UNCOVEREDย โย It is time to lift the secrecy veil and see the latest, most lethal American main battle tank (MBT) concept ever fielded โ theย Abrams-X.
Could this new tank by General Dynamics revolutionize armored warfare?
Task and Purposeย writes:
In a video released Saturday, the defense contractor showed off the so-called โAbramsXโ technology demonstrator trundling along at a testing facility, spotlighting the tank concept's โtransformational technologyโ ahead of the system's full unveiling at the Association of the U.S. Army's annual meeting in Washington D.C. next week.
Here is the tweet from General Dynamics announcing its imminent arrival.
โIT'S ALIVE!โ
As The Drive notes, while Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has rekindled debates about whether tanks will continue to be relevant on future battlefields, sinceย infantry anti-tank missilesย haveย taken a major tollย in the conflict,ย both sides haveย and continue toย make heavy use of tanksย and other heavy armored vehicles.
Task and Purpose continues:
Details on the Abrams X are scant at the moment, butย accordingย to GDLS, the new tank concept features โreduced weight for improved mobility and transportability,โ allowing for a similar tactical range to the M1A2 Abrams variant currently in service with roughly half the fuel consumption and a significantly smaller crew.
However, aย documentย released by The Office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation gives details on what the upgrades the Abrams will incorporate.
Tyler Rogoway is effusive in hisย descriptionย of the new tank:
Suffice it to say, the AbramsX very much looks the part of a future tank, with its highly revised turret that features multiple electro-optical sights and a remote weapon station sporting a big 30mm chain gun. The sniper gray-like urban camouflage with countershading along its serrated skirt also gives it a very futuristic look, as does itsย XM360-derivative 120mm cannonย with its ported muzzle brake.
In a press release, General Dynamics explained that the AbramsX concept is โa main battle tank for the next generation. The AbramsX technology demonstrator features reduced weight for improved mobility and transportability, delivering the same tactical range as the M1A2 Abrams with 50% less fuel consumption.โ
And then there is the new tank's lower weight.
In the National Interest, Caleb Larsonย notes:
Compared to the latest generation Abrams tank, the new AbramsX appears to have a very different hull and turret design, which supports General Dynamics's intent to lower the Abrams' curb weight. Though a highly capable design, the Abrams, in its current iteration, is one of theย heaviest main battle tanks in existence, a factor that adversely affects transportation and logisticsโand also lowers the tank's combat radius.
Larson also notes that โThe new tank's reduced fuel consumption is thanks to the โAbramsX's hybrid power pack,' which โsupports the U.S. Army's climate and electrification strategies, enhances silent watch capability, and even allows for some silent mobility.'โ
But there are also significant new defensive systems to the entire Abrams tank line to ward off the latest anti-tank missile threats. Larson adds:
One of the significant defensive improvements toย the upgraded Abramsโand an improvement that is making its way across America's Abrams fleetโis the incorporation of the Trophy Active Protection System into the tank.
The Israeli-developed system intercepts anti-tank guided missiles, recoilless rifle projectiles, and rocket-propelled grenades. The document explained that once identified and tracked via onboard radar, shotgun spray-like projectiles intercept the threat, and the tank's armor absorbs the incoming projectile.
All these dramatic upgrades could make the latest Abrams, and especially the Abrams-X, the tank to counter the latest anti-armor threats and keep armored warfare relevant for years to come.ย ALD
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions ofย American Liberty News.
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8 Comments
I dont see a cutout near the final drive so the mud can escape, that was a flaw on the original M1 and its back on the Xversion. This doesn’t bode well for this tank.
Is it still jet engine powered? The original XM1 was.
CyberTank!
Our tank men deserve survivability regardless, exciting upgrades to be sure.
Interesting. Like everything else, of course it is vulnerable to a skilled hacker.
Give it time Russia and China will get the Technology ASAP!!!!
Test some in Ukraine??
I want one! B-B-But it’s too big for my garage!