Poland becoming the first Abrams user in Europe?

An announcement regarding purchase of M1A2SEPv3 Abrams tanks for at least four battalions was made during a press conference that took place on July 14 in barracks of 1st Warsaw Armoured Brigade “Tadeusz Kościuszko”, with Minister of National Defence, Mariusz Błaszczak, Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of National Defence And Security Committee Jarosław Kaczyński, and General Commander Of Branches Of The Armed Forces Jarosław Mika.

US Army’s M1A2SEPv3 Abrams Main Battle Tanks during exercises / Photo: Sgt. Calab Franklin, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Domain

In 2022 first tanks will be delivered to 1st Warsow Armoured Brigade (1. BZ) and 19th Lublin Mechanized Brigade “Franciszek Kleeberg” (19. BZ), both belonging to the 18th Mechanized Division. Jarosław Kaczyński spoke about purchases for four battalions, which would equate to at least 232 tanks (with 58 units per battalion). At least 12 additional tanks will be needed for training purposes, for a total number close to 250.

Purchase of tanks and complimentary command, support, and medical evacuation vehicles, training simulators, vast supplies of ammunition (including programmable ammo), training and logistic support, and expansion of necessary infrastructure will take 23.3 billion PLN. These funds will come from outside of the Ministry Of National Defence budget and according to the official announcement won’t impact the Polish Armed Forces Technological Modernization Plan. Additionally, the military servicing facilities will be equipped with the capability of supporting Abrams tanks for Polish Armed Forces.

A column of M1A2SEPv3 Abrams / Zdjęcie: Sgt. Calab Franklin 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Domain

On the same day, Minister Of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak announced via social media that a letter of request will be sent to the United States Department Of State regarding the tanks (notably, the announcement didn’t mention when exactly the letter will be sent). It will mean initiating purchase procedures according to Foreign Military Sales program. Within a few months, the American Defense Security Cooperation Agency should promulgate the Department Of State’s consent for the transaction, listing concrete numbers and maximum value (which will be negotiated by the Polish Ministry Of National Defence). Afterwards, both governments will sign an agreement in the form of Letter of Offer and Acceptance.

The US Army received their first M1A2SEPv3 in May 2020. By the end of 2021 they will receive over 550 / Photo: US Army

Earlier this year, on February 26, spokesman of the Polish Defence Ministry’s Armament Inspectorate told MILMAG that US Army made a bid in an analytical and conceptual phase of Polish new tank program “Wilk”, started in 2017, though the announced Abrams tanks purchase is not part of the project.

As we were informed by major Płatek on July 14, cost of tanks, vehicles, and support services should not exceed 20 billion PLN, with the remaining costs covering construction of new infrastructure. Additionally, Major Płatek clarified the number of tanks that will be purchased from Americans announced by Deputy Prime Minister Kaczyński as two hundred and fifty.

On 19 July 2021, press office of Silesia-Dąbrowa Solidarity trade union published an open letter to Polish president Andrzej Duda signed by the union leader Dominik Kolorz, chairman of Regional Section Of Military Industries Krzysztof Strzelbicki, leader of Solidarity trade union in Bumar-Łabędy mechanical works Zdzisław Goliszowski, and leader of Solidarity union in Institute Of Research And Mechanical Development OBRUM, Ryszard Szynkiewicz. The letter criticized the decision to purchase Abrams tanks, stressing the high cost, lack of prior announcements, and negative impact on Polish military industry, especially interests of both companies.

M1A2SEPv3 being produced in General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio/ Photo: GDLS

Early configuration of the M1A2SEPv3 (Systeem Enhanced Package, version 3) Abrams tank was demonstrated during the Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, 12-14 October 2015.

SEPv3 modernization package included addition of ADL (Ammunition Data Link), which transfer data between modernized fire-directing IFCEU (Improved Fire-Control Electronics Unit) and fifth generation munitions, such as M829A4 Advanced Kinetic Energy armor piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot and M1147 Advanced Multi-Purpose programmable ammunition.

Modernization also included IFLIR (Improved Forward-Looking Infrared to identify a target) thermovision system and the tank was equipped with modified compact remote weapon system CROW-LP (Common Remotely Operated Weapon System-Low Profile) with 12.7 mm M2HB Browning heavy machine gun.

The newest variant of Abrams tank was picked by Taiwan and Australia / Photo: GDLS

M1A2SEPv3 presented in 2015 during AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington / Photo: GDLS

The gas turbine engine Honeywell AGT1500 was updated to TIGER standard (Total Integrated Engine Revitalization) with improved automatic transmission Allison DDA X-110-3B, and a new fuel consumption reducing Auxiliary Power Unit.

The tank was also equipped with Enhanced Hull Power Distribution Unit/Common Remote Switching Modules, and the Battery Monitoring System, larger slip rings, Next Generation Armor Package, and Joint Tactical Radio System. Electric systems were upgraded. Ballistic protection of front armor and turret was improved, as was anti-mine defense, thanks to AN/VLQ-12 Crew Duke V3 Counter Remote Control Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare V3).

M1A2SEPv3 tank is 9.77 meter long (with hull being 7.93 meters in length), 3.75 meter wide, and 2.44 meter high, with 0.43 meter ground clearance. It has an operational mass of 66.8 tons and crew of four (commander, driver, loader, and gunner). Its primary weapon is a smoothbore 120 mm, 44-calibers long M256A1 gun (with a supply of 40 to 42 rounds), a modified licensed German Rh-120/L44 gun. It’s accompanied by a coaxial 7.62 mm M240 machine gun. Additional armament is composed of one or two M240 machine guns (with up to 10,400 rounds) and one mentioned earlier M2HB with 900 rounds. One six-tubed M250 smoke grenade launcher is placed on each side of the turret.

Some of the first M1A2SEPv3 received by the US Army in 2020 / Photo: Sgt. Calab Franklin 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Domain

M256A1 120-mm smoothbore gun with 40-42 rounds – based on modified German Rh-120/L44 / Photo: Sgt. Calab Franklin 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Domain

M1A2SEPv3 is equipped with a GPS receiver, a Linux-based FBCB2/BFT-2 communication platform supported by Joint Tactical Radio System. It has a digital radio station and, optionally, a phone for communication with supporting infantry.

The Abrams tank can reach a maximum speed of 67 kph on roads and 40 kph off-road. Its maximum operational range is 426 kilometers, or 150-200 km off-road (the numbers are taken from the pre-revitalized engine variant, though, making it likely that SEPv3 has longer actual range). It has six fuel tanks with a total capacity of approximately 1900 dm³ and can run on multiple types of fuel, including diesel, marine diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel.

The first tanks in the M1A2SEPv3 variant entered active US Army service in May 2020. Five hundred fifty units have been already ordered, with a request for another 70 for fiscal year 2022. Future users of the export variant will include Taiwan, ordering 108 M1A2T (previously designated as M1A2X, a special variant of SEPv3), and Australia getting 75 M1A2SEPv3. Poland will be the third user of the export variant, and the first in Europe. Additionally, the US Army will keep over 80 M1A2SEPv3 in Poland as their prepositioned stock, starting in 2023/24.