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the army is preparing to receive delivery of its first of six newly upgraded mi a2
sep v3 abrams main battle tank pilot tank vehicles specifically engineered to keep
pace with fast changing technology and counter major armored warfare threats for decades to come
the army is now building the next versions of the abrams tank an effort which advances onboard
power electronics computing sensor weapons and protection to address the prospect of massive
mechanized force-on-force great power land war in coming decades
officials with the army's program executive office crown combat systems told scout warrior
the first mia-2 scp-v3 tank built by general dynamics land systems is slated to arrive as
soon as this month as part of a delivery of initial prototype vehicles developers said
the army's ultimate intent is to upgrade the entire fleet of mia
ii vehicles at this time over 1 500 tanks ashley givens spokeswoman for peo gcs told scout warrior
the first v3 pilot vehicles will feature technological advancements in communications
reliability sustainment and fuel efficiency and upgraded armor
the current mobility and power upgrade among other things adds an auxiliary power unit for
fuel efficiency and on-board electrical systems improved armor materials upgraded engines and
transmission and a 28 volt upgraded drive system the abrams has been around since the early 80s
and the original designers were forward thinking to build in the provisions for continual upgrade
over the years there have been significant improvements in sensor capabilities power
generation mobility lethality survivability armor and situational awareness donald kochman vice
president track combat vehicles general dynamics land systems told scout warrior in an interview
in addition to receiving a common high resolution display for gunner and commander stations
some of the current electronics called line replaceable units will be replaced
with new line replaceable modules including the commander's display unit driver's control panel
gunner's control panel turret control unit and a common high resolution display
developers from general dynamics land systems say
facilitating continued upgrades innovations and modernization efforts for the abrams in
years to come is the principal rationale upon which the line replacement modules is based it
encompasses the much discussed open architecture approach where in computing standards electronics
hardware and software systems can efficiently be integrated with new technologies as they emerge
kochman added that moving to line replaceable modules vastly improves computing capacity
power distribution and fire control technology for the abrams the principal difference between
the line replaceable unit and module is modularity currently to initiate a repair or an upgrade of
an lru you must remove the entire unit from the tank taken to a test bench and make the changes
under the line replaceable module concept internal diagnostics isolates and determines failure at the
card level the card has been constructed such that you can remove it and replace it without
damaging it koshman said similarly when new capability is introduced or increased computing
power is required changes can be made at the card level rather than redesigning the entire unit
the mi-82 sep v3 effort also initiates the integration of upgraded ammunition data links
and electronic warfare devices such as the counter remote control improvised explosive
device electronic warfare or crew an increased amps alternator is also part of this upgrade
along with internet cables designed to better network vehicle sensors together
the abrams is also expected to get an advanced force tracking system which
uses gps technology to rapidly update digital moving map displays with icons showing friendly
and enemy fourth positions the system called joint battle command platform uses an extremely
fast blue force tracker to satcom network able to reduce latency and massively shorten refresh time
having rapid force position updates and a fast-moving combat circumstance
quite naturally could bring decisive advantages in both mechanized and counter insurgency warfare
the current m1a2 scpv3 production will transition to the v4 configuration in 2023
the v4 upgrade is currently scheduled to begin production in 2023 with fielding in 2025.
the army gdls deal is also the first contract for the sep v4 upgrades which include the commander's
primary sight and improved gunner's primary sight and enhancements to sensors lethality
and survivability the army is now engineering a far superior m1a2 scp-v4 abrams tank variant
for the 2020s and beyond designed to be far more lethal faster lighter weight and better protected
equipped with new lasers and armed with upgraded more effective weapons
advanced networking technology with next generation sites sensors targeting systems
and digital networking technology are all key elements of an ongoing upgrade to position
the platform to successfully engage in combat against rapidly emerging threats
such as the prospect of confronting a russian t14 armada or chinese third generation type 99 tank
the scp v4 variant slated to being tested in 2021 will include new laser rangefinder technology
color cameras integrated onboard networks new slip rings advanced meteorological sensors ammunition
data links laser warning receivers and a far more lethal multi-purpose 120 millimeter tank round
major general david bassett program executive officer ground combat systems told scout warrior
in an interview while army officials explained that many of the details of the next-gen systems
for the future tanks are not available for security reasons bassett did explain that the
lethality upgrade referred to as an engineering change proposal for ecp is centered around the
integration of a higher tech third generation flir forward-looking infrared imaging sensory
a combination of mid-wave and long-wave sensors allow for better target identification at long
ranges and better resolution at shorter ranges bassett explained higher definition sensors allow
army crews to for instance better distinguish an enemy fighter or militant carrying an ak-47
improved flir technologies also help tent crews better recognize light and heat
signatures emerging from targets such as an enemy sensor electronical signals or enemy vehicles
this enhancement provides an additional asset to a tank commander's independent thermal viewer
the emerging m1a2 scp v4 will also be configured with a new slip ring leading to the turret and
onboard internet switch to reduce the number of needed boxes by networking sensors to one
another in a single vehicle also some of the current electronics called line replaceable units
will be replaced with the new line replaceable modules including a commander's display unit
driver's control panel gunner's control panel turret control unit and a common high resolution
display information from general dynamics land system states the army is fast tracking
an emerging technology for abram's tanks designed to give combat vehicles an opportunity to identify
track and destroy approaching enemy rocket-propelled grenades in a matter of
milliseconds the army is looking at a range of domestically produced and allied international
solutions from companies participating and the army's modular active protection systems maps
program an army official told scout warrior thank you and don't forget to subscribe
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