Editor’s Note: This article has been update to remove a paragraph hypothesizing about the M1E3’s turret based on a released U.S. Army image, as, it turns out, the image was not of the M1E3. The image has also been removed from the article.
The U.S. Army just took delivery of its first new prototype main battle tank in more than 30 years, but it’ll still be some time before this M1E3 Abrams actually deploys.
On Tuesday, the Army released its first two images of this new prototype Abrams, which was delivered by Roush and General Dynamics Land Systems in December. This new tank is meant to address several longstanding concerns about the existing Abrams line, with a primary focus placed on cutting weight after decades of bolting new equipment and capabilities onto the 1992 Abrams design.
The original M1 Abrams that entered service in 1980 was already considered heavy, even by tank standards. During development, its target weight was 45 tons, but by the time it reached service, the mighty Abrams had already ballooned to 55.7 tons – it was notably 20 tons heavier than the Soviet T-62 it was built to beat. Today’s latest M-1A2 SEPv3 Abrams is even heavier at an incredible 73.6 tons, despite being powered by the very same 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine.
All this weight has created several challenges for America’s main battle tank, including limiting how it can be shipped and delivered to far-flung battlefields and even rendering it too heavy to cross some bridges. Of course, the Army isn’t just looking to put the Abrams on a diet, with the M1E3 however: besides the reduced weight, the new model will have increased capability and survivability through the adoption of several new technologies.
One of the biggest changes we’re already aware of is swapping out the Abrams’ existing AGT1500 gas turbine engines in favor of new diesel-electric powerplants. These new engines are said to reduce fuel consumption by up to 50% – and that’s a very big deal because today’s Abrams is known to burn through roughly 15 gallons of fuel per hour at idle. Additionally, the new engines include rechargeable batteries that allow the M1E3 to operate and even travel short distances in “silent watch” mode, or without the engine running at all.
There’s also been talk of potentially reducing the Abrams crew from four to three and including an auto-loader for the tank’s 120mm main gun. This has proven controversial among tankers, who say a human loader is more reliable when things go wrong and that a fourth crew member is useful for repairs in austere conditions. On the other hand, proponents of an auto auto-loader argue that it could allow for a smaller turret, lower overall profile, and reduced weight.
One of the most important change the Army is pursuing with the M1E3 comes in its acquisition cycle. The Army has been clear that this first prototype is not a production-representative platform. Instead, it’s meant to be something of a proof of concept that today’s tankers can put through its paces to provide direct feedback about what’s working and what isn’t.Â
General Dynamics can then take that information and use it to make changes to the subsequent prototypes being delivered for platoon-level exercises, where more feedback will be gathered to improve the platform even more before the tank goes into production. In September 2025, General Dynamics said they’d have four M1E3 prototypes in testing with the Army by the end of 2026.
Feature Image: Mockup representing the M1E3 tank. (U.S. Army)
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