the statements that accompanied the published material: “We are proud to announce the completion of the first initial M1E3 prototype, a cutting-edge technology demonstrator designed to revolutionize the battlefield. Built by Roush and based on lessons learned from previous risk-reduction activities, this prototype highlights the Army’s commitment to speed, agility, and soldier-centered solutions.”
Furthermore, the U.S. Army indicated that this design will stand out for the integration of advanced software into the tank, in addition to presenting improvements in mobility and lethality, without providing further details. In particular, it is stated that the model was conceived to incorporate lessons learned from modern combat scenarios and adapt them to the needs of troops, which clearly points to the war in Ukraine as a high-intensity conflict where tanks and other armored vehicles have been employed in large numbers. Testing with this first model is expected to take place over the coming months.
Along these lines, and even though the photographs do not allow observation of the entire new tank, U.S. analysts noted that the turret would present strong similarities with current Abrams variants. Among the speculated modifications are what appears to be a lower profile and the addition of a sensor window located to the left of the gun mantlet.
It has also been noted that the main gun would be virtually identical to the 120 mm M256 used on the most modern tanks of the Abrams family, although the possibility remains that a larger-caliber weapon could be added as the armored vehicle’s development progresses. This latter detail had already been hinted at by the U.S. Army in previous occasions as part of its ideas to modernize its tanks, along with the intention to incorporate an autoloader system to reduce the required crew size and the ability to integrate launchers for loitering munitions, expanding the tools available to the crew when engaging targets.
On the other hand, the hull of the new tank does allow a clearer view of a series of changes compared to previous models, both on the front and rear sections. Specifically, this refers to the installation of two new hatches located on the front (instead of the single hatch seen on current variants), what appears to be a new integrated camera system, and LED lighting. In addition, in line with the aforementioned changes developed based on lessons learned from the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, modifications can be observed in relation to the AbramsX prototype presented by manufacturer General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) in 2022.
Another relevant aspect, although not visible in the images, lies in the intention to modify the propulsion system of these new tanks toward hybrid configurations that offer improvements in factors such as fuel consumption and overall weight. In this regard, U.S. Army advisers had previously indicated that transitioning to this type of approach could allow up to a 40% reduction in fuel usage, which in itself would represent a significant logistical improvement for future deployments.
Finally, as we reported in June 2024, it should be mentioned that the U.S. manufacturer would also be interested in following the trend set by other competitors in the market by integrating new active protection systems to increase the tank’s survivability in combat, especially if they also provide defensive capabilities against drones. It is not yet clear which system would be selected, but initial reports revolve around the possibility of an optimized Trophy system adapted to the new design, similar to the one already tested in combat by Israeli armored units.
*Cover image: @USArmyFast on X
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