Australian Army received its first technically refreshed M1 Abrams tanks 42411151

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Defence & Security News - (Australia)
 
Australian Army received its first technically refreshed M1 Abrams tanks
The Australian Army received the first batch of GDLS M1A1 Abrams tanks that have undergone through the Tank Technical Refresh and Remediation Program. The ten first renovated units were delivered to the Armour School at Puckapunyal, Victoria.
     
Australian Army received its first technically refreshed M1 Abrams tanks
An M88A2 (left) and M1A1 Abrams tanks (right) in Afghanistan.
(Photo: Australian Defence Force)
     

The programme was approved in mid-2013 and will be completed at 2018, at a cost of AUD59 million, for a total of 59 M1A1 Abrams tanks and seven BAE Systems M88A2 Hercules Armoured Recovery Vehicles. The aim is to update the baseline configuration by undertaking major upgrades and by addressing obsolescence and fatigue issues.

Work at the tanks is undertaken by Transfield, a US company, and its personnel, at the Australian Army’s Joint Logistics Unit – Victoria. As for the M88A2, work will be start at early 2017 and will be undertaken by BAE Systems US at the Joint Logistic Unit – North, in Darwin.

Furthermore, the Land Systems Division, within the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), will start a refresh and upgrade of the tanks’ AGT1500 turbine engines. In this case, work will be undertaken by TAE Pty Ltd, which specializes in this sector.

CASG’s Head of Land Systems, Major General Paul McLachlan said that the “implementation of the refresh programme, combined with a fleet rotation that aims to even out usage across the fleet, is expected to allow the tanks to be supported through to life of type”.