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.