BAE Systems to supply training ammo for Kuwaiti Abrams

BAE Systems is close to providing training ammunition and related equipment for Kuwait Army M1A2 Abrams MBTs, after the US State Department approved a $59.6 million FMS deal.

The deal still requires approval from Congress.

‘The proposed sale will improve Kuwait’s capability to meet current and future threats by enabling continued employment of the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and supporting modernisation of the country’s tank fleet,’ the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 28 July.

It added: ‘The training ammunition will be used to qualify Kuwait’s M1A2 tanks, which will enhance Kuwait’s ability to protect border regions and key land-based infrastructure.’

The FMS deal includes 10,260 cartridges of 120mm calibre M865 Target Practice Cone Stabilized Discarding Sabot Tracer; 9,810 cartridges of 120mm calibre M1002 Target Practice Multipurpose Tracer; plus 215,000 cartridges of .50 cal and 600,000 cartridges of 7.62mm ammunition.

Kuwait purchased 218 new M1A2s in 1992 and the MBTs were delivered in 1995-1997. A FMS worth US$1.7 billion was approved in December 2016 to upgrade all these tanks to the M1A2 SEPv2 standard.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Kuwaiti M1A2 fleet has an out-of-service date of 2050.

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