American Abrams are top-class main battle tanks with a big record on the battlefield that included great effectiveness. Their better version so far, M1A2 SEP, is really an achievement.
Specifications
M1A2 started production in 1986 and the first tank was started serving in 1992. M1A2 provided commanders with thermal sight and the ability to fight two targets at the same time. The armor featured second-generation depleted uranium.
The upgraded System Enhancement Package (SEP) came to make the improved abilities of the tank even better. M1A2 SEP is still today the main battle tank of the US Army. In total, 240 new M1A2 SEP were built, 300 M1A2 were modified to the SEP version and also 400 M1A2 were converted to M1A2 SEP.
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The armor of the SEP version had also depleted uranium, something that made it one of the best in the world. The protection is even better when an explosive reactive armor is added. The 122mm M256 weapon has a range of 4km. The weapon shoots the M829A3 APFSDS ammunition and the M1028 shells. The second choice is impressively accurate against infantry targets in a distance between 300 and 400 meters.
There is also a powerful fire control system with a ballistic computer. We shouldn't forget the two thermal sights that use the second-generation FLIR technology and feature night vision capabilities. The tank also has a digital battlefield management system that can distinguish between friendly and enemy targets. The location of friendly targets is being displayed live. The crew includes one commander, one gunner, one loader, and one driver. The two AGT 1500 engines develop 1,500hp.
M1A2C is the latest version of the M1A2 SEP tank that was introduced in 2015. The version included the availability of the XM1146 Advanced Multi-Purpose ammunition and the M829A4 Advanced Kitenic Energy shells. The protection system is the active Raphael Trophy HV. The US Navy ordered 247 upgrades for the M1A1 tanks in 2017. But, in 2020 more numbers were added in the US Army request that will be a thing for the next 8 years.
