M1A1 SA Situational Awareness main battle tank data

: 28 November 2023

M1A1 SA Situational Awareness main battle tank

Description

Technical Data

Specifications

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Description

The Abrams Tank Upgrade includes two powerful variants, the M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness) and the M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Program) version 2. The M1A1 SA is an upgrade version of the basic M1A1 model with the goal to produce older units to zero hour conditions. The M1A1 SA tanks will be configured with additional mission-critical technologies to bolster crew situational awareness (SA). This situational awareness package increases the M1A1 Abrams tank's fighting capability by providing soldiers with an electronic graphic of the battlefield with icons for friendly and enemy forces. In March 2009, the TACOM LCMC awarded a $33m contract to GDLS for long-lead materials to produce 140 M1A1 SA (situational awareness) tanks for the Iraq programme. In June 2012, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of United States notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco for enhancement and refurbishment of 200 M1A1 Abrams tanks and associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training for an estimated cost of $1.015 billion. The Government of the Kingdom of Morocco has requested a possible enhancement and refurbishment of 200 M1A1 Abrams tanks, provided as part of a grant Excess Defense Article (EDA) transfer notified to Congress on 27 April 2011, to the M1A1 Special Armor (SA) configuration.

Main Variants:

- M1: First production variant. Production began (at Chrysler) in 1979 and continued to 1985 (at General Dynamics) (3,273 built for the US). The first 110 tanks were Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) models, still called XM1s, because they were built prior to the tank being type-classified as the M1.
- M1A1: Production started in 1985 and continued to 1992, pressurized NBC system, rear bustle rack for improved stowage of supplies and crew belongings, redesigned blow-off panels and M256 120 mm smoothbore cannon (4,976 built for the U.S. Army, 221 for USMC, 755 for Egypt, 59 M1A1 AIM SA sold to Australia).
- M1A1 AIM (Abrams Integrated Management): A program whereby older units are reconditioned to zero hour conditions;[73] and the tank is improved by adding Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) and Far Target Locate sensors, a tank-infantry phone, communications gear, including FBCB2 and Blue Force Tracking, to aid in crew situational awareness, and a thermal sight for the .50 caliber machine gun. General Dynamics has been awarded contracts by the U.S. Army to supply this variant.
- M1A1 SA (Situational Awareness): Upgrades similar to AIM tanks + new 3rd generation depleted uranium armor components.
- M1A2: Production began in 1992 (77 built for the US and more than 600 M1s upgraded to M1A2, 315 for Saudi Arabia, 218 for Kuwait). The M1A2 offers the tank commander an independent thermal sight and ability to, in rapid sequence, shoot at two targets without the need to acquire each one sequentially, also 2nd generation depleted uranium armor component.
- 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).

Technical Data

Armament

The M1A1 SA uses the same main armament as the standard version of M1A1 main battle tank. The M1A1 SA is armed with the 120 mm M256 smoothbore gun. The main 120 mm smoothbore M256 armament is equipped with a muzzle reference system to measure the bend of the gun tube. Mounted coaxially to the right of the main armament is a 7.62 mm M240 machine 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. A total of 11,400 rounds of 7.62 mm machine gun ammunition is carried. On the top of the turret, the M1A1 SA is fitted with a Stabilized Commander's Weapon Station (SCWS) armed with an heavy machine gun 12.7mm caliber. The stabilized weapon station enables accurate firing of the machine gun while the tank is moving at speed over rough ground. Mounted on either side of the turret is a British-designed (L8A1) six-barrelled smoke grenade discharger designated the M250.

Design and protection

The hull and turret of the M1A1 SA is made with advanced armour construction similar to the Chobham armour developed in the UK and gives protection against ATGWs and other battlefield weapons. Survivability improvements include frontal armor and turret side armor upgrades. The new special armour makes the Abrams M1A1 SA tank particularly lethal against heavy armor forces.

Mobility

The M1A1 SA is motorized with a Lycoming Textron AGT 1500 gas turbine. The engine operates primarily on diesel or kerosene-based fuel, but can operate on petrol during emergencies. Approximately 70 per cent of the engine accessories and components can be removed without removing the power pack from the tank. The complete power pack can be removed and replaced in less than an hour. The Power Train Improvement and Integration Optimization Program (Total InteGrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER) engine and improved transmission), which provides more reliability and durability.

Accessories

The M1A1 SA package improvements include second-generation Forward-Looking Infrared, Far Target Locate, Blue Force Tracking (BFT)/Force Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2), a tank-infantry phone. Standard equipment of the M1A1 SA includes also an eye-safe laser rangefinder.

Specifications