"Polish" Abramsa

On February 24, 2022 Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine began. This has created specified an unprecedented act of violation of all global standards contained in the objectives of the United Nations that in a democratic part of the planet it has caused real shock and disbelief. The intentions of the Russian state towards the neighbour, known for respective months, thanks to the designation from various sources by interviews of Western countries. Furthermore, erstwhile military interventions in Georgia, east Ukraine and Syria demonstrated the determination of Russia's leaders to regain the military power's strategical position.

Poland, as 1 of the first countries, began an operation to deliver arms to Ukraine, in order to supplement the large losses suffered by the east neighbour's army. In the first batch of military equipment which was delivered straight across the border, there were russian vehicles, inactive remembering the Warsaw Pact times. This was a logical solution, due to the fact that equipment of this type, which was inactive in large quantities in the equipment of the Polish army, could be adapted to the needs of actions on the front in Ukraine by soldiers, serving similar, or even the same combat vehicles. Thus, the T-72 tanks of various versions were delivered, the BWP-1 fighting infantry wagons, 2S1 carnations and the BM-21 undirected rocket launchers. On site, any combat vehicles, specified as T-72M1 and T-72M1R tanks, were equipped by Ukrainian method services with the essential protective systems, in this case the first generation reactive armor.

The consequence of the situation was to deprive a crucial part of the Polish armored and mechanized brigades of basic weapons and the deficiency of training of crews of combat vehicles. In the T-72 tanks of various versions, they were armed with: 34 Tank Cavalry Brigades (1 Brabant Tank Battalion and 2 Flanders Tank Battalion), 20 Mechanized Brigades (one battalion), fresh 19 Mechanized Brigade (19 Tank Battalion- T-72M1R), 2 Mechanized Brigade (tank Battalion-Black) 21 Podhalan firearm Brigade (1 Tank Battalion- Colonel Józef Koczwara). Additionally, there are battalions armed with PT-91 hard (9 BKPanc- 2 battalions, 15 BZmech- 1 battalion), which besides hit Ukraine, which gives a crucial number of six tank battalions (after 53 tanks in the battalion) without basic weapons and an unknown number of PT-91 tanks sent east (unofficially, it is said “more than 240 T-72 tanks”). Of course, a number of tanks were left in the units, but the battalion's combat possible was degraded. 1 can wonder how advanced the T-72 tanks were to date, due to the fact that they did not present much combat value, as did BWP-1 in mechanized battalions.

In this situation, it was decided to sign the contract for the acquisition outright (used frequently late “higher necessity”) and without a tender the American M1 Abrams tanks and this in version M1A2 SEPv3. A valid agreement was officially signed in April 2022, however, only erstwhile General Dynamics received final approval from the abroad Military Sales program led by the defence safety Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the decisive phase of the contract began. On 14 July, 250 U.S. M2A2 Abrams tanks in version SEPv3 were officially submitted to the public on the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade of Wesoła. It besides turned out that the acquisition of tanks would be the most costly in the past of the Polish army, the full was estimated at PLN 23 billion. The tanks will be equipped with 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade from Wesoła and in the fresh 19th Mechanized Brigade based in Lublin, units subordinate to the 18th Mechanized Division from Siedlec.

M1A2 SEPv3 (Enhanced Package System) tanks were created under a December 2015 contract ($92.2 million), between US Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command and General Dynamics Land Systems, under which GDLS was to upgrade M1A2 SEPV2 Abrams tanks to a newer M1A2 SEPV3 configuration. The first of the 45 contracted Abrams M1A2 SEPV3 tanks ($270 million worth) was delivered to the US Army in October 2017. The US Army subsequently placed an order in General Dynamics in July 2018 to upgrade 100 M1A1 primary tanks to M1A2 SEPv3. Then in January 2019, General Dynamics Land Systems was ordered to deliver $714 million from the U.S. Army to upgrade the additional 174 basic M1A1 tanks to M1A2 SEPv3 standard.

M1A2 Abrams SEP V3 mostly retains the M1 base tank layout with the driver's position in the front centre of the hull, the turret in the mediate part of the hull and the turbine drive strategy in the rear. The M1 tank has been designed from the beginning so that in the future it can be made a deep modernization of the vehicle, adapting the vehicle to future combat conditions. However, the scope of the work, related to the retrofitting of the vehicle to this version, forced specified deep interference into the hull and tower structures that you can boldly describe M1A2 SEPv3 as a completely fresh vehicle in the Abrams family. The fresh version strengthens the front armor of the tower and its side, by adding fresh NGAP (Next Generation Armor Package) or NEA (Next Evolutionary Armor). besides the hull's front armor has been shown to be thickened. Construction changes were besides introduced at the bottom of the hull, where reinforced armor better protects the tank from mine explosions and improvised explosive charges. The armor thickness of the front of the tower is estimated to be 1000 mm, while the 800 mm hull is estimated to be zero degrees from the longitudinal axis of the tower and the hull. The armour parameters of the SEPv3 version make it presently the best armored tank in the world.

