GDLS secures Abrams upgrade contracts
General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) has received two contracts from the US Army for Abrams main battle tank upgrades, the company announced on 5 September.
Under the first contract, the company will upgrade Abrams tanks from the M1A2 System Enhancement Package 3 to the SEPv4 variant. The modernised SEPv4 includes upgrades of the commander’s primary sight, an improved gunner’s primary sight and other enhancements to the tank's sensors, lethality and survivability.
Under this contract, GDLS will deliver seven M1A2 SEPv4 prototypes to the US Army at a cost of $311 million.
The second contract will see the company produce 45 Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 for the US Army for $270 million, with production starting in fall 2017. The vehicles have improved communications, reliability, sustainment and fuel efficiency.
More from Land Warfare
-
DSEI 2025: Thales creating new remote weapon station and Storm 2 counter-drone jammer
Thales launched Storm-H in 2012 as an EW system equipping individual dismounted troops, and a decade later revealed details to develop the improved and more powerful Storm 2.
-
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
-
Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system
The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.