The U.S. Department of Defense on July 7 announced that General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $280,112,700 firm-fixed-price contract to procure trophy kits for the M1A2 SEPv2 and M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams Family of Vehicles. The M1A2 SEPV2/V3 is an improvement of the M1A2 SEP main battle tank. The variant fully exploits the intent of the SEP to maximize the tank’s effectiveness on today’s battlefields while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 7, 2027. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity.
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation American main battle tank designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems) and named for General Creighton Abrams. Conceived for modern armored ground warfare and now one of the heaviest tanks in service at nearly 68 short tons, it introduced several innovative features, including a multifuel turbine engine, sophisticated Chobham composite armor, a computer fire control system, separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment, and NBC protection for crew safety. Initial models of the M1 were armed with a licensed-produced 105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 gun, while later variants feature a licensed Rheinmetall 120 mm L/44. The export version is used by the armies of Egypt, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Australia, and Iraq.
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. M1A2 production began in 1986 and entered service in 1992. M1A2 SEP (System Enhancement Package) has upgraded 3rd generation depleted uranium armor components with graphite coating. M1A2 SEP V3 is an improvement in lethality for the Abrams M1A2 SEP V3 will derive from the combination of developmental upgrades and the addition of mature technologies that include the Ammunition DataLink (ADL), improved 120mm ammunition, Improved Forward-Looking Infrared (IFLIR) and the low-profile (LP) Common Remotely Operated Weapon System (CROWS).
In 2019 Leonardo DRS, Inc. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. of Israel (Rafael) announced that the partners have delivered on time the first Trophy Active Protection Systems (APS) to defend the U.S. Army’s Abrams main battle tanks against a variety of anti-armor threats. Trophy (Windbreaker) is a military active protection system that is designed to detect and defeat rocket propelled grenades, recoilless rifles and anti-tank guided missiles, and tank HEAT rounds. A small number of explosively formed projectiles destroy incoming threats before they hit the vehicle. The Trophy APS is a situational awareness and Active Protection Hard Kill (HK) System that is available in three main configurations: HV (Heavy armored Vehicle), MV (Medium and Light Armored Vehicle) and LV (Light Armored Vehicle).
