M1 Abrams Family of Vehicles Export Sales

To begin with we have the following known/confirmed:

  • Australia: currently 59 M1A1 (AIM) configuration tanks but these will be replaced commencing in 2023 with 75 M1A2 SEPv3, 29 M1150 ABVs and 18 M1074 JABs (also see this thread);
  • Egypt: 1,360 M1A1 tanks assembled in Egypt;
  • Iraq: 321 M1A1Ms. I have heard that an additional order for 50 is in the works and either being evaluated by US through FMS system or yet to be formally submitted;
  • Kuwait: 218 M1A2s and currently being replaced by 218 upgraded M1A2Ks;
  • Saudi Arabia: 575 M1A2S;
  • Morocco: 222 M1SA + 162 M1A2S;
  • Poland: 250 M1A2 SEPv3 on order with possible future orders taking number up to 1000 (though this is not yet formal). Also potential interest in 17 M1074 JABs (also see this thread); and
  • Taiwan: 108 M1A2T on order and expected to commence arriving in Taiwan by 2024 through to 2026.
I have also been advised of the following potential sales in work:
  • Bahrain: possible purchase of 50 M1A2
  • Bulgaria: possible purchase of up to 250 M1A2
  • Romania: possible purchase of up to 80 M1A2
 
Am I right in thinking the US has something like 3000 M1A1 & M1A2s in storage? I don’t just mean for Ukraine but as regards any country that might need them at short notice? I am talking in terms of gap filling T-72s etc.

The problem for any country in Eastern Europe using them are as far as I can see is the fact M1s are heavy tanks, compared to say the T-72, so maybe not great with the winters out that way. Also they are logistics beasts so you need hefty logistic chains.

Please note I am trying to keep this discussion in as general terms as possible so it doesn’t get the thread deleted.
 
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The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of operational and training rounds for M1A2 Abrams tanks to Kuwait in a deal valued at up to $250 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

The Pentagon said the Kuwaiti government had requested to buy the ammunition and related equipment, and the proposed sale would improve Kuwait's ability to meet current and future regional threats.
Click to expand...
www.reuters.com

U.S. OKs potential sale of rounds for Abrams tanks to Kuwait

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of operational and training rounds for M1A2 Abrams tanks to Kuwait in a deal valued at up to $250 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com
 
defence24.com

Poznan WZM Facility Supporting the Abrams MBTs

PGZ Group concluded a memorandum with the General Dynamic Land Systems company, regarding the establishment of a centre of competency for Abrams MBT maintenance. First, the centre would be supporting the main battle tanks operated by the Polish Army. Secondly, it could also render services for...
defence24.com defence24.com
 
Some photos of one of the first Australian M1A2 SEPv3s:

20240913army8567820_B8980.jpg.iifWqIDoMUtby89jwCUA._ooZTzOWQk.jpg

20240913army8567820_B8997.jpg.iie_k4HoMUtby89jwCUA.CkwU6ywy10.jpg

20240912army8270357_9209.jpg.iiep7f7nMUtby89jwCUA.IOcFhlkIWX.jpg
 
Looks very nice in that camo. What is the vehicle behind what I think is the AS21 Redback selected for the IFV contract? Is the other IFV that was competing, a Lynx variant IIRC? Is that selection in dispute where the winner might be changed?
 
Colonial-Marine said:
Looks very nice in that camo. What is the vehicle behind what I think is the AS21 Redback selected for the IFV contract? Is the other IFV that was competing, a Lynx variant IIRC? Is that selection in dispute where the winner might be changed?
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M1A2 then AS21 then Boxer CRV. Basically the future Australian Army armoured contingent if one were to also add in the AS9
 
Flyaway said:
Am I right in thinking the US has something like 3000 M1A1 & M1A2s in storage? I don’t just mean for Ukraine but as regards any country that might need them at short notice? I am talking in terms of gap filling T-72s etc.

The problem for any country in Eastern Europe using them are as far as I can see is the fact M1s are heavy tanks, compared to say the T-72, so maybe not great with the winters out that way. Also they are logistics beasts so you need hefty logistic chains.

Please note I am trying to keep this discussion in as general terms as possible so it doesn’t get the thread deleted.
Click to expand...
It's not particularly practical to gap fill Abrams into, say, T72 battalions. Wrong ammunition, not enough crew bodies, wrong training.

You'd want to get at least battalion-sized groups of Abrams and train up the loaders (fortunately, the loader is considered the least senior troop in US training, so you can get someone up to speed relatively quickly). An Abrams battalion in the US is 54 tanks, so it looks like Romania bought an entire battalion including the supports needed.

For a nation converting from a Soviet-style organization, an American Abrams battalion needs about as many troops as three of the Soviet-style battalions. So they'd be changing from a Soviet-style Tank Regiment to an American-style Battalion. The difference is that there are 2/3rds the number of tanks in the American battalion, and that the battalion has all the support pieces it needs to operate already part of the show. 54 tanks, 4 Assault Breacher Vehicles, 4 bridgelayers, plus the heavy equipment transporters and fuel tankers. (Artillery is attached at Regiment level)

So that Abrams tank battalion would likely be split into 3 companies of 14, each expected to face a 30-tank Soviet Battalion. Only needs a 2:1 kill ratio to completely wipe out the opponent.

Further down the American operational style, Abrams battalions tend to swap one tank company into a Bradley battalion, so you have two Abrams companies with one Bradley Infantry company in the armored battalion, and two Bradley Infantry companies with one Abrams company in the Bradley battalion. This can get further divided down to mixed companies, with one Abrams platoon and two Bradley platoons or vice-versa. I understand it's actually preferred to mix companies.
 

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