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Sign of the times: Poland receives first Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 batch amid tank spending spree

25th July 2022 - 15:42 GMT | by Grzegorz Sobczak in Warsaw

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One of seven Abrams SEPv2 on its way to Poland. The US is delivering 28 of these MBTs to the Polish Army for training purposes, out of a 250-tank order. (Photo: Polish MoD)

Poland has 250 M1A2 Abrams MBTs on order and the first batch of seven arrived in mid-July. A total of 116 M1A1 Abrams MBTs from surplus US stocks are also likely to be upgraded to the M1A2 SEPv3 standard.

In mid-July, following a few months of fruitless negotiations with the German government, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) decided to purchase second-hand Abrams M1A1 MBTs from US strategic stocks.

Poland will receive 116 M1A1s (sufficient for two tank battalions) used previously by US Armed Forces. The eastern European country already has 250 modern Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 MBTs on order and the MND did not confirm whether these tanks would be upgraded to the SEPv3 standard when asked by Shephard, although the latest Polish media reports appear to bear this out.

The Polish government will cover the cost

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