Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, AO
Chief of Army
Future land operations will occur in complex terrain against a pervasive threat from a range of highly lethal hand-held weapons at short engagement ranges.
Australian tanks must be able to survive multiple anti-armour hits while manoeuvring in close contact and remaining in the fight to support the combined arms team (infantry).
Tanks save lives (DSTO historical and operational analysis): increases the chance of mission success from 65%
to 95% reduces the chance of Australian casualties by a
factor of 6 other armoured vehicles cannot compensate for the
lack of a viable tank lack of a viable tank undermines the combined arms
team (tailored force packages comprising a balance of combat elements that cover each other’s vulnerability's)
‘This project will replace the ADF Main Battle Tank fleet with a more modern tank capability that will be supportable
until at least 2020’DCP 2004-14, p.142
Brigadier Michael Clifford, AM, CSC
Director General Preparedness & Plans, Army HQ
Capable and credible element of the ADF
Provides a suitable level of protection for deployed personnel
Provides improved fire control and sensor suites (also enhancing protection levels)
Vehicle-specificSurvivabilityThrough-life sustainabilityNetwork-centric warfare (NCW)
Also importantProject scheduleRegional mobilityAncillary systems
Innovative - Army HQ, DMO and Capability Systems
Compressed time frame - “aggressive”High profile - minimal risk
(Military Off the Shelf)
Foreign Military Sales (FMS)Army long term strategyAccess to US technologies
59 M1A1 AIM tanks (rebuilt)7 M88A2 HERCULES ARV (new)6 Advanced Gunnery Trainer Simulators1 Tank Driver Trainerup to 14 Tank transporters and trailersup to 8 RefuelersAS $530 M
Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Hayward
Armoured Fighting Vehicle Capability Implementation Team
Weight: 62,000 kgsHeight: 2.88 mLength (Hull): 7.92 mWidth: 3.66 mGround Clearance: 0.48 mGround Pressure: 0.97 kg/cm2
Armament120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore Main ArmamentCoax M240 7.62 mm MGFlex M2HB .50 in cal MG for commanderFlex M240 7.62 mm MG for loader
Ammunition load40 x 120 mm rounds
(APFSDS and MPAT)1000 x .50 in cal rounds12,400 x 7.62 mm rounds24 x smoke grenades
C2VIC (3) inter-communication systemAdvanced SINCGARS radios
ArmourAdvanced non-DU armourDSTO scientist given special access to US armour technology program
Production ceased
Backbone of current fleet
4550 built from 1985 to 1993
Upgrades include:
120mm main armament
NBC systems
Improved armour
US production ceased
627 built from 1992 to 1999
Rebuilt M1 tanks
Going out of US service
Production ongoing
12% of fleet by 2010
Source vehicle is M1 or M1A2 which is upgraded
System Enhancement Program (SEP):
CITV, embedded digitisation, 2nd Gen FLIR.
Production ongoing M1A1 and M1A1 AIM will comprise 88% of US fleet by 2010 Complete overhaul of M1A1 to like-new, zero miles Embedded diagnostics and digitisation:
includes armour, firepower, automotive, and engine improvements
Anniston
Lima
DepotDepot
Receive Vehicle Integrated Induction Team Inspection Safety/Environmental Protection
DepotDepot
ENGINE TRANSMISSION
GUNNER'S PRIMARY SIGHT
SUSPENSION COMPONENTS
COMMANDER’S HATCH
GUN MOUNT
PISTON
IndustryIndustry
IndustryIndustry
IndustryIndustry
STARTSTART Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Demate & Disassemble(Integrated Industry Team)
Clean, Inspect, Evaluate
Restore Components
Paint, Prep & Ship
Vehicle & Systems Testing
Assemble Chassis, Turret,Vehicle
6256 components5368 new888 checked to original spec or replaced
M1A1 AIM upgrades and enhancements plus:
Mounts to fit the Steyr RifleElements of Leopard Crew Climate Control System
Chilled drinking water Camouflage system
Infantry/Tank Telephone Integration of Infantry Personal Role RadioRed Kangaroo
Weight: 63,500 kg Height: 3.22 m Length (Hull): 8.58 m Width: 3.66 m Ground Clearance: 0.40 m Ground Pressure: 0.963
kg/cm2
Armament: M2 0.50 cal MG
New build by United Defence LP Based on M60 MBT Specifically built to recover M1 70,000kg pull main winch Powerpack change < 60 mins
Up to 8 Mack Fuel TankersUp to 14 Heavy Tank TransportersPlanned to be delivered concurrently
with tank
Relocatable AGTSRelocatable AGTS
Permanent Platoon AGTS
Permanent Platoon AGTS
High Fidelity Crew StationHigh Fidelity Crew Station
AGTS develops and sustains individual, crew, and platoon precision gunnery skills to a level of proficiency which permits transition to live fire training or combat gunnery.
Provides initial and transition driver training for M1A1 Abrams armour crewmen.
Consists of a driver training station, instructor station, and a fully integrated motion simulator.
In June the Governments of Australia and the United States signed the prime equipment case for: 59 M1A1 tanks 59 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) rebuilds 7 new Armoured Recovery Vehicles 6 Armoured Gunnery Training Systems 1 Tank Driver Trainer Engineering and program management.
The Abrams tank capability will be introduced into service in 2007.