Saudi M1A2 Abrams Tanks Join U.S. Army Training at Fort Irwin for the First Time.

Saudi armored crews operating M1A2 Abrams tanks are training alongside U.S. Army units at Fort Irwin’s National Training Center. This first-ever Saudi participation on U.S. soil highlights deepening defense ties and aims for advanced interoperability.

For the first time, Saudi tank crews deployed M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks to the United States for training. Beginning October 26, 2025, the Royal Saudi Land Forces joined U.S. Army Central at Fort Irwin’s National Training Center for a full-scale, multinational exercise designed to strengthen coalition readiness and demonstrate integrated operations.
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Royal Saudi Land Forces M1A2S Abrams tanks conduct live-fire drills at Fort Irwin, California, in preparation for their historic first rotation at the U.S. Army’s National Training Center in early November 2025. The RSLF will train alongside the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, supported by U.S. Army Central and the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade, to strengthen interoperability and combat readiness in a high-intensity training environment. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The RSLF (Royal Saudi Land Forces) deployed M1A2S Abrams main battle tanks, the backbone of Saudi Arabia’s modern armored force, to take part in combined live-fire and maneuver operations. These tanks operated alongside U.S. M2A3 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles and M88A2 Hercules recovery vehicles, supported by the Joint Battle Command–Platform (JBC-P) for shared digital situational awareness. Secure battlefield communications relied on SINCGARS and Harris Falcon III radio systems to maintain coordination across multinational units during dynamic combat simulations.

The training focuses on large-scale ground combat operations, emphasizing combined arms integration, sustainment logistics, and real-time command synchronization in a simulated near-peer environment. The NTC’s Mojave Desert setting provides an unforgiving testbed for maneuver warfare, where both U.S. and Saudi forces must adapt to changing tactical conditions while maintaining tempo and coordination across complex terrain.

According to The Military Balance 2025, the Royal Saudi Land Forces maintain an estimated 1,085 main battle tanks, consisting of approximately 575 M1A2S Abrams, 370 M60A3 Patton, and 140 AMX-30 tanks. The M1A2S fleet, an upgraded version of the U.S. Abrams, forms the core of Saudi Arabia’s armored capability, integrating advanced thermal sights, digital fire-control systems, and enhanced armor protection. These platforms give the RSLF significant firepower and mobility across both desert and urban environments.

Saudi Arabia’s ongoing Vision 2030 Defense Modernization Program has prioritized upgrades to the RSLF’s armored forces, emphasizing digitization, command integration, and joint training with U.S. and NATO partners. The inclusion of Saudi forces at Fort Irwin demonstrates the progress of this modernization plan, providing crews with exposure to advanced U.S. Army tactics, logistics networks, and digital battle management systems.

For U.S. Army Central, this collaboration highlights the expanding scope of multinational readiness training. Integrating Saudi units into a full-scale NTC rotation reflects a tangible commitment to strengthening partner capacity and ensuring that allied armored formations can operate effectively alongside U.S. forces in future joint operations.

The exercise also reinforces the U.S. Department of Defense’s concept of integrated deterrence, which relies on interoperable partnerships and shared readiness to counter global threats. Conducting this rotation with one of the Middle East’s most capable land forces enhances both regional stability and the ability of coalition forces to respond to emerging challenges.

Beyond tactical and technical objectives, the exercise validates coalition sustainment capabilities, testing fuel, ammunition, and repair logistics under prolonged combat conditions. This comprehensive training approach ensures both U.S. and Saudi units can maintain operational tempo and combat endurance in realistic scenarios.

Strategically, the Royal Saudi Land Forces’ participation in NTC 26-02 symbolizes a maturing U.S.–Saudi defense relationship built on shared modernization priorities and mutual security goals. The collaboration at Fort Irwin strengthens the foundation for future coalition missions and reinforces both nations’ commitment to maintaining regional and global stability through advanced, interoperable armored warfare capabilities.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.