The vehicle besides upgraded the ammunition main warehouse, located in the tower niche, where peculiar Blow off panels were utilized for greater safety. An crucial strengthening of endurance on the modern battlefield is the preparation of the SEPv3 variant for the installation of the Israeli modular defence strategy active Trophy HV. In the integrated driving systems in the tank, it was listed (under the ECP1A Engineering Change Proposal) all electronic architecture, including the GPS main sight (Gunners Primary Sight) and the CPS commander's panoramic instrument (Commanders Primary Sight). The thermal camera represents a second generation device. The SKO utilized the Ammunition Data Link (ADL), which ensured the programming of M829A4 and AMP missiles. Communication means have been upgraded, by building the JTRS (Joint Tactical Radio System) household radio station and BMS JBCP (Joint conflict Command Platform), which improved cooperation with future brigade combat teams (BCT). The diagnostic systems have besides been improved so that the method condition of the vehicle can be monitored in a shorter time. The tank is equipped with a low profile (LP) common remotely controlled weaponry strategy M153 CROWS LP, installed with a 12.7 mm device gun. The second 7.62 mm M240 device weapon is besides mounted in coaxially with the main gun. The CROWS LP is equipped with an improved daytime camera that uses image technology in the image, to combine different fields of view and thus allows the commander a wide field of view during the shelling. A strategy of interference of improvised explosive devices (IED) kind CREWT DUKEv3 was besides used.

Thanks to the modernization, the M1A2 SEPv3 is presently the world's most modern vehicle. However, all these improvements have been occupied by an increase in mass up to 66.8 t, which is simply a limit for European conditions. Under the agreement, the U.S. side will provide, in addition to 250 tanks, besides 26 M88A2 Hercules support cars and 17 M1074 JAB self-propelled bridges. Together with Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks and support trucks, Poland will besides receive a logistics and training package. Simulators will besides be purchased.

Another amazing information reached the public erstwhile Błaszczak reported that Poland would buy 116 more utilized Abrams tanks for 2 battalions of the armored brigade. Given that the policy nonsubjective of the current government is simply a controversial strategy to place most of the land forces east of the Vistula River, Abrams of this version would go to the armored battalions of the 18th Mechanized Division. On December 6, 2022, the U.S. Defence Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the U.S. Department of State's message on the possible sale of 116 M1A1 tanks, along with accompanying vehicles and a crucial supply of ammunition. The full contract is subject to the possible to acquisition and is carried out in accordance with the U.S. abroad Military Sales procedure. The contract concerns the acquisition of 116 utilized M1A1 FEP tanks, 12 M88A2, 8 M1110 Joint Assault Bridges, 6 M577A3 command vehicles, 26 M1152A1 vehicles on the HMMWV chassis and 26 M1279A1 JLTV vehicles.

There is besides a immense amount of 120 mm-30928 rounds of M865 TPCSDS-T, 20823 pieces of M1002 TPMP-T, subcalibre rounds with an alloy of depleted M829A2 (50,000 pieces), M829A3 (2000 pieces) and M829A4 (60,000 pieces).

The US Marines armored formations prior to the withdrawal of tanks had 403 M1A1 wagons (the M1A2 option was not introduced, unlike the US Army), however, these tanks were repeatedly upgraded. In late 2004, a package of upgrades to the Firepower Enhancement Program (FEP) was developed and the package was yet installed on all 403 tanks. The cars received, among others, a 2nd generation thermal camera and many modifications to the fire control system. They were besides equipped with a diagnostic system. They besides received the North uncovering Module (NFM), related elements of analogue and digital electronics, display and precise GPS light receiver (PLGR). The fresh laser rangefinder provided the exact location of the mark up to 8 kilometres. This enabled Marines to specify targets coordinates not only to combat armored targets, but besides as a support element. The Abrams utilized by the Marines besides had a number of insignificant modifications adapting them to service in the Marine Corps, specified as the snorkel system.

According to the Marines' budget documents, in the mediate of the second decade of the 21st century, another modernization was carried out, this time on 264 tanks. In short, it consisted of the introduction of an integrated Abrams (AIDS) display and aiming strategy for the vehicle commander with a modified, stabilized sights on a remote-controlled shooting position (SCWS) with thermal and regular cameras and a colour display. Thus, the scope for detecting and identifying targets at night and in bad weather conditions has been greatly increased. AIDATS besides has an azimuth indicator that allows the tank commander to find where the barrel of the cannon is at a given minute in relation to the position of the car's hull.

The last, 3rd component of modernization referred to as slew-to-cue allows the commander to rotate the tank tower independently of the cannon. In practice, this meant that the tank commander could conduct observations utilizing a remote-controlled position, and rotate the tower in this direction – utilizing 1 ergonomic control strategy for this purpose. As a result, Abrams' commander with AIDATS can effectively work with the gunman in tracking targets, searching for them independently of him. Preliminary tests showed that all modification elements contribute to shortening mark tracking time from six to 3 seconds.

Several twelve tanks have besides received additional side armor (Improved Side Armor) as part of these upgrades. The next modernization, planned for 2020-2024, did not take place due to the decision to retreat primary tanks from the U.S. naval armored troops. As a curiosity, it is possible to state the fact that the SEPv3 interior communications strategy of Harris, a licensed version of the Polish interior communications strategy Fonet of the Polish company WB Electronics, is used.

The supply of 250 Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 vehicles is expected to be completed in 2026, but already this year 28 SEPv2 vehicles were loaned from the US Army, which are to be utilized to familiarize Polish soldiers with their unknown design. Next year, the first M1A1 FEP will be sent to Poland, which it turned out, however, are to power the 1st BPanc and 21st BSP armoured battalions, which will be replaced later by the SEPv3 version. In total, the full contract will cost the Polish payer USD 8.50 billion net, or about PLN 38 billion.

Text and graphics: Jarosław Janas