It is still early in the design choice phase. One it reaches further they will do it. As seen by the Army adapting a new rifle. How you seen the video?Given the usual shennanigans of the military industrial complex it will take time. Lot of time.
Given the usual shennanigans of the military industrial complex it will take time. Lot of time.
Which disclose enough. They are starting to look at getting a tank that competes with the ArmataThe planning workshop described in the video is part of the Optionally Manned Tank (OMT) project, which is merely a concept exploration. The Army isn't even nominally making a procurement decision on possibly producing OMTs as a full scale Abrams replacement until 2023.
They are most likely going to call the next one an M2 Abrams, it an Abrams M2.This is... a bit dubious as the Abrams still has some life left, oddly enough. It is more likely that an Abrams II is going to be developed due to the fact that the design is rather robust when it comes to upgrades. The most likely scenario is that it'll incorporate EndoSteel style framework, full-on fiber optic cabling for its electronic systems, more efficient wiring for the electrical systems, a new turbine engine with APU, infrared and radar stealth capabilities, a 140mm main cannon (at least until an ETC cannon arrives) with a coaxial .50cal HMG, and RWS mounted HMG/ARGs out the wazoo with ADS integrated for added defense.
It would actually likely be the M1A3 (M2 is the Bradley and we have a unified designation system now)
Oh right. Derp.It would actually likely be the M1A3 (M2 is the Bradley and we have a unified designation system now)
Wait really?It would have to actually be the M1A4, because the M1A3 designation was already issued to next-generation Abrams proposal/concepts all the way back in 2009. They just ended up deciding that the SEP upgrades to the M1A2 were more cost effective.
In any case, the new SEP v3 is practically a new tank, being designated a SEP A2 only because the Army decided that an new A-designation required major physical mods to the chassis. The new SEP v4 version that starts field testing soon is even more "everything is new but the hull and gun".
Oh right. Derp.
Wait really?
Improvements in materials and metallurgy alone will probably shave a good few tons off the total weight. Heck, a lot of the "add on" packages will likely become fully integrated from the get-go, too.Yes. The planned M1A3 was basically a Lightweight Abrams, as at that time the Army was highly concerned with how much the weight of the M1 series had ballooned over the past few incarnations. So they were looking at trying to slim it down without compromising firepower and protection.
It is around 70 tons, and is a heart beast and the Army is tired of how heavy it waysYes. The planned M1A3 was basically a Lightweight Abrams, as at that time the Army was highly concerned with how much the weight of the M1 series had ballooned over the past few incarnations. So they were looking at trying to slim it down without compromising firepower and protection.
the Abrams M1A2C is lik 2 tons lighter, barleySo is the Abrams even heavier than the current Challenger 2 now?
We are saving that for when we make the BoloWhy not name the new Tank after George Washington. He was our first Major General after all